Author: Kayla Mitchell

Image Credit: Kayla Mitchell

Written by: Kayla Mitchell

Theoren Vela is a junior at Millersville University pursuing a degree in Media Arts Production. An involved student with a love for creating digital content, Theoren is passionate about all things “MAP” and is excited for his promising future in the industry.

Why did you choose Millersville University?

I enjoyed the cozy environment here at Millersville and immediately felt at home. I was undecided coming into college, but I felt comfortable with all of the options that Millersville offered. With only 45 minutes to an hour away, I knew that Millersville wasn’t too far from home.

What made you choose Media Arts Production as your major?

I received a job offer and worked for QVC in June 2020 where I created b-roll videos for them that would go live on-air when people would be describing the product to the audience. I thoroughly enjoyed the job and I had a lot of fun and realized I loved the environment of working on a professional television studio set and knew I could see myself doing this in my future.

Are you a part of any extracurricular activities, clubs at Millersville University? Any events?

I am apart of Millersville’s BEA as well as participating in ‘Midnight Run‘ last year and intend to participate in it again this year. ‘Midnight Run’ is an experience where students come together in teams to create and produce a short-film in a 24 hour span. We are given the theme, genre, and equipment necessary all in one day and it tests our patience, skills, and teamwork. I create and produce videos for the Millersville Ice Hockey Team and played for the team from 2022-2023.

How have these activities impacted your experience at Millersville?

These activities and clubs have allowed me to meet more people with the same interests as me and have the same career trajectories as me. I really enjoyed getting to meet all of these people and create lifelong friendships, connections, and networking for my life ahead.

What does a typical day look like for you at Millersville? 

A typical day consists of going to my classes, doing homework, and working on projects for my current job. I currently am the Chief Diversity Officer and Social Media Manager for NuTorious Esports Organization, where I help run the Twitter, TikTok, and Twitch channels.

Any advice for incoming students?

I would say take every day as a new opportunity to get involved with things and programs that you enjoy. You will only receive benefits and friendships from involving yourself in programs you enjoy!

Written by: Kayla Mitchell

Sarah Burns graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Media Arts Production in May 2021. After her time being an involved student through multiple organizations on campus, after graduation Sarah moved to her dream state to pursue her dreams. With a successful career looking ahead for Sarah, Millersville University served as a foundation for her current and future success.

Why did you choose Millersville University?

When I first started looking at colleges, I picked out Millersville as a top choice because it was the only state school, besides Penn State that offered meteorology. I still love weather and science, but soon into my time at Millersville I discovered I had a deeper passion for storytelling… and that I wasn’t as perhaps as mathematically inclined as I had hoped.

What made you choose media arts production as your major?

Well back when I was Millersville, which was only a short time ago, the major was actually called Speech Communication with a concentration in Media and Broadcasting, which is a lot to fit on a degree, admittedly. I knew I wanted to go towards broadcasting and that Millersville had the necessary tools for me to continue that pursuit. The department is very hands on and personalized, which I valued. With bigger broadcasting and media schools you don’t necessarily get those types of opportunities.

Were you involved in any clubs or extracurriculars? If so, what were they and what did you enjoy about them?

• Yes! I did a lot outside of class. I was the mellophone section leader and vice president for the Millersville University Marching Band. My freshman year I also did wind ensemble and played the French horn. I anchored and produced for MUTV. I went on trips and attended meetings for the National Broadcasting Society. I was a member of Delta Phi Eta. I also worked on campus as a DA in all the villages, and I got my MMJ certification through NBS from a program outside of Millersville with West Texas A&M University. I also participated in the Midnight Run and worked with a producer in LA that I met on an NBS trip to create a little entertainment news YouTube channel on the side called Entertain 60. I would create little newscasts and he would send me feedback each week. I

  

  also had two internships— one was a summer recurring one, non-broadcast related at a pharmaceutical company called Fujirebio. The other was during my spring semester at ABC27. I also wrote a lot, I self-published my first book during the pandemic (I don’t make any money from it unfortunately). All of my clubs, whether broadcast related or not helped me in some type of way. Just having fun, raw, humbling experiences with friends holds just as much value as real world experience. I had a healthy amount of stress and responsibilities. Being able to multi-task with all my extra clubs and things propelled me into the real world and prepared me to handle tight deadlines and heavy workloads. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a little crazy. I don’t say “no” to anything, which is both a blessing and a curse.

Any favorite classes or professors that you’ve learned from?

Yes! Multiple. Specifically Dr. Irwin and Professor Machado. I really enjoyed advanced television production and being able to make short films. I think the group projects you do in each of their classes is one of the closest experiences you’ll get to the real world. Dr. Irwin’s web writing class was also very helpful for my current line of work. I found both of their classes put me at times miles ahead of my colleagues.

What is your current job?

Currently, I am a Multi-media journalist, a digital producer, and weekend assignment desk editor for CBS21 in Harrisburg.

Typical day in the life of your current job.

My job changes slightly, so I’ll explain what happens on my busiest days, which is Thursday. I get to work at 8:30am, I have a meeting at 9:15 and 9:45 to discuss the content of the day. If I’m lucky, in a perfect world, my interview is scheduled for 11am. So I grab my gear and drive a station car to shoot my package and B-roll by myself. That’ll take maybe an hour or two and then I go and grab a vosot. In between the two I’ll write my script and cut my SOTs out. Then I’ll get back to the station around 3pm and have a meeting at 3:05pm, and then I’ll edit my content together, all of it, by 5pm and hand it in. Which includes SOTs, script, tracked audio, a full pkg, my entire vosot, two web articles, standup, tag, the whole enchilada. Then I’ll write two web articles for the content I produced. I’ll continue writing breaking news for the desk and searching for press releases/ crime watch updates/ affidavits until I go home around 6:30pm/7. I have four ten hour work days.

How has what you learned throughout your years at Millersville University impacted your career and knowledge now?

• I absorbed every single piece of advice my professors gave me. I remember the exact day, sitting in Professor Machado’s class, he told us that if we really wanted a job in the industry, that we weren’t going to find it in Lancaster, PA, and that we were going to have to be prepared to re-locate. He said “pick a major city, and go there”. After I graduated, I moved to Abilene, Texas and got my first job in the industry. I stayed open to opportunities and put fear of leaving home aside in order to get what I wanted out of my career. Anyone who makes it in broadcasting has to go through this process. Little side projects and things outside of class are what gave my career. Being able to apply what I leaned in my classes to little group settings, side projects, and things as easy as TikTok, provided hands on experiences that I needed. In my first market, I had to teach one of my coworkers how to white balance a camera. That was an eye opener, and a signal that I had received a valuable education.

Any advice for incoming students?

Always say yes! Even if things seem wild and crazy you never know where something is going to lead. A lot of my opportunities came from bizarre unrelated side projects. Whatever you’re passionate about, and whatever makes you quirky, is what you should go after. You only get to follow your dreams once in your lifetime, so there’s no better opportunity to go after them than the present.

 

Written by: Kayla Mitchell

Jaylen Hodge is a 2022 Millersville University Alumni originally from Carlisle, PA. Jaylen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Media Arts Production and was an active student while attending Millersville. Due to his involvement in MUTV coupled with his work in the University’s Athletic’s Department, Jaylen now has a job working  as a Part-Time Operations Technician for Wgal-TV Channel 8 in Lancaster, PA.

Why did you choose Millersville University?

I graduated high school in 2012, and back then Millersville held a high school video competition and my broadcasting class took part in it and actually won, so whenever we came to campus for the competition and I got to see the facilities and the apartments and things like that, that’s when I chose to go to Millersville.

What made you choose Media Arts Production as your major?

I chose MAP because I’ve always wanted to be in sports journalism.

Are there any favorite classes you took or professors that you’ve learned from? 

My favorite classes were Dr. Spicer’s news writing class, Dr. Woodall’s podcasting, and Dr. Irwin’s Tv production class, but honestly I feel like I’ve learned a lot from all of the professors in the Comm department so I’m grateful for all of them.

How has what you learned throughout your years at Millersville University impacted your career and knowledge now?

Without Millersville, I wouldn’t even be in my career right now all thanks to Dr. Irwin, she helped set me up with my internship here that got my foot in the door, and I had a job waiting for me as soon as I graduated.

What is a typical day in the life of your current job.

A typical day for me is a lot different than what would be expected because i do a couple of different roles depending on the day. Usually I work in the studio, running cameras or teleprompter during our newscasts. Some days I’m out in the field filming sporting events or gathering news, and I’m editing packages that will run during the newscast or sportscast.

Any advice for incoming students?

My best piece of advice for any incoming student would be to find out where your passion is within the MAP department, and get involved with the different clubs and orgs on campus. For example, since I was always into sports, I worked with the athletic department and MUTV on In The Zone. My internship at WGAL reinforced everything that I had learned working in the studio

Millersville Parade 2022

Join us as we stream the Millersville Parade with our host Ruby Mundok and Alumni Guest Jaylen Hodge. In collaboration with the university, MUTV provides this student run stream with our members and advisors. Thank you to all who have contributed to make this possible.

You can watch Jaylen as an alumni guest on the MUTV’s 2022 Millersville Homecoming Parade live-stream by clicking the link above!

Written By: Kayla Mitchell

Megan Rapone is a current junior here at Millersville University originally from Bensalem, PA. Megan is a Media Arts Production major and is an active member of various organizations and clubs such as MUTV due to her interest and passion for media arts and music.

Why did you choose Millersville University?

I chose Millersville because out of all the schools I toured I like Millersville the best and it just felt like home.

What made you choose Media Arts Production as your major?

I had a class about media production in high school and I absolutely loved it and wanted to continue it in college.

Are you a part of any extracurricular activities, clubs at Millersville University? Any events?

I am part of MUTV, ACMO (all campus musical organization) and the marching band here at Millersville.

How have these activities impacted your experience at Millersville? 

These clubs made my Millersville experience so much better. I met my best friends through these clubs and I wouldn’t change that at all.

What does a typical day look like for you at Millersville?

A typical day for me at Millersville starts at Evergreen Café . I go almost every morning before my classes. I go to class and then get dinner with friends.

Any advice for incoming students considering media arts production?

Advice that I would give to incoming MAP students is to join MUTV. It is a great learning experience for the major and the club is just so much fun and informal.