The FADM faculty in collaboration withĚýVictoria Nauta, Director of Career Services, selected students based on their academic performance and professional promise. Two students were awarded scholarships to support their attendance at the conference. The students are senior Dyana Najdi who was awarded the NRF Big Show Scholarship and Junior Samantha Tucholski who was awarded the Rising Star Scholarship.

Reflecting on her experience, Najdi shared:

“As a fashion design major with a strong interest in the business side of the industry, it was refreshing to be surrounded by like-minded individuals. Meeting professionals I admire and having my questions answered in person gave me greater motivation and direction as I prepare for graduation in May.”

Tucholski echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the conference’s impact on her professional growth:

“The NRF Student Conference was an amazing opportunity to hear directly from industry insiders. I learned the importance of staying curious, using my voice, building relationships, and leading with kindness.”

The National Retail Federation Foundation Student Program provided these students with invaluable insights and connections, preparing them for successful careers in the dynamic world of fashion and retail.

His goal was never digital content and social media. He expected journalism to be his final goal as an undergraduate. At The Montclarion, he served as a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. With his passion for writing, he was also a Montclair Admissions Office Ambassador. As he went through graduate school and internships, Bobby found that working on digital content and social media was a great fit for him, skill-wise and personality-wise.

Then the opportunity to join the WWE team in that field came up. Being a Senior Digital Content Producer for WWE, Bobby focuses on creating content for the fans by a fan. Although it can be a little hectic, he continues to love the work he does and has fun while doing it. He has grown into the role, constantly adapting, as digital and social media continues to change. He started working with WWE in 2011 and social media is not the same as it used to be. Bobby continues to learn new things and takes on new challenges to bring the best content to WWE fans.

The work he did as a Broadcasting major prepared him to work in the industry in more ways than he can express. That, plus the leadership experience he gained with The Montclarion was a tremendous benefit. “Everything I did at Montclair gave me the tools I needed to succeed in my journey,” Bobby said. Being involved on campus was the push he needed to get where he is today. The Montclarion provided him with a platform to practice his skills and work as a leader. Yet, working in social media is different from what a journalist does. Bobby has built the skills to be at the level of Senior Digital Content Producer because of his history of being a student leader.

As an Alumni, Bobby is creating an inspirational impact on our students showcasing that if there’s an opportunity – take it. If he could tell his undergraduate self something he wished someone could have told him is to be open to experiences outside your expectations.

“What you think you want to do career-wise may not be what you end up doing. It may not even be something you like doing. Being open gives you the best chance to find your place in the industry and find work you truly enjoy doing.”

One day you can be writing the scores of last night’s football game and the next you can be planning content for WrestleMania.

Written By, Grace Velazquez

Being a graphic design major wasn’t always in the cards for Jon. “From an early age, elementary through middle school, I always had an interest in technology, computers, ipods, and macs specifically,” said Jon. “Going through general art classes growing up, then getting into photography in middle school and finally doing my first 101 beginner graphic design classes freshman year of high school”.

During Jon’s time as a graphic design major for Montclair, he was required to get an internship. He said the process of getting an internship was quite easy for him. He was able to land one with Blue Dog Graphic Design and Printing. “I called them up asking for the person in charge of hiring interns, went in later that day and pretty much through my charisma got hired right on the spot – no resume, no portfolio, no nothing. I walked in with knowledge and confidence and got the internship on the spot”. Since then, he has worked his way to becoming a Head Graphic Designer.

Since graduating from Montclair, Jon has built a career for himself. He started his own company, “Laceys Designs”. “Brick by brick everything was all built out. Laceys Designs began as a way to branch off into my own realm and get personal freelance experience in the business world”. His creation for his company was based on his love for the work that he does. “Being a designer comes with a little bit of moral responsibility and the general responsibility for taking accountability in life…I only set it up once I knew this was where I wanted my life to go; helping people design and capture their dreams to reality”.

When it comes to the most valuable lesson learned over the years, Jon learned that it isn’t hard as long as you put in the work. “With proper education, hands on training and having the soft skills of knowing how to interact with people, anything is possible” Jon said “Don’t let parents, friends, professors, bosses, anyone, hold you back. Just do it! It’s never been easier, the entire world is at your fingertips”.

Jon’s best advice for current and future Redhawks is to make new friends as they could help you out in the long run. “Talk to everyone, a simple ‘hi’ can go a long way. Especially in college, the peers in your major have similar interests”. “Multiple times I’ve called upon old classmates to do design jobs for me where their skill set was much better. The people you meet now will go off and do extraordinary things with their life, it’s always good to have your name in their contacts list with them knowing you are a capable trust worthy hard worker”.

Written by, Jayla Trice

Carley realized she wanted to become a Journalism major when she was 17 years old. It was after she got the opportunity to attend an open house for a teen health magazine that she began to feel extremely out of her comfort zone. Carley began to panic, realizing she had not done any writing outside of school assignments; her anxiety made her feel like she could never become a journalist. “…Then there was a moment of clarity. I knew I wanted to be a writer” Campbell said. “It was something I always loved to do and while I was not 100 percent familiar with the material, the magazine said they would help educate on their topics and how best to write.”

A couple months later, she was able to land a job offer; this was only the beginning of Carley’s success. She later met an editor for a Pittsburgh-based publication called iGeneration Youth with whom she worked with for months on an article discussing the rise of mass shootings in the United States. The article went on to become syndicated nationally and was the moment she realized she could have a career in journalism.

Carley was a Journalism major at Montclair and was very involved in on-campus activities. Her involvement on campus allowed her to have amazing opportunities and prepared her for her life after graduation. She was a part of The Montclarion, WMSC Radio, and Team Rocky. Her roles in these environments played an important factor in the person she is today. “Working for the Montclarion helped me recognize the importance of not only short deadlines – but also how teamwork can help build a wonderful final product.” Carley had a collaborative team at The Montclarion and continues to learn the skills she picked up while working there. WMSC allowed her to be creative, make lifelong friends, and learn to tell stories with sound. Team Rocky taught her patience and leadership skills. “You never work alone as a producer – you need patience and diligence to bring a show to the screen. Team Rocky taught me the value of being kind and energetic especially in rapidly changing situations.”

When it comes to Carley’s internships at CNN and SiriusXM, landing them was no easy feat. Before landing these positions, Carley would continuously put herself out there. “There are a lot of factors in how I got those internships. I think the first thing I would say was persistence when trying to get these positions in the first place. Every winter, spring, summer, and fall I would send out over 50 or more applications for various media organizations based in the New York City metropolitan area. I would keep tabs, get on as many email lists as possible, and check back daily” said Carley. When the inevitable rejections came in, Carley took it as a sign to keep going and to keep applying – persistence is key!

While preparing for another semester at Montclair, Carley began the interview process for SiriusXM. She is thankful for her time at WMSC and for her mentors as she felt encouraged to go for this position. When it comes to Carley’s internship at CNN, it was like a dream come true. “CNN was the one I had pushed to get from the moment I started the spring semester of my sophomore year. Hours of cover letter writing while balancing course work – feverishly checking my email for any kind of update – and seeing those invites to interview online.” Carley said. “There were a lot of rejections and while it was disheartening, I applied again and again.” In the summer of 2022, she began to feel as if she was not going to land another internship, but she decided that she could not give up and she took a chance. As she was on vacation, she got a call from CNN New Day for an interview. “To be completely honest, I cried.” Carley said. “While the show changed during my involvement to CNN This Morning, I got a firsthand opportunity to see each and every element that goes into building a morning show. I also got to work on Election Day 2022 which might have been the most thrilling night of my life.”

Carley is now working the morning show for WAVY TV. She helps get stories off the ground and onto screens across Southeast Virginia and the Outer Banks which she considers a privilege. Her advice to current students is to never give up. “Keep going. You will get rejections, bad grades, and stories that do not turn out how you envisioned them. But it’s about how you pick yourself up and keep going. There will always be bumps in the road and your story might not go the way you want. But keep going. You will meet so many spectacular people who are so dedicated to helping you succeed. You will find that story. You will see your grades change. You can do incredible things.”

Written by Jayla Trice

“I always hoped I was going to make it somewhere in film. But if you told me, like, Grammys and before I even graduated, I would have called you a liar,” says Ping, a junior Film and Television major participating in Montclair’s Semester in LA program.

Now in its third semester, Semester in LA has Montclair students shooting for the stars, landing internships and networking alongside the other major East Coast college communication programs in film and television. “Montclair now has a significant footprint in the epicenter of where that all happens,” says School of Communication and Media Director Keith Strudler.

Ping, who has experience in mixing and production on set at Montclair, was working at his internship with Cinema Devices, a film engineering company, when a co-worker mentioned he needed a sound mixer for the Grammys’ red carpet. “I spent three days doing different red carpet events, recording the audio for the handheld mic interviews for the Recording Academy,” Ping says.

It’s the type of experience becoming more common for the students taking part in the program.Ěý“We’re starting to see that people have now heard of ĚÇĐÄvlog. That’s opening doors for us,” Strudler says.

Alejandro Londono, a juniorĚýFilm and Television major,Ěýwill complete two internships over the course of the semester: one in sports media at Stadium Rant and the other as a television reviewer forĚýan online entertainment magazine. “To be able to live out here and be in the middle of the industry at such a young age is a huge privilege,” he says.

Last fall, MadisonĚýWestenhiser, aĚýFilm and Television major, was offered a job to continue her internship remotely when she left Los Angeles. She’s an assistant producer withĚýMake That Paper Podcast, a show featuring interviews with artists talking about the odd jobs, side hustles and alternative income streams they find to help them pursue their artistic careers.Ěý“I do a lot of the show’s social media posts, along with newsletters, and now even edit some of the scripts,” Westenhiser says.

The podcast’s co-host isĚýJaime Parker Stickle, a screenwriter hired by Montclair to run its Semester in LA program.ĚýShe teaches a class on the Los Angeles media industry, where she draws on her own connections to bring in guest speakers –Ěýcinematographers, showrunners, casting agents and writers.

“All people working in the industry who have held various positions leading up to who they are now,” Stickle says.

Montclair alumni help the students dream big. Michael Price ’81 (BA in Speech and Theatre), executive producer ofĚýThe Simpsons; Marvel Studios’ Adam Derengowski ’19 (BFA in Filmmaking), production coordinator; Sean Aronold ’21 (BFA in Filmmaking), production assistant; andĚýRebekka Johnson ’01 (BFA in Theatre),Ěýan actress on the Netflix seriesĚýGlow, have all shared their personal stories of what it takes to make it in theĚýHollywood entertainment scene.

“Every single day you are learning about a new person and what their life was like and what obstacles they had that you may have and can figure out how to overcome,” Westenhiser says.

Students selected for the program stay on track to graduate by taking Montclair courses online while in LA. The University shares classroom space and residential housing with other East Coast schools, providing opportunities for all the students to get to know one another. They spend time together, whether hiking or touring LA, and in doing so are making connections with people who could very well be their collaborators after they graduate, whether in LA, New York or another city shaping the entertainment landscape.

“Coming out here and realizing that I’m a Montclair student in the same league with NYU or Ithaca, that we’re now up to that level, if not surpassing, is a super cool feeling,” says Ping.

Experiencing California in itself has been an adventure. “I was definitely missing Jersey but the weather and the views are unbeatable,” says Ahmad Muheisen, who took part in the program last fall and will graduate in May with a degree in Sports Communication. “And then, all the connections we gained, all the experience we received. It was like a dream come true.”

Story by Staff WriterĚýMarilyn Joyce Lehren.Ěý

Montclair School of Communication and Media students Charlotte Bigotto and John Schell have already accomplished something beyond their wildest dreams being selected as finalists for the 2024 Coca-Cola Refreshing Film (CCRF) Program. While this milestone is an incredible accomplishment and a first in Montclair’s history, what might happen next could change their lives.

Charlotte and John are Television and Digital Media majors whose unlikely journey began in the Fall 2023 semester, when ProfessorĚýStuart MacClellandĚýshared background about the 26thĚýannual competition in one of his film classes. Professor MacClelland explained that the film competition provides up-and-coming film students at 60 partner Universities across N. America to learn commercial filmmaking by creating content for the big screen with the support of a global brand.

The long and challenging process began with the seniors pitching their script ideas in class via Zoom to the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films team. Charlotte and John had a handful of classes together before taking Professor MacClelland’s course and decided to partner for the competition. “I was nervous to even stand up in front of everyone and make the pitch,” Charlotte admitted, “and in my notebook, I had multiple ideas. I went with my gut, and said ‘I like this one, let’s pitch it.’”

The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films team providedĚý feedback and encouraged them to officially enter the competition by transforming their idea into a script. The Montclair duo did that, and after their entry advanced to the semi-final round of 15 out of more than 900 entries, John saw the life-altering email first in early November.

“Never did I think that we would be where we are right now,” John said. “I was overjoyed we made it to the semi-finals, and to find out we made it to the final four teams was insane. It still doesn’t feel real in a way.”

ĚýWhat is the Coca-Cola Refreshing Film Program?

The program provides a real-world experience. All finalists receive a $20,000 budget to produce their 30-second films and are mentored throughout the process. While Charlotte and John are the finalists, this project is a school-wide collaboration with fellow filmmaking students, Montclair alumni and other local professionals. On February 19 at the AMC Theatre in Clifton, that crew along with faculty, staff and members of the CCRF program gathered overnight to film the team’s commercial.

“This program is designed to give students the opportunity to get hands-on professional experience by creating content for a big brand while still in college.” said Aviva Kleiner, Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Program Director. ”It’s amazing to support students at the start of their careers since they will be the ones fueling the entertainment industry for years to come. I can’t wait to see where their careers take them.”

“We’re making a spot with a large brand and they are involved in the creative process., which is a fun and cool part of the process. Learning more about branding from one of the world’s most successful and recognizable brands is exciting and a great learning experience,” Charlotte said.

“There are times when we’re working with people who have a lot of film experience,” John shared. “It’s weird for me as someone who doesn’t have that experience to be in a higher position. It’s a big learning process for us. But it’s been eye opening and now when I watch movies all I think about is the behind-the-scenes work to make a successful film.”

“And the Coca-Cola Refreshing Team is so welcoming, it’s nice to work with people you like and feel comfortable working with,” he continued. “It’s professional but it feels like family.”

The CCRF Program is also meaningful to Charlotte and John because of their own family experiences when they were growing up, but for different reasons. “When I was about 10 years old, my cousins and I started making movies on our phones. It was like we were directors even back then, and we would ‘screen’ the films for our family. I’ve thought about those moments during the process. It would be an amazing feeling and a dream come true to have my family go to a movie theater and watch something I helped create.”

“Growing up, my dad’s childhood was kind of (rough),” John said. “He hated his job, so he would always tell me, ‘Do what you like, and do what makes you happy.’ So for him to experience this, too, helps make up for a lot of that, and it’s almost like it’s this one thing he’s been waiting for. So that part is cool and I’m so grateful to be at this point.”

Montclair SCM has Prepared Charlotte and John for the “Real World”

While their CCRF journey isn’t over, advancing in the competition has also allowed the team to reflect on their experience at Montclair. Charlotte and John cited Professor MacClelland andĚýProfessor Vernard GanttĚýas having a positive impact on their Montclair education. “The studios are awesome, and I have always had good professors who care about your work and want to see you succeed,” Charlotte said. “They want you to ‘fail’ now, and that can be hard, but it’s better to make mistakes now and not repeat them or make them in the real world.”

“If I was told to go to work on The Today Show tomorrow, I feel like I would be prepared to succeed,” John said. “If you’re passionate about film or television and want to get involved in this industry, Montclair will teach you so much. To work with people who have so much industry experience, and to do it in these facilities only 10 miles from New York City is something I would recommend to anyone.”

What Comes Next in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program

On April 1, 2024 all four Coca-Cola Refreshing Films spots will debut. Charlotte and John will attend the cinema industry’s leading industry convention, CinemaCon in Las Vegas from April 8-11. There they will get to experience the convention first hand and see all the business that gets conducted on the distribution side of the industry. They’ll also celebrate their film along with their fellow finalists. The Grand Prize winning film will be announced and that spot will be featured on the big screen at Coca-Cola partnered theaters including AMC, Cinemark, Megaplex, Cineplex Cinemas and Landmark Cinemas.

Additionally, starting April 1 -30, Cinemark is hosting the Cinemark Fan Favorite Award and encouraging movie fans to vote on their favorite spot. Chance to win incentives will be offered to moviegoers who vote atĚý, and Cinemark will launch a customized Coca-Cola Refreshing Films cup and popcorn tub in its theaters to drive awareness. A vote scanned from a Coca-Cola will count 5x, which can be done only once during the voting period. The winning team will receive $5,000.

Regardless of the prizes, Charlotte and John have already made Montclair history by becoming the first Red Hawks team to enter the competition, let alone make it to the finals. “We are extremely proud of Charlotte and John, and their success speaks to their creativity, determination, teamwork and willingness to be mentored by our amazing faculty and the world-class team at Coca-Cola,” saidĚýDr. Keith Strudler, Director, School of Communication and Media at Montclair. “We are excited to see the Montclair community rally around Charlotte and John during the voting period, and hopefully propel them to victory for the Cinemark Fan Favorite Award.”

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Media contact:ĚýKeith Green, School of Communication and Media, 973-655-3701 and greenk@montclair.edu

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About the School of Communication and Media: Founded in 2012, the School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,800. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, communication and media studies, animation and visual effects, and an MA in public and organizational relations, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that includeĚý,ĚýĚýnewspaper,ĚýĚýAgency, theĚý,ĚýĚýOTT streaming platform, andĚý, as well as theĚý, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

About the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films:ĚýThe Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program is a platform at partnered schools for up-and-coming filmmakers to create content for the big screen. The goal of the program is to help all participating filmmakersĚý further their careers and provide a real-world professional opportunity to work with a global brand. 2024 marks the program’s 26th year. It’s currently the longest running branded film program in the US.

His time at Montclair and active participation in the Montclair News Lab proved pivotal in career preparation. Louis emphasizes, “I was in the class 6 out of my 8 semesters at Montclair, and sat in on the class during an additional semester during my freshman year. When you put the effort in, the News Lab teaches you almost everything you need to know about a newsroom.” Reflecting on his internship at News 12, Louis stresses the significance of preparation in the interview process. “My education at the School of Communication and Media, especially for the writing exam, prepared me well for the challenges.” He then describes his interview process. “First, I had a phone interview with HR. They asked me mostly generic questions about my experience. Then came the interview with the assistant news director. She asked important questions about my passions and goals for the future. I was then asked to take part in a writing exam, where I had to write scripts for news stories and events using the same press releases I would be given in the newsroom.”

Louis asserts the importance of internships, stating, “Having an internship is so important. It gives you an idea of what you’re getting into for (hopefully) the rest of your career. My internship was amazing.” Even in a virtual setting, the internship provided valuable real-world experience. When coming back in office he was able to work on all sorts of assignments, “I was able to field produce our reporter’s story about New York’s hometown heroes parade. I was also able to produce my own shows with supervision.” Describing the transition to a full-time producing role, Louis expresses enthusiasm. “I was able to be more creative with the shows I produced, adding my own flair to the news. Creating a show every day definitely helped me.” As an overnight producer, Louis thrives on the responsibility of “setting the tone” for the day. He says his favorite part is, “creating a well-thought-out morning show for our viewers every day. As the overnight producer…It’s a big responsibility but, I couldn’t be happier doing what I love.”

Offering advice to aspiring newsroom professionals, Louis underscores the importance of embracing critiques for personal growth. “My biggest advice to anyone looking to work in a newsroom is something I’m still working on myself: taking critiques as what they are: critiques. When someone who’s been in the industry for a long time gives you criticism, take the advice and apply it to your work. Try to improve at least one thing every day. If you do that, you’ll be 1000% better after a few months of working.” In conclusion, Louis’ journey from high school news programs to News 12 New Jersey illustrates the profound impact of passion, education, and internships in shaping a successful career in the dynamic realm of TV and digital media.

Written By Ashley Rodriguez

Growing up, Mariya always had a love and interest in fashion, but was unsure about what she wanted to pursue in college.

“To be honest, I kind of fell into it. I didn’t want to go to college at first because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet,” said Davis. “My parents were the ones that pushed me to go to school and pick something. We looked into different programs like Business and Product Design, but I felt like I needed something that was in between.”

When it came time to select a college and a major, she pursued her passion at ĚÇĐÄvlog. During her undergraduate time in the fashion program, she had three internships.

“It’s super important to intern while in college,” said Davis. “For one, many jobs would like you to have professional work experience, so having that is definitely beneficial to your career post-grad. Also, by getting hands-on experience, you’re learning your strengths and what you like.”

Landing one internship, let alone three, is a huge accomplishment. Mariya’s one piece of advice for securing these positions is research.

“To find the internships that I had, I looked through LinkedIn and Google Jobs almost every day. I also sent emails detailing a bit about myself to whoever was in the hiring office,” said Davis.

Currently, Mariya is working as a visual merchandiser with Ambassador Retail.

“My company helps clients like Le’Spec, Show Me Your Mumu, and Robert Graham with their visual merchandising to help increase their sales,” said Davis. “This is done by going into stores that carry these brands such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus and remerchandising the layout of the products in a way that is visually appealing.”

Her favorite thing about her current position is looking at the final display and seeing her hard work come together.

“I like coming in and having the creative ability to merchandise the product how I want and getting it all organized,” said Davis. “Seeing how visually appealing it looks afterward is a rewarding experience because I did it myself, and that’s what makes it really special for me.”

Mariya believes learning different fashion perspectives at ĚÇĐÄvlog made her career ready.

“I would say that Montclair helped me to understand branding from a fashion perspective,” said Davis.

Her future plans include finding a full-time job in merchandising, brand management, or styling.

Mariya has a few pieces of advice for current students. Firstly, find an internship early and know what you like.

“Start an internship as early as you can! Most of these jobs want you to have at least 3 years of experience, so try to get as much experience as you can,” said Davis. “Think about your strengths and things that you like. This will help you to pick your internships and work with more intent.”

Her second recommendation is to network!

“Network, network, network! Go to as many Fashion Week events as you can and talk to everyone,” said Davis. “Most of the events are posted for free online, so try to attend those, and if you aren’t able to attend, try to gain work experience during that week, which can also be found online.”

Most importantly, always take care of yourself and understand that everything happens for a reason.

“Take care of yourself. It can be overwhelming trying to figure everything out and seeing others on social media doing what you want to do,” said Davis. “Just know that everything happens for a reason, and it will all work out! When you feel those moments of insecurity, stress, or anxiety, it’s important to take a step back and make sure you’re taking care of yourself in the process.”

Written by Sophia Ruggiero

“I realized these passions while serving in the US Navy from 2014 to 2019 while stationed onboard a nuclear submarine,” said Castano. “I chose to be honorably discharged so I could pursue my dream of writing for the screen and producing the visions in my mind while collaborating with other creatives.”

After spending a year applying to various internship roles, Anthony received an internship offer from CNBC. He went to the events and listened to what he was being told.

“I attended numerous panels hosted by NBCUniversal and listened to the questions asked and advice given. When I received an offer my last semester of senior year, I was more than ready to seize the moment,” said Castano.

Anthony was more than ready for this opportunity, but he understands there are other ways to gain experience.

“I think an internship can be very beneficial for gaining experience in an industry one is interested in entering,” said Castano. “However, not everybody’s lives are the same, and gaining experience in doing other jobs or activities can provide similar qualities of a proper candidate for the job someone might be looking for.”

After graduation he was accepted into NBCU’s Page Program. This unique program allows people to gain experience and exposure in the media industry.

“NBCU’s historic Page Program is a full-time job within the company fulfilling ambassadorship duties, working on assignments across the company portfolio to expose us to undeniably the best experience in the TV/digital media industry, and assisting with audience services for live studio productions when called upon,” said Castano.

Anthony has found a career that allows him to pursue his passions. In his current position, he gets to see his work in real-time.

“One thing I love about my current position is that I get to work with the SYFY Multiplatform Promotional Planning and Strategy team, and that involves me getting to schedule various on-air graphics and promotions for the network,” said Castano. “Then, I find myself at home or in restaurants or at the gym and see the work on a TV screen and it makes me feel very satisfied. Plus, I get to stay up to date with all the awesome new shows and movies that come out!”

His advice to current students is to master your soft skills and take chances.

“Get good at the basics (showing up on time, communicating, doing your homework, etc.) and the rest will come with ease,” said Castano. “Also, if there’s something stopping you from taking a chance, go for it.”

Anthony is very happy with his current position, but he does wish to further his education and obtain a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting and Directing.

“MSU helped prepare me for my career by providing a great faculty that had numerous industry professionals with years of great experience,” said Castano. “They were able to help pass on knowledge and set the standard in classes for doing great work anywhere.”

Written by Sophia Ruggiero

1. Best Promo: “Tunes on Tuesday” by Jared Tauber. This is Tauber’s second nomination in this category. Last year his 2022 promo for the show won the first place award.
2. Best PSA (Public Service Announcement): “NJ Hike” by Marissa Thorn.
3. Best Feature News Reporting: “Administration & Campus Experience Report” by Terry Dickerson.
4. Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program: “The Morning Buzz – Halloween Edition” by JT Bethea and Isaias Ramirez
5. Best Station Imaging: “WMSC Sounds” by Jared Tauber, JT Bethea, Marissa Thorn and Yak Ferstenberg.
6. Best Live Production: “The Happy Fits” by Jared Tauber, Emol McCormack, Leslie Gallagher, Jake Goetz, Ben Petruk and Nate Williams.

“I am immensely proud of our students and recent alumni who earned this recognition,” said WMSC General Manager Anabella Poland. “Their achievements are a testimony of their creativity, resourcefulness and the quality of education they receive at ĚÇĐÄvlog. We look forward to the awards ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.”

The awards ceremony will take place at the CBI National Student Media Convention in Orlando on October 21, where industry professionals, educators, and students.