Alumni Spotlight - Isaac Petkac
Isaac Petkac put his UToledo Communication Degree to work quickly as he graduated
from UToledo and went directly to work for Erie News Now, where he is currently a sports anchor and reporter. He enjoys his job because “there
is so much to look forward to. I like that you walk in and you don’t know what your
day is going to be. It’s a fun business to be in when you don’t know what comes next.”
Isaac’s position has its origins in an internship he completed at UToledo. One of the anchors at Erie News Now reached out to him after his internship. So he emailed the news director and he was hired in no small part due to the contacts he made during his internship.
Isaac believes that the UToledo Communication program prepared him by teaching him how to be flexible, how to tell stories, and how to communicate (not just on air, but behind the scenes as well). He recognizes that the opportunities he had at UToledo helped him learn how to adapt and handle multiple things at once. He notes that “all of the things I was afforded to do helped me to learn how to handle stress. Rather than feel overwhelmed, I feel confident in my ability to handle things.”
When asked what the UToledo Communication program offers that you might not get at other places, he offered “if you choose UToledo, you’re going to get the ability to get your hands-on experience immediately. The other thing UToledo allows is that you get to control your own growth. It’s not a place where they put students on an assembly line. If you really care, and if you believe you can be successful, you will be successful, because there are plenty of opportunities”
