Pam Parent:
CLASS OF 1979
Centennial High SchoolClass of 1979
Champaign, IL
Parkland CollegeClass of 1981
Champaign, IL
Champaign Central High SchoolClass of 1977
Champaign, IL
Franklin Middle SchoolClass of 1976
Champaign, IL
Garden Hills Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Champaign, IL
Pam's Story
Life
Hello Fellow Classmates. No I didn't become some singer somewhere, tho many of the gang I hung with thought I would. I began a career in Radio at WDWS on the air then moved on to TV behind the scenes. I got married in 1982 and moved to Utah in 1983. Back to Illinois and lived in Peoria from 1985 to 1997. During my life there, I worked in production at two television stations WMBD and WEEK and made a career change and started working in Advertising. I was lucky enough to win local, state and national awards for some of my commercial productions. In 1997 my husband and I made an amicable split and I moved to Arizona. I met a great guy once I moved there and got married 9/3/98 and now have two beautiful step-daughters. Tho their Dad is old enough that he should have had grown children, he started a family late in life so the girls are 20 and 22. I am fortunate to have been in their lives since they were 14 mos and 3.
I'm in a second career now just for a Brain-Break. I suffered burnout from writing. I'm working for National Car Rental/Alamo Rent-a-Car in Phoenix currently. My life journey isn't over tho, I'm still waiting to see what's around the next corner.
School
Fall Plays, Spectrum, Spring Musicals...those were major events in my school days at Centennial.
My school life started out at the cross town rival Central. My folks moved to the southwest part of town so I had to change schools. Not a fun thought but it was a good move. No offense Central friends, but Centennial offered me some things that Central couldn't provide.
Both schools were very fun tho. I do regret not staying in touch with the gang at Central, better, too. But it was hard from a distance. I'll bet with today's technology, and the in...Expand for more
ternet, that wouldn't have been an issue.
Singing was my life while at Centennial. I did it every chance I got. Thanks classmates for taking a listen and being kind enough to say you enjoyed my voice.
College
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I finished High School. I started in the Radio Broadcast curriculum thinking I would get as close to my Dream Job as I could. My secret desire was to be a singer! Spinning records was a close facsimile. I was one of four females enrolled at the time. Made life interesting to say the least. I was asked/hired to be a Student Assistant Station Manager, responsible for Music Direction, Public Service, and Traffic. I was the first Freshman ever to hold this position.
I was also the first Parkland Student ever hired at WDWS radio while still in school. Jim Manley hired me there.
At Parkland I was known at WPCD, the college radio station, as Phluphphr...(read fluffer)
Steve Brown and Jerry Brock were very important people in my life as they were the Station Manager and Asst. Station Manager, respectively. They taught me a lot about the business and were good life roll models. Thanks guys. I miss ya.
Workplace
I started working at National Car Rental in Phx in March of 1998. My hubby, who wasn't my hubby at that point in time suggested I apply for a job there even tho it was totally different than my past 20 years of work experience. David Livingston, the sales manager at the time, hired me on the spot. There are days I love my job and days I absolutely hate it. But I actually think that's pretty much the norm with work life for everyone.
It's interesting work and it's fun to see the people you rent to that may have lived right down your street sometime during your life.
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