Radio-TV-film alumni will return to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh to talk to current students about careers in their field in conjunction with Homecoming 2010.

At 10 a.m. Oct. 22, the industry panel “Bridging Industry With College” will feature four radio-TV-film alumni, who will share their career experiences; a networking reception will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the Arts and Communication Center’s broadcast studio. The guest panelists will answer questions students have about job opportunities.

Troy Perkins, coordinator of the radio-TV-film department, said that the second-annual event is a way for the department to expose students to the industry by bringing them together with alumni.

“We really want to help our students take their first steps into the industry while they are students, and this event offers real, practical industry information and networking opportunities for our students,” he said.

The panel will offer students a look at the radio, TV and film industries and the transition from college student to professional.

Panelists include Jay Sapiro ’92, from Visuality, a full-service media agency in Madison; Angela Von Drasek ’04, a writer and producer for TNT; the co-executive producer for ABC’s “Wipeout,” Kevin Wehrenberg ’93; and Sarah Willett ’90, regional marketing manager for Cumulus Broadcasting.

“The industry alumni will be discussing current industry practices, the future of the industry, what a student should be doing now to prepare for the industry, paths and lessons learned on the transition from college into the professional world, and overall career advice,” Perkins said.

Students will be able to ask the professionals any additional questions they have at the networking session starting at 11:30 a.m. in the broadcast studio.

“The networking session will give students a chance to put their name out there and consider career paths or internships that they never thought about before and build that bridge to the industry now,” Perkins said.

Willett, who graduated from UW Oshkosh with a major in radio-TV-film and a minor in business, said she wanted to give back to the college community that helped her as a student.

“So many teachers, fellow students and professionals spent a tremendous amount of time with me, which, in turn, helped me to launch a very successful career early on,” Willett said.

She hopes that students will consider what kinds of education will help them in their career goals. For example, Willett graduated with a business minor which helped her become a successful marketing manager. Education in new media is important too because the radio-TV-film world has started integrating new types of media with its traditional work.

Willett said students in attendance should ask questions and bring paper, pen and an open mind.

• For reservations to the event, contact Claire Armstrong at armstroc@uwoh.edu or (920) 424-3131.

• More homecoming information can be found at www.uwosh.edu/homecoming.