A vibrant social media presence across platforms like Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, has become one of the main ways the Oregon State University Honors College develops community and opens a window into honors student life. Honors students Kaitlyn Scanlon and Frankie Ruppert — the creative duo behind much of this content — are key to the success of this approach.
Working as media assistants under the supervision of Honors College Communications Coordinator Kallie Hagel, they bring energy, creativity and important student perspectives to these platforms. From filming TikTok videos to managing the “Daily Briefing” on Instagram Stories — which keeps students informed about events and opportunities across the Honors College and broader OSU community — they create content that’s both engaging and useful. Since starting their roles together last spring, Kaitlyn and Frankie have also formed a close friendship, built through their shared creativity and passion for helping students feel connected. Kaitlyn is a third-year natural resources major from California pursuing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certificate. Frankie, originally from Washington D.C., is a second-year food science major with minors in design innovation management, chemistry and math. As media assistants, they manage the college’s Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts — planning content, developing strategy, filming, editing and scheduling posts.
“Our goal is to boost student engagement,” explains Frankie. “We try to highlight recaps of events and also what the community is like in the Honors College.” Recently, they have collaborated with groups like the Honors College Student Association (HCSA), the Country Western Dance Club and other colleges across OSU to promote events and experiences such as the Honors College Spring Gala. "My favorite part of managing social media is that it’s a fun creative outlet,” says Kaitlyn. “We have the freedom to decide how our social media presence looks — integrating trends, highlighting campus events or sharing what my role as a HC student ambassador looks like to give future students a sense of the honors experience.”
“It’s been especially fun to collaborate with other colleges and spend time creating content together,” adds Frankie. “I like helping people get involved on campus because there’s so much that it has to offer, which can sometimes get lost in the noise. Appealing to students and getting them involved is really fulfilling for me.
Both Frankie and Kaitlyn applied for the position early in their college careers, having followed university accounts themselves as incoming students. “Accounts like ours made a difference to me when I was first applying for college,” says Frankie. “I was trying to understand the vibe of different colleges by looking at their social media.”
Now, they’re paying that experience forward. “If you follow the Honors College on Instagram for a few weeks, you'd get a good idea of what happens during a typical week,” Kaitlyn says. “We also host Q&As and answer questions from incoming students. We try to be a helpful, authentic resource.” Kaitlyn says.
As they settled into their roles, their working relationship quickly turned into friendship. “Our personalities, sense of humor and common interests made it easy to become friends during work and outside of school,” Kaitlyn says. “We mesh well creatively. Outside of work, we spend a lot of time together. I feel lucky to have a fun job where I get to work alongside a friend.”
“We complement each other well and fill in each other's gaps at work,” Frankie says. "Kaitlyn is an excellent friend, coworker and role model. There is no one more caring and motivating on campus."
“Frankie and Kaitlyn bring so much creativity and care to their roles,” says Honors College Communications Coordinator Kallie Hagel. “They’ve re-energized the HC’s social media presence, and it’s been incredible to see how much energy they put into helping students feel informed, included and excited to be here.”
“Watching their friendship grow has been an added joy to working with them,” says Kallie. “They collaborate so naturally and bring out the best in each other — professionally and personally. The impact they’ve had on each other and our community is undeniable.”
Beyond her social media role, Kaitlyn also serves as an HC student ambassador. In this position, she gives presentations about the Honors College to prospective students and their families. “I’ve met so many cool people and honors students through this role and have gotten to hear about their thesis topics or honors classes — like my co-worker’s seminar on gin,” Kaitlyn says. “My fellow ambassadors even give me suggestions for social media posts sometimes."
Frankie credits Honors College advisors for helping her navigate college life. “I really appreciate the mentorship,” she says. If I need someone to talk to or ask for a reference, there’s always someone I can go to who’s supportive and approachable.” She has also enjoyed the honors seminar courses and the sense of community within the college. “Seminar topics are so unique, and I’ve made many friends through them. Since I lived in the honors residence hall during my freshman year and spend time in the SLUG (the Honors College student lounge on the Corvallis campus), there’s always someone I know. It’s nice to feel included and welcomed.” For students just starting out, Kaitlyn encourages exploring everything the Honors College has to offer. “Take as many honors courses as you can! They help you build direct connections with professors and classmates. I also think it’s important to remain open, try new things and attend a wide range of events. There are things that cater to everyone.”
Frankie adds, “Not everything you try will be for you, but it’s worth exploring. The Honors College brings students and faculty from every college at OSU together, so the diversity of interests and perspectives is great. Especially during your first year, try to meet as many people as you can — it makes campus feel more connected.”
Looking ahead, both Frankie and Kaitlyn are excited to continue their work at the Honors College. While they stay active over the summer, they’re especially looking forward to next fall — with new events to publicize, more students to connect with, and fresh ideas for content. “We’ll have a lot of exciting events at the start of the school year,” Kaitlyn says. “I’m looking forward to planning them in such a great work environment — and with such a great friend.” Together, they’re eager to keep building on the momentum they’ve created.
By Shion Britten, student writer