On Thursday, June 25, communication seniors brought their senior projects together for the Communication Senior Showcase in the BYU-Idaho Center.

Some students spent months researching, others wrote books and some filmed documentaries.

Here are five projects that showcase the creativity and variety found within the communication department.

Helping a Rexburg Business Grow Through Social Media

Sydney Adams, a senior studying communication with an emphasis in public relations, partnered with Her Fit, a women-only gym in Rexburg, to create an influencer marketing strategy. Her project included research on local Instagram and TikTok creators, budgeting, performance metrics and content recommendations that the business could begin using immediately.

Adams said she wanted to work with a smaller local business that could benefit from additional visibility. Through the project, she learned not be afraid of failure, saying growth comes from the challenges along the way.

Turning a Personal Story Into a Source of Hope

Rilie Church, a senior studying communication with an emphasis in news and journalism, wrote a book titled After Forever inspired by her experience with divorce. Wanting to help others facing similar struggles, Church used the project to share her story in a way that could offer encouragement without allowing it to define her.

Throughout the writing process, Church said she learned to let go of perfectionism and focus on telling an honest story.

"It doesn't need to be perfect...my story comes with twists and turns and bumps along the way," Church said. "That's just going to be the beauty of it."

Exploring Storytelling Through Video Games

Parker Stevens, a senior studying communication with an emphasis in video production, created a documentary about the indie game "Spirit of the North." Rather than focusing solely on how the game was made, Stevens explored how video games can become immersive storytelling experiences. To help viewers connect with the project, he projected gameplay behind his interview subject, creating a backdrop that reflected the discussion throughout the documentary.

Stevens said one of the biggest challenges was building the entire production by himself.

"Sometimes you just need to reach out to make something happen," Stevens said, recalling how the game's developer eagerly provided footage and other resources for the project.

Preserving Rexburg's History Through Photography

Victoria Wallace, a senior studying communication with an emphasis in news and journalism, combined photography and local history by recreating archival images from the former Ricks College and the 1976 Teton Dam flood. Using historical photographs as a guide, Wallace tracked down the original locations and captured modern versions to show how Rexburg and the university have changed over time.

Wallace said recreating the photographs was far more difficult than she expected because many of the archival images lacked addresses, forcing her to rely on her familiarity with Rexburg to piece everything together.

Closing the Gap Between Students and the Job Market

Isi Okafor, a senior studying communication with emphases in organizational leadership and digital and social media, researched the growing disconnect between qualified job seekers and employment opportunities. Inspired by her own experiences searching for work, she examined ways students, employers and educational institutions can each play a role in creating a more transparent and effective hiring process.

While the project began as an exploration of employers' hiring practices, Okafor said her research changed her perspective.

"It's not just employers, it's also me...it's also institutions, so we all have a role to play," Okafor said.

She hopes the project will help students feel more confident as they prepare to enter the workforce after graduation.

Looking Ahead

From preserving local history to preparing students for the workforce, the projects showed the dedication and creativity within the communications department. The showcase served as both a celebration of students' accomplishments and a look at the careers many of them hope to pursue after graduation.