Brett Pyne of Athletic Media Relations has led the way in creating an atmosphere where student employees can have real-life responsibilities at the university. Brett was once a student employee in the same department, and still remembers how different things were back then. "I remember being assigned just menial tasks as a student here. I would just do what I was told for the full-time employees. I remember promising myself that if I ever returned as a full-time employee, I would do things a little differently." And so he has.

Brett has spent the last few years implementing new ways to help students understand what the public relations business is all about, and the current students in the program are definitely feeling the benefits. Kyle Chilton and Jen Connery are two current graduate assistants that both have full responsibility for at least one cougar sport. All that news you hear about the men's volleyball team – that's Kyle at work. Kyle handles everything concerning PR for BYU Men's Volleyball, from the national media to the official website of BYU athletics, www.byucougars.com. "I wanted to give the students a chance to do what they would be doing in their careers," Brett says. "I want them to take ownership of a program and to get the big picture." That is accomplished by giving them the same responsibility they would have if they were a full-time employee. While they have many opportunities for growth and success, when something goes wrong, they take the heat. Most outside media who work with students like Kyle and Jen don't even know they are dealing with students. "I was at an event where a patron complimented us on how well the event had been run, not knowing it had been almost exclusively run by students. A lot of people's reaction would probably have been quite different had they known they were dealing with "only students".

Brett Pyne's program has paid great dividends for Cougar Athletics. Typically, a full-time employee used to be in charge of several sports, having to divide his or her time among many worthy endeavors. Now, the full-time employee is a mentor to developing students who will eventually take full responsibility of a sport. Under the watchful wing of a more experienced full-time employee, interns take full ownership of a sport. When asked about the experience, Kyle said, "I love it. I do exactly what a full-time professional does on a part-time basis. I am getting practical, real-life experience while still in school." The result is that more sports are getting wider and better press coverage, public relations has improved, and students are getting real-life experience that translates into real jobs shortly after graduation. In fact, Kyle has been offered a job at Southern Virginia University this summer where he will be doing similar work. The students also have the opportunity to give back. Kyle and Jen both mentor less experienced students who are just getting started in the PR industry. These students eventually take full responsibility of a sport just as Jen and Kyle have. Another benefit of the mentor/mentee relationship in Media Relations is the flow of ideas. Brett mentioned the great ideas that come from others outside the full-time employees circle. "Communication is key. To have a good mentored relationship, you need good communication."

Athletic Media Relations has a great system for mentoring students. The process starts whenever an entry level position opens. They contact the departments that attract the type of students the supervisors are looking for (in this instance, the Communications Department or the business school). Brett isn't really looking for any particular major, but more of a student "with a particular background and skill set." The student hired begins with small manageable tasks and is mentored by their supervisor as well as students with more experience . After some time, the student is given full and direct responsibility of a sport where they are still mentored by a full-time supervisor.