Meet Some of Our Broadcast Media Production Students
The best way to find out what it's like to study Broadcast Media Production at Champlain is to hear from our current students and alumni. Follow a few of them below as they take you on their journeys and share the successes they found along the way. Beyond the classrooms, students have countless avenues to explore their interests, connect with others, and dive headfirst into their field.
Julia Leonard on the Core Curriculum, Expanding Her Education, and Her Favorite Extracurricular Clubs
Julia Leonard, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Broadcast Media Production
Specialization
Motion Graphics
Minor
Web Development
Hometown
Exeter, NH
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Auckland, New Zealand
Internship
Intern at JAM Creative in Burlington, VT
Favorite Class
Form in Motion
What has been your experience with the Core Curriculum?
Core is unconventional. It's broad and interdisciplinary, while also combining specific subjects into a semester-long learning experience. It forces you to think about a singular subject through many lenses, expanding your perspectives and the things that you believe are normal, fair, or unjust. One of the best things I did for Core was a project studying the effects of running on the body and mind. This exploration took me into science, psychology, philosophy, and history. My culminating project was to train for six weeks to run a half-marathon!
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
I'm involved in the Hiking Club, CHAMP, and Club Volleyball. I enjoy them because they're just fun! You get to hang out with like-minded people outside of typical events. Plus, hiking in Vermont is beautiful. I had never played volleyball before, but always wanted to try. It's the same for other clubs I've been to, like Climb Champlain and Parkour Club.
Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Pursue what you're passionate about beyond your major. Champlain makes it easy to push past the boundaries of a traditional education. I'm a student in the CCM division, but I've taken classes in all four divisions. I made it a priority to make my education what I wanted it to be, allowing me to explore topics I'm passionate about.
Olivia Lyons on Getting Behind the Camera, Internships, and Student Life
Olivia Lyons, '19
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Broadcast Media Production
Hometown
Rutland, VT
Pronouns
she/her
Internship
News Intern at WCAX-TV in Burlington, VT
Favorite Class
Video Field Production
Post-Grad Job
Multimedia Journalist & Producer at WCAX-TV in Burlington, VT
What's the most memorable project you did in your major?
As a senior, everyone does a Capstone project. We did a 10-minute documentary about house concerts. We traveled all over to film, including to Canada and Connecticut. It was so much fun meeting new people and seeing artists perform. And then, we went through all the footage to pick the best shots and make this movie ours.
You had an internship with a local news station. What was that experience like?
When I first began interning at one of the local television stations, I worked hard to really prove that I was present and wanted to do the work, and it ended up paying off. Then, I was a fill-in reporter and an associate producer for the same local television station at which I interned. They called me up and asked, "Hey, can you fill in on this day? We have a reporter out." And I'd go in and do what they do.
What’s it like to be a college student in Burlington?
I love Burlington. I'm from a place where there isn't a whole lot going on. Here, there's always an event happening, places to go, new spots to find. And being a college town, there are a lot of people your own age to meet and hang out with. I think the Waterfront is my favorite place to go in Burlington.
Derek Mann on Broadcast Media Production, Burton Snowboards, and Senior Capstone
Derek Mann, '21
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Broadcast Media Production
Specialization
Sonic Arts
Hometown
East Hampton, CT
Pronouns
He/Him
Internship
Burton Snowboards
What made you choose your major?
I chose Broadcast Media Production because I just thought it would be really fun. I went to a technical high school and never actually planned to go to college, but I'm really glad I did because it has opened up so many opportunities for me. I've never been happier!
Tell us about your internship!
I was a Digital Marketing Intern at Burton. I pulled and edited video clips from the Burton Snowboards Instagram page and worked on transcribing videos and organizing sequences with clips of raw footage to be edited by someone else on the team. My classroom work helped me with this internship because I had the post-production skills in order to succeed.
What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found particularly rewarding?
I'm working on my Capstone documentary right now, and it's definitely the most rewarding project because I get to solidify people's stories and experiences with Dog Mountain, a Vermont non-profit, through my video. It just feels really good to know I'm helping people leave a legacy.
Luke Marcheski on Campus Living, the Global Condition, and Feeling Prepared for a Career
Luke Marcheski, '21
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Broadcast Media Production
Specialization
Motion Graphics
Pronouns
He/Him
Hometown
Quincy, MA
What’s the best thing about living on campus?
I spent my first year at 396 Main Street. For Champlain, it is a long walk to campus. Compared to UVM and other colleges, the walk is nothing. The fact that Champlain's campus is both condensed and spread about the community is very unique and allowed me to be closer to the city than I would have been at a centralized campus. I have lived in apartments in the latter three years, and the availability of apartments near Champlain is incredible. I have been able to build my own experience in Burlington through living in these apartments, and thankfully, Champlain was never too far away.
What’s your favorite Core experience?
My favorite Core experience was the entirety of the Global Condition course taught by Lionel Beasley. Throughout the entire semester, Professor Beasley kept an amazing balance between relaxed and professional, treating us like colleagues and peers rather than students. When I first arrived at college, I was very happy that this classroom environment was captured in many classes, but Professor Beasley stood out above the rest.
How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?
I equate my experience at Champlain with how a Swiss Army knife is built. I have been taught so many different things, both related to my major and outside of it. Through the style which it was taught, I truly believe that I will graduate with an incredible wealth of knowledge that I can begin my career with.