SCSU Graduate Inspires Students During Communications Club Talk

SC State's Communications Club had a special Valentine's Day treat for students when Kris Bennett,  Class of 2016, shared her busy "Life After College" story with them.

Kris Bennett on Feb. 14 

Last fall, Bennett, a Charleston native, returned to her alma mater to start her position with the school's admissions office where she is a counselor and recruiter.

She told the students of many initiatives underway to boost enrollment at SC State, which is a top priority here.

Stints at Verizon and North Carolina A&T preceded Bennett's return to Orangeburg.



"Reality is going to sucker punch you in the face," she said of the challenges of finding jobs and beginning a career after college.

It wasn't long ago Bennett sat in these seats

For her, "having a strong vision and ideas, and just being stubborn" have helped her overcome obstacles and become successful.

Bennett has an impressive resume of accomplishments in her young life. As a communications major, she launched the popular "Bulldog Bite" news and entertainment program.

It proved to be an invaluable learning experience for her. "I learned how to get a cast, how to light a set and how to edit," she said, adding with a laugh, "Everyone in the first episode was orange."

Outside of her work at SC State, Bennett has enterprises in photography and video production. On New Year's Day 2018 she told how she spent the day setting up a new website to bring together these pursuits. Kris Kaylin Productions she calls it and she showed her Wix.com website's many features to the students.

Group shot after the talk, courtesy Professor Pryor 

Her photography and videography skills have her shooting modeling sessions and weddings.

She has also begun a new program that features Charleston music scene. It's called "Next Up Charleston."  Several interview episodes can be viewed on her website.

She says through persistence and "the power of social media" she promotes "Next Up Charleston."

Bennett with Shay Bowman, club president

To the audience of current communications students, this recent graduate offered encouraging and inspirational advice. "If it's something you want to do, do it." she said. "Don't let people discourage you. Take advice from people who have been successful."

Bennett is building her brand and SC State's at the same time. She has high ambitions for herself and also her alma mater.

The entrepreneur that she is and will continue to be has learned valuable lessons already, including that "I needed a 9-to-5 (job) to fund my dreams."

Her long-range goals?  "My own show on HBO or Netflix," she said with barely a pause.

Coming from this dynamic and talented lady, that seems reachable, no question!

Communications Club President Shay Bowman produced this high-quality flyer to promote Kris Bennett's talk.

And this one too. Shay Bowman is another talented soon-to-be SC State graduate to keep our eyes on!