Are you curious to know what it's like to be a student in Champlain’s Communication and Creative Media Division? There’s no better way to find out than by following a few of them as they take you on their journeys and share the successes they found along the way.
Kalila Sample on Starting Undeclared, the Value of Internship Experience, and Skills Gained Along the Way
Kalila Sample, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Communication
Specialization
Media Production
Hometown
Burlington, VT
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Florence, Italy
Internship
Music Intern for the Intervale Center & Communication and Development Intern at the Lund Family Center
What is the Upside-Down Curriculum and how has it helped you?
The Upside-Down Curriculum is the idea that you don't have to wait to get real world experience, and that when you come into Champlain you're not just going to be taking a bunch of generalized classes or credit. You're going to start getting that real world experience right as you come into Champlain. I actually was undeclared Communication for a while. But then when I chose my specialization in my sophomore year, I still felt like I had good classes and credits under my belt, and I was able to get different internships through my program that taught me a lot about what it's actually like to be in the real world. I think Champlain does it in such a way that it's not scary, and you feel very supported. Your professors are really looking out for you to make sure that you're getting effective internship experiences that apply to your program and what you're interested in.
Can you tell us about your internships?
I've had two internships here at Champlain College. They were actually both working with nonprofit organizations. I had one summer internship, which was with the Intervale Center. I was the 'Music Intern' for their Summervale event. So I would help the booking agent, Joe Adler, coordinate all the bands and the musical acts for that summer event that happened weekly. I would create social media content for that event and write blog posts about the artists that were performing. Not only was I involved in the whole setup and event management kind of part of putting on that weekly event, but I was also creating content and utilizing those skills that I've learned from my classes to advertise the event and get people to come out.
The second internship I've had was with Lund Family Center. I was a Communication and Development Intern. My main focus was on creating messaging material that would successfully broadcast the message of what Lund does, and create sort of a larger sense of community awareness around what they were doing and the services they were offering. I would do press releases and research about donors. I created a tour video of one of their facilities. It was like a really kind of holistic experience, and I got to practice a lot of those different skills as well.
What kinds of skills have you gained from your program?
I think the first skill, which I'm coming to realize is going to be really important moving forward, is digital marketing. And within digital marketing, inbound marketing. I think there's a big drive to move to connecting to a consumer on like a genuine, personal level before you ask them for something. I think that's an interesting way to think about it. I'm starting to realize that being able to analyze all of that marketing data about consumer traffic and what consumers are actually looking for is something that I've appreciated learning more about. I got an inbound marketing certification through my program. Being able to feel comfortable with inbound marketing is a really good addition to what I can bring to the professional world.
Duncan Persons on the Versatility of the Communication Major, Getting to Know His Professors, and the Impact of the Core Curriculum
Duncan Persons, '19
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Communication
Specialization
Media Production
Minor
Public Relations
Hometown
Queensbury, NY
Pronouns
He/Him
Studied Abroad
Dublin, Ireland
Internship
Brand Specialist Intern at Champlain College in Burlington, VT
Post-Grad Job
Social Media & Student Communications Specialist at the University of Maine at Augusta
What do you like most about your Communication major?
I'm a Communication major, specializing in Media Production with a minor in Public Relations. Communication has been great because you can explore so many different classes—from PR to Video Storytelling to Graphic Design—and that has really helped me set a solid foundation of concrete, interdisciplinary ideas and strategies that aid me in the working world. I have a lot of interests: I love media production and graphic design, and I love event management. I have those skill sets, so when it's needed at my job, I can say, "I can totally help you with that."
How have the Champlain faculty helped to support you over the past four years?
All of my professors at Champlain have been so supportive. Nancy Kerr, my advisor, has been my rock. She is by far the best Faculty Advisor I could ever ask for. Not only does she really care about her students, but she also knows how to get the job done. She knows the curriculum inside and out. She knows who her students are, who her advisees are, what they like, and what they don't like. Nancy and my other professors have been great resources.
How has the Core added to your major classes?
The Core curriculum has been really helpful because it helps me meet people outside of my major. It was awesome to meet people from a wide range of majors—from Psychology to Secondary Education to Digital Forensics, Law, and all of the Business majors.
Also, the fact that our Core curriculum is very discussion-based is really amazing. I learned so much, perspective-wise, on what it's like to come from different parts of the country, what white privilege is, the ins and outs of LGBT awareness, and more. The Core curriculum does a really good job at tackling issues and bringing awareness to students.
Danni Petrilak on Creative Writing, Core Classes, and Extracurriculars
Danni Petrilak, '22
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Creative Media
Specializations
Creative Writing, Game Media, and Moving Image
Hometown
Fleetville, Pennsylvania
Pronouns
She/Her
Favorite Class
Intermediate Creative Writing
What do you like about your major?
I like the flexibility of Creative Media. With a focus and two complementary sections, I really get a taste for every possible artistic class offered on campus. My creative writing classes have been my favorite, since creative writing is what I enjoy the most. Jim Ellefson is my favorite professor, and I would recommend taking Jim's classes for anyone who likes creative writing. He helped so much with the process of editing and publications and even pushed me to submit my work and eventually get published my second year.
How has Core impacted your education?
Core has opened my eyes to a number of things about myself, the community, and the world. My favorite experience was when my second year scientific revelations class, focused on the X-Files, created a research project focused on paranormal activity around Vermont. My group got the opportunity to travel to Norwich University and interview the Paranormal Society. We listened to audio, video, and picture files from their investigations around the northeast.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
I ski, play on the CCE Esports team for Rainbow 6, and am involved with Willard & Maple, Champlain's student-run literary magazine.
Chris Acosta on the Beauty of Burlington, Filmmaking Professors, and Career Readiness
Chris Acosta, '21
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Filmmaking
Specialization
Directing
Hometown
Hackettstown, NJ
Pronouns
He/Him
Favorite Class
Film Photography
What do you like about going to college in Burlington?
Burlington is a beautiful city with a small-town feel. There's a strong sense of community here, and I think that's awesome. Burlington is super walkable and there's so much variety in the types of restaurants, stores, and local venues here. It's also a very outdoor and environmentally conscious city. There are a good amount of parks to get lost in, and the waterfront is always a great place to relax. The stars up here are really something else though. There's not a ton of light pollution, so it's like experiencing a brand new sky compared to where I come from. I recommend checking out the local shops, especially the local food. There's a lot of great variety and food from other cultures that you can explore here in Burlington. I would also recommend investing in a hammock. Hammocking at the waterfront parks has become my favorite pastime and a good way to de-stress.
What do you like about your professors at Champlain?
First of all, I really love that all my professors still work in the field. The world of filmmaking is ever-changing, so to have professors that are still in the industry keeps the program relevant and accurate. I also love that my professors are personable; they feel more like colleagues and collaborators. The sort of lack of hierarchy between student and professor makes the learning process easier. Class feels more like I'm in a mock professional environment than anything else.
How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?
I feel more in tune with the filmmaking industry that I'll be going into. Champlain has provided me with really accurate knowledge; not just the technical lingo, but the experience of what working in film will be like. In the classroom, I've gained invaluable knowledge about how to work with others, exercising my craft, and presenting my ideas in a way that they will be accurately understood. Outside the classroom, I've grown a lot more socially, which helps me build networking skills that I know I'll be using in my career path.
Hansel Carter IV on Core Classes, Life Skills, and Internships
Hansel Carter IV, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Filmmaking
Hometown
Queens, NY
Pronouns
He/Him
Studied Abroad
Dublin, Ireland
Internship
Writer and Assistant Director for The Wishlist, Production Designer for Cake
Favorite Class
Screenwriting III
What’s your favorite Core experience?
My favorite Core experience was my Food For Thought Class with Kelly Thomas and Cyndi Brandenberg, where we learned about food systems and how food deserts impact communities all around us. We cooked and ate dinner with members of a halfway house, talked with farmers who shared the successes and hardships of being in that profession in Vermont, and had a meal at Handy's Lunch with the owner. My favorite part of the class was doing a research project into a dish we loved. I chose an egyptian dish, koshary, and tracked down ingredients right to their sources. Another core class I enjoyed taking was Tween Alliance: Kid Heroes with Kristin Novotny. We were paired with a 6th grade student from Hunt Middle School and followed Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" Together, we created a superhero with a backstory and their own journey. It was such an awesome opportunity to work with the kids and see them grow throughout the semester.
What relevant life skills have your on-campus jobs taught you?
I have worked as a CCM SGA Representative, Eco-Rep, Eco-Rep Area Coordinator, Resident Advisor, Orientation Leader, Eco-Rep Captain, OIE Office Assistant, and Study Abroad Ambassador on campus. Through working as an Eco-Rep Captain, I have been able to work on my leadership skills by holding meetings and working with more than 20 members of a team. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and basic levels of knowledge about environmentalism and sustainability. It's my job to guide each eco-rep into the program and teach them how to educate others through student outreach and engagement.As a Study Abroad Ambassador, I get to meet students from all years and majors who are interested in studying abroad. I have developed my communication and interpersonal skills through conversations with students and parents at campus-wide events and tabling opportunities.
Can you talk about your internships?
I was a Writer and Assistant Director for a project I co-wrote called The Wishlist. Beginning at the start of the fall semester, we had weekly video calls with Saudi interns and came up with ideas for scripts. We then split up into different departments (writing teams, production teams) and had weekly meetings with the interns in our departments. We had the opportunity to share our cultural differences with one another through this experience.
I also worked as a Production Designer for a project called Cake. I set up a call with the Art Director and Director of the film to go over what we needed to come up with fora set look for production. I was able to share my knowledge and experience in set design with the Saudi interns and learn about their ideas and their knowledge.
Anders Lindberg on the Upside-Down Curriculum, Esports, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Anders Lindberg, '22
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Specialization
Animation
Hometown
Bedford, NH
Pronouns
He/Him
Favorite Class
Animation I
How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?
The Upside-Down Curriculum has been so beneficial to me as a learner that I cannot imagine being in a program that doesn't utilize it. The amount of genuine experience I have received in my field has put me in a position that allows me to develop critical skills every semester starting right away.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
My first semester at Champlain, I was given the opportunity to join one of the Champlain College Esports teams, and beyond that I have had a blast participating in student-run events such as Game Jams and movie showings. I enjoy these activities because they are run by students, for students. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to influence these activities and make them exactly how they want them to be.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found out about your experience at Champlain so far?
What surprised me about Champlain was myself. Oftentimes the first years come down with 'imposter syndrome,' and I can say that it hit me hard. I was afraid that I couldn't live up to the expectations. What surprised me was how much potential I had within me, and how these classes could drag that potential out and allow me to do things I didn't think were possible.
Grace Magnant on Game Art, Organizing a Drag Show, and Post-Graduation Plans
Grace Magnant, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Specialization
Environment Artist
Hometown
Topsfield, MA
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Quebec
Favorite Class
Bodies: Dance
Post-Grad Job
Junior Environment Artist at Raven
What made you choose your major?
I was at Champlain's open house, and I remember going to the Game Art and Animation presentation. They were very honest about what was to come if I wanted to be a game artist. The professor explained that Game Art was one of the toughest majors on campus, and that there would be very little free time if you chose to go down this path. My dad told me later he was listening to this thinking "oh gosh, that's a tough sell. Grace probably doesn't want this." But when he looked at me, I was inspired. I wanted a major that was challenging, something that pushed me to be better, and in some ways, something that would prove to myself that I could accomplish any task in front of me. I found that environment art combined the two things I love the most: mathematical problem-solving and art.
What was your favorite Core class experience?
I was able to create a drag show in my second year for a core class that questioned gender expression and how much confidence and self-worth ties into how one presents themself. I brought a bunch of friends together and had them take a series of surveys before, right after, and a few weeks after the drag show that asked about their mental state and self-worth during those times. It was incredible to see just how much self-worth and confidence can be tied to the way people present themselves and how opening the door to things like drag shows improved many people's self-confidence and self-worth. As an experiment, it also brought to life how dressing certain ways can put you into a box you may not be comfortable with and how, even if you find you like the way you present yourself currently, gender expression and fashion experimentation allow you to find a place where you feel the most confident with yourself.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have recently accepted a Junior Environment Artist position at a company called Raven, and will be moving out there this summer. I am excited to further my career from this point forward, and I am very grateful for the opportunities and growth I have gained at Champlain College.
Erika Brown on the Assisting Champlain Parents, Student Collaboration and Support, and the Champlain Young Writers’ Conference
Erika Brown, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Professional Writing
Specializations
Editing & Publishing/Creative Writing & Literature
Hometown
Woodstock, NH
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Dublin, Ireland
How did you first hear about Champlain?
I first came to Champlain for the Champlain Young Writers’ Conference in 2015. It was my first time ever hearing about Champlain or visiting the campus. The conference was an opportunity to stay on campus for the weekend (I slept in Butler), go to workshops in the classrooms, and roam around the campus to explore it on my own time. We were able to eat in the dining hall, and I remember consuming a lot of pizza bagels that weekend!
What do you like about your major?
I love this program because it has allowed me to make incredible friends. I’ve never been surrounded by people who had similar interests as I do. This writing community is constantly encouraging one another to read work, swap drafts, give critique, provide edits, and help each other grow. We all have admiration for one another. We don't see each other as competition, but as collaborators. I love being able to go into our Discord server and say “Hey, I'm not feeling confident in this draft. Could you all help me?”—and they do!
Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position?
I’ve been working in Compass Student Services since my first year. When I started, it was the Enrollment Services Center. In the past few years, I’ve watched and helped build the Compass office into something more identifiable and resourceful for students.
In the summer of 2018, I was asked to join the Class of 2022’s Facebook page to help answer questions, concerns, and provide guidance on the Summer To-Dos. There’s a lot to be done before a student gets to campus, and it can be overwhelming and confusing. Then, I joined the Champlain Parents and Families Facebook Group. Parents tend to have more questions about what needs to be done, how to do it, and when it’s due. I started answering their questions, calming their concerns, and connecting them with the appropriate person if I couldn't answer. That was two years ago, and I have a cult-like following with them. I am often their first point of contact and their primary resource. I love talking to them over the summer and getting to meet them during Orientation. Sometimes, parents will call the office and ask for me directly. I’ve had parents bring me flowers and cookies.
Nothing brings me greater joy than helping a student or a parent. For some, this is their first child going off to college. There is a lot of trust there, and I want students to love being at Champlain as much as I do.
Kunthea Relinski on The Grind, Her Involvement with Student Government, and the Advantages of Studying Professional Writing at Champlain
Kunthea Relinski, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Professional Writing
Specialization
Screenwriting
Hometown
Dover, NH
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
London, England
Internship
ShareYourself in Burlington, VT
Favorite Class
Any class with Jim Ellefson!
What sets Champlain’s Professional Writing program apart from programs at other schools?
I think that the Professional Writing major at Champlain is greater in a sense because, at other schools, you can take Journalism as a major, or you can have a Creative Writing major, and nothing really encapsulates all of it. Here, you choose a specialization which you will focus in, but you get to take classes in every different aspect of writing. I think it is really helpful to be knowledgeable in all of it, because maybe down the line you want to change your career path, or you're asked to do something that you didn't focus on in school. But here, you get to learn about all of it and the professors really encourage you to defer outside of your comfort zone and take classes that you wouldn't normally take. I don't ever take any classes in editing and publishing because that's not really my realm, but it's good to know about technical writing and all the grammatical skills and things like that.
Can you tell us about The Grind?
The Grind is the weekly open mic that we have every Wednesday in Fireside Lounge. People can come do stand up, people can sing, people can read poetry. I have been the host for three years now. It's a really good community to take a break from your work every Wednesday night, eat food, drink tea, and hang out with your friends. We are a welcoming community, and I think it's given me a lot of confidence in myself as a person. I've fostered such a great community there, and everyone bolsters each other up no matter your ability and whatever you're trying to perform. It's just very encouraging and inclusive.
Every week I open the show with a set of three songs on my guitar, but other people do stand up, their own or something that they've seen on TV. A lot of people recite original poetry, stand up poems, spoken word, or just normal poetry. We have one person that plays the violin, some people bring their DJ decks and will play a set. We have a lot of variety. One person brings her saxophone sometimes.
What extracurriculars are you involved in?
I'm the Director of Communications for the SGA. The SGA is the Student Government Association, and my role as Director of Communications is to work with the President and the Vice President to make sure that we are communicating well with the student body, but also creating a really good relationship with the entire administration of Champlain. So, we promote different events on social media. A few weeks ago, I hosted a candy grams event where people could come into the office and interact with us, and we could send free candy for Valentine's Day. We also tried to set up a giving tree for holidays where you can give back to our community in Burlington as a whole.
I love my role there because I get to interact both with the administration, the student body, and I get to work a lot internally with the SGA. Being on the SGA cabinet has taught me a lot about applying my writing skills to my position there. Being able to work with the community, to write letters to the community, work with social media. Being on SGA has really advanced all of the skills that I'm learning here and makes sure that I'm able to apply them well.
Ben Van Cleave on Exploring Burlington, Intermediate Typography, and Preparing for the Future
Ben Van Cleave, '20
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
*Visual Communication Design
Hometown
Canterbury, NH
Pronouns
He/Him
Studied Abroad
Central Saint Martins at the University of Arts London
Internship
Champlain College Marketing Department
Favorite Class
Intermediate Typography
*Visual Communication Design is now called Graphic Design & Visual Communication
What do you like about going to college in Burlington?
Burlington is the perfect college town. The student population here is huge, so everywhere you go, there's always young people out and about. It also has a unique spirit and tightly-knit community, so it really does feel like home. I always recommend that people check out the local music and arts. There are always a lot of amazing shows going on in a variety of different venues across town.
What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Champlain?
I think my favorite major-specific class I've taken at Champlain is Intermediate Typography with Suzanne Glover. You grow so much over the course of that class, and seeing the progression from project to project is really exciting and rewarding. My favorite Core class that I've taken at Champlain is definitely the History of Hip-Hop with Brian Murphy, which had really interesting subject matter. It was one of the few classes that I've been excited to write a paper for.
How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?
Champlain has a really strong focus on providing you with real industry standards so that you can enter the field with all of the tools you need to succeed. The people I've met here form an amazing community, which will turn into an amazing professional network after graduation.