Luke Weinman

Luke H. Weinman, IV, 22, shot video footage of power boats racing across Lake Michigan from a helicopter... "and got paid for it," said the communications manager for the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"I wake up everyday and want to go to work," he said. "Everyday's a different day."

Weinman, a Hobart resident and Portage native, received a bachelor's degree in communication, specializing in radio and television, last fall.

According to Weinman, he got his job because of the video background he developed at Purdue Calumet and through networking. While working on a student project - a mini-documentary about mountain biking - for the City of Portage, Weinman became acquainted with Mont Handley, now Visitors Bureau senior sales manager. They kept in touch, and, Weinman said, Handley told him about an opening at the Visitors Bureau.

According to Weinman, Handley said, "I think you'll be good for it. You might as well try it."

And that's just what Weinman did.

After three interviews, he got the job. "It's been great," he said. "It's awesome working here. The people are great. It gets stressful at times, but the fun kind of overrides it."

Weinman produces videos, does external and internal public relations and works with the news media. As a student, Weinman served as a lab instructor working under Production Coordinator and Radio/TV Studio Supervisor Craig Blohm, who Weinman says "gave me so much insight on how things work."

"I love Purdue Calumet," Weinman said. "The teachers are open-minded. Mary Beth O'Conner (professor of communication) is a mentor to me. The teachers are incredible."

Weinman was named Outstanding Student in the Department of Communication and Creative Arts.