It’s always a breath of fresh air to have bright young minds added to the CKUA mix for the season. And it’s our honour to help train and guide the next generation of working professionals. This year we have six summer students in three departments! They’ll be busy helping keep the CKUA machine running smoothly as we dive headfirst into CKUA Summer.
Mitchell Ellison, IT and Broadcast Services
Ellison has worked in IT providing helpdesk support for over four years and holds several IT certifications. Currently he is working through a computing and information systems program at the University of Athabasca.
“I’ll be setting up a security information and event management system (SIEM) to be used for monitoring network traffic at CKUA. This system will help identify security related events on CKUA’s networks and computer systems,” says Ellison. All is well in the early days of his placement, he says. “Everybody I have had the opportunity to meet at CKUA has been so lovely and relaxed! It has been easy to integrate myself into the office.”
Brynne Louis, Content
Louis is a recent graduate from MacEwan University’s Library and Information Technology program. She started out in libraries at the Ponoka Jubilee Library. “I did my practicum in April at CKUA’s Music Library and I’m super happy to be back for the summer,” she says.
So far Louis can usually be found uploading new music, cataloguing a recent donation of LPs and CDs, and updating artist pages in the music database to include the festivals they are playing at this summer. “Being at CKUA, I really enjoy being one of the first to hear the new music coming to the station and just getting to hang out with the LPs in the library while I work,” she says.
Hassan Barakat, IT and Broadcast Services
Barakat is currently pursuing a diploma in Data Analytics at NAIT and previously completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Alberta. “I’m passionate about using technology and data to solve problems and improve decision-making processes,” he says.
At CKUA, he is working with data and reporting tools to help streamline processes and support data-driven decision making across the organization. “I’ve enjoyed learning more about CKUA’s operations and collaborating with such a welcoming and supportive team,” Barakat says.
Artemis Peaslee, Content
Peaslee is currently at MacEwan University in the Bachelor of Arts program and will be majoring in English with a minor in Gender Studies. “I have always been very interested in the arts and started my radio journey back in 2021 when I was 15 on the radio show Gaywire on CJSR, a show I continue to work on,” she says.
At CKUA she is hard at work producing CKUA Summer content. “I find really cool events and festivals in Alberta, interview interesting people – my favourite thing ever – and create a 90-second segment to promote each event,” she says. “I have absolutely loved my first two weeks at this job: everyone who works here is soooo, so, so nice, even if it sometimes feels like there’s one thousand people who work here.”
It’s been a busy time so far. “I have already learned a ton about audio editing,” she says. “I have really enjoyed the flow of my job and filling my day with interviews and editing sessions and above all, I am so grateful to be working in the arts and to be a part of something as special and important as CKUA!”
Hannah Large, Fund Development
Large is going into her final semester of a BA in English at the University of Alberta. “I love reading, writing and spending time with my husband and dog,” she says.
She loves being part of CKUA’s fundraising team, she says. “In particular, I love connecting with donors and learning about how CKUA is a part of their lives.”
Denny Howell, IT and Broadcast Services
Howell is a second-year student at NAIT and studying IT Systems Administration, including working on such things as networking and Windows Server.
“At CKUA I’m working as a Network and Systems Technician and helping with IT Asset Management. I like it because I enjoy their music. I’ve started listening to CKUA every day and when I’m working at my desk in my office. The staff here are friendly as well!”
Thanks for all you give CKUA, summer students team! We can’t wait to see all the ways you grow and progress this summer.
