MSU Student Gains Hands-On Experience Working with World-Renowned Performers
By: Sean Kall
When coming to Michigan State University, many students focus on classes, friends and finding a job. In our post-pandemic world though, one special part of the MSU experience can be overlooked: involvement in MSU’s many student organizations. And when it comes to clubs focused on students’ majors, there is an opportunity to gain relevant experience in their field and develop themselves professionally.
Maria Bonucchi, 2025 public relations graduate, is a prime example of the value of being an involved student. With unique interests, Bonucchi minored in information and communication technology for development and leadership of organizations.
Bonucchi’s participation in high school theatre, along with her outgoing personality and love of planning events, led her to study public relations at MSU. Bonucchi says she heard about the Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization from another student during her freshman year, but she did not join until she was a junior. Like many students, she was hesitant about joining a club that she didn’t know much about.
“I had been stalking their Instagram for two years,” Bonucchi said. “I finally just decided to do it.”
WCSMO is a student-led theatre marketing organization on campus. Its main purpose is to market shows to MSU student audiences. Students who are part of WCSMO get hands-on experience with social media management, event promotion and content creation.
As WCSMO’s 2024-2025 president, Bonucchi’s job was to manage meetings, events and various campaigns for the Wharton Center. In doing so, Bonucchi has gained public relations experience through her different tasks and has worked to make WCSMO more professionally focused with her implementation of committees this year.
Even though WCSMO is a marketing-focused organization, Bonucchi emphasized how there are many PR disciplines that students gain experience with through the organization. Many students have joined the club with varying majors and interests but seek different takeaways from the club.
Through professional development and learning experiences, WCSMO is helping students grow and develop skills they will use in internship and job experiences. Bonucchi has been able to grow her professional experience firsthand in a way she may not have known she could through a student organization.
“Joining clubs, just the really small things like that are really good examples of ways that you’ll get experience without thinking that you’re going to,” said Bonucchi.
Bonucchi has discovered and expanded her passion for the arts through her experience as president of WCSMO. Joining the organization has given her a unique look behind the curtain and new skills and connections that will carry her into her future career.