Experiential Learning | College of Media

Highlights of student-produced work from Spring 2026

May 18, 2026

See a selection of College of Media student-produced work created this spring, including broadcasts, documentaries, short films, advertising brand systems, and more.

Advertising

In ADV 498: The Sandage Project, students integrate the concepts, experiences, and skills that have been learned throughout the advertising curriculum with a service-learning project. See a project students created for Lincoln250, for the clients Lincoln Group of DC and the Abraham Lincoln Association, to expand the reach of Lincoln250.org.

In ADV 290: Advertising Design and Direction, students created a brand system for a fictional business and designed a 12-page annual report. See an example for White Lotus by Bella Chasen, junior in advertising.

Advertising Design and Direction annual report cover

Journalism

Oskees Live Pre-Show Coverage

UI7 Newsroom went live from the Orange Carpet for the 2026 Oskees on April 27 as Fighting Illini Athletics celebrated more than just performance on the field, but also highlighted the student-athletes behind the success. The team of UI7 reporters spoke with players and coaches to capture what this event truly means to the Illini community.

Illinois in Session

Watch a broadcast by UI7 Newsroom journalism students Nathan Gonzalez and Mary Piacente, featuring interviews with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican nominee Darren Bailey. This is the first time UI7 students have conducted an interview with a sitting governor, said Kenneth Erdey, journalism instructor and technical coordinator for Richmond Studio. They also spoke with the two nominees for Illinois comptroller.

Prairie Fire

Students in JOUR 440: Advanced Documentary Storytelling and Production produced segments to air on Illinois Public Media’s magazine show, Prairie Fire, premiering on May 21:

“The Space” – produced by Amelia Benson, Jonathan Mathew, and Tristan Starzec
“Live at the Mirror” – produced by Wilson Tripp Nichols, Adam Edwards, and Jude Panlilio
“Skeuwep” – produced by Ethan Ashley-Ferguson, Elissa Eaton, and Mike Rock
“Central Illinois Aikikai” – produced by Florence Lin, Paige Whiteside, and Sophia Alvarez
“Orange Krush Senior Night” – produced by Sam Yohnka, Brandon Hood, and Isaiah Adeleke

Media & Cinema Studies

Illinois Student Film Festival

Watch the Illinois Student Film Festival, produced by students in MACS 366: Film Festivals, featuring work by students across the University of Illinois campus.

Program 1

Program 2

MACS Student Showcase

Watch the MACS Student Showcase, a faculty-curated selection of student work from media and cinema studies courses throughout the academic year. See program credits with timestamps.

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Journalism and advertising students amplify female head porters’ stories through global course experience in Ghana

April 29, 2026 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern

Through the course “Globally Focused Advanced Documentary Filmmaking,” five journalism students and three advertising students explored the lives of female head porters, called kayayei, in a faculty-led trip to Accra, Ghana, over spring break.

Group of journalism students and faculty in Ghana

“I know from my experience that traveling and working abroad, especially in Africa, can be an inflection point in one’s life and globally contextualize values,” said Charles “Stretch” Ledford, associate professor of journalism, who has visited more than 55 countries throughout his career. “It was incredibly gratifying to be in a position to provide students this kind of opportunity.”

The course focuses on the labor of the kayayei, young women and girls—some barely in their teens—who migrate from Ghana’s rural north to the country’s urban centers, primarily Accra and Kumasi, in search of work. That work consists of carrying loads that can exceed their own body weight through the city’s sprawling markets, earning the equivalent of less than a dollar per load while exposing themselves to exploitation, musculoskeletal injury, chronic anxiety and depression, and other health and wellness risks.

Focusing on Accra’s Kantamanto used clothing market, the class is producing a documentary focusing on three narratives about kayayei who work there: a day in the life of Sahada Shehabu, a 22-year-old kayayoo; the risks of the work, described by Muhammad Salifu, founder and director of the Kayayei Youth Association; and the role the kayayei play within the market’s economy, explained by Edward Atobrah, deputy general secretary of the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association.

You’re dealing with something that has a real impact, and you’re seeing change happen and immersing yourself in a community that you may not have had an opportunity to [otherwise visit].

Tomi Dugbo

Senior in Advertising

The journalism students will also create a 360º-immersive video, photo essays, an audio segment, and social-media friendly short vertical videos. They are sharing their initial work at the campus Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, April 30, in a poster presentation titled “They Want to Go Home: Ghana’s Kayayei.”

Kaitlyn Devitt, a senior in journalism who worked primarily on the documentary film and 360º-immersive video, says the team worked an average of six hours a day over seven shooting days in three locations.

Devitt wants to pursue international journalism after she graduates, especially after this project, because of how rewarding it was.

“This project was perfect to get my feet wet,” Devitt said. “The topic itself was interesting because these women are my age, and who’s to say this couldn’t be me if I hadn’t had the privilege of growing up in America?”

During the trip, the advertising students worked with the Kayayei Youth Association to amplify their mission. They also communicated the journalism students’ reporting processes on social media and documented their experience through a blog site.

“This experience taught me the importance of collaboration where you’re not only working with advertising students, but journalism students,” said Tomi Dugbo, a senior in advertising. “You’re dealing with something that has a real impact, and you’re seeing change happen and immersing yourself in a community that you may not have had an opportunity to [otherwise visit].”

Advertising students with Marisa Peacock outside Innova DDB Ghana

Advertising students also spent time visiting global ad agencies, such as Innova DDB and Ogilvy Africa Ghana, to analyze cross-cultural campaign approaches. They also plan to develop strategic communications campaigns for partner NGOs.

For all the students, it was their first time producing journalism and strategic communications in a foreign country.

“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good,” advised Marisa Peacock, senior lecturer of advertising. “There’s always time to refine, edit, and evolve it, but you can’t let the perfect shot stand in the way of getting the work done.”

With only a week to conduct interviews, collect footage, and produce the strategic communications deliverables, the team persevered in an environment that demanded that they adapt quickly.

Adelyn Mui, a senior in journalism, dove headfirst into the project to capture an authentic representation of the women’s stories and overcome the challenges of not having the connections she does when reporting on campus.

“Doing global journalism taught me a lot about journalism in general because those same skills I learned in Ghana, I can apply here locally on campus; they were just amplified since I was in a different country,” Mui said.

Students from Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone and the University of Media, Arts and Communication in Ghana were partners in the project under the umbrella of the Illinois Partnership for African Women’s Health Narratives, spearheaded by Ledford. It is a continuation of his 2023 collaboration with Dr. Francis Sowa, Dean of Faculty of Communication, Media and Information Studies at Fourah Bay College, and new collaborator, Dr. Stephen Tindi, a lecturer at University of Media, Arts and Communication in Accra.

Alison Davis, senior lecturer of journalism, said the Illinois students naturally fell into the role of technological mentors for their West African peers.

“Students from the other countries were able to pick up our equipment and run with it; that’s the collaboration I like to see,” Davis said. “People are not that much different. You get a group of college students together, and they’re all similar. I love that.”

This course continues a broad focus on global women’s health narratives. Ledford and Davis have previously led students to report on local solutions to period poverty in Sierra Leone.

Next year, Ledford hopes to continue the story with reporting in Ghana’s Northern Region, examining how climate change may be accelerating the “push” of young women from Ghana’s rural and relatively poor north to work as kayayei in the country’s more developed south.

See more photos

Major funding was provided by the University of Illinois through the BRIDGE Program, Vision 2030 Global Strategy Implementation Grant, Campus Research Board, Illinois Global Institute, Department of Journalism, the College of Media, and the Karin and Folke Dovring Endowment Fund, with additional support from Lisle International and Sony Electronics.

Photos by and courtesy of Charles “Stretch” Ledford and Marisa Peacock.

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Documentary Club provides students a platform for real-life storytelling

January 22, 2026 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern

From capturing fall aesthetics to investigating local ghost stories, students in the Documentary Club take a deeper look into campus life.

The registered student organization began in Spring 2024 to create a supportive space for both amateur and professional documentary filmmakers. They meet weekly in Gregory Hall to discuss and work on current projects, as well as host workshops to enhance their interviewing, filmmaking, and editing skills.

“I don’t necessarily need it to be good, professional, or amazing,” said Paige Gaines, president of the Documentary Club, and a senior earning a dual degree in media and cinema studies and in communication. “I just want people to make something and grow their skills because I think those skills are really transferable.”

Gaines said she was inspired to form the club because there was no official community for documentary-making on campus.

“I decided to be the change that I wanted to see and make a club for anybody who wants to be able to tell their own stories.”

Gaines says that documentaries are important because they shed light on stories that are often forgotten about in the media.

“There are so many different, wonderful, and beautiful things that are being discovered in our world,” Gaines said. “A lot of people have made big differences in our world, and those stories are often not talked about.”

The club is modest in size, with only five members, but welcomes interested students to join them. They currently have a handful of projects in the works, including a mini-series about campus life called Candid Campus. That project will feature footage from campus that shows what students see and hear on a typical school day at the University of Illinois.

“We’re going around campus and just seeing what’s happening,” Gaines said, adding that they are working with other student organizations to make short informational videos about them.

Gaines’s most recent video in this project is a profile about Velosity Dance, a sorority-led dance club.

“Filming dance is so interesting,” Gaines said. “You can play around a lot with how the body moves, so I’m really excited for the final project.”

The documentaries usually take a semester to complete and are often captured on smartphones or cameras that students in College of Media courses can check out from the Media Technology Center.

“We use whatever we can get our hands on,” Gaines said. “It’s truly just a hodgepodge; we fix it all in post-production, where we do a lot of color correcting to make everything look cohesive.”

Gaines’s favorite part of the club is the community.

“It may be small, but we are mighty,” Gaines said. “I love working with the people here. I just hope these friendships and relationships will last because it’s something I have found really fulfilling.”

To learn more about the Documentary Club, watch their videos on YouTube, visit their website, or check out their Instagram. To join Documentary Club, or to ask questions, please email uiucdocumentaryclub@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of Paige Gaines.

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Advertising students create real-life client campaigns through Sandage Project capstone course

Advertising students pictured with their client, H3.

January 8, 2026

Students in ADV 498: The Sandage Project developed campaigns for three community organizations in Fall 2025, including Lincoln250, H3 (Harm, Healing, and Hope), and EARS Effingham Animal Rescue Sanctuary.

“The students put together impressive campaigns for each, and the clients were very happy,” said senior lecturer of advertising Marisa Peacock.

The eight-week service-learning capstone provides advertising majors an opportunity to develop ad campaigns for a nonprofit or local community partner. Clients may use any campaigns or assets produced.

Cooper Haynes, a senior in advertising, was part of the Lincoln250 team, which developed a full digital platform, including a website and Instagram page, that organizes, interprets, and presents Lincoln-era history in a modern, accessible format.

“Working with my team and actually being divided into roles with goals and objectives that we set for each member was really nice for having a bit of insight into how team dynamics work at real agency and company jobs,” he said. “Navigating problems [with] people having different ideas of how to approach things was also a great experience for preparing for the industry as well.”

Throughout the course, students meet clients to understand the organization and campaign goals, then complete a discovery report analyzing the target audience, brand, and competitive landscape. These insights inform the campaign strategy.

Teams pitch three campaign concepts to the client and based on feedback, select one to develop further. Students refine the creative and media strategies and present a final campaign in the last week.

Three student teams collaborated to strengthen the visibility and impact of H3 (Harm, Healing, Hope), a coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals in Champaign County dedicated to ending community violence. Together, these groups produced a cohesive set of recommendations to help H3 share its story, reach its audience, and transform its mission into a broader movement.

Jamaira Williams, a senior in advertising who worked on the H3 campaign, said she learned the true lesson of the Sandage course wasn’t about selling a product, but selling a feeling.

“Advertising is, at its core, the purest form of storytelling. Every brand color, every word chosen, is a mirror, because people crave to see themselves reflected in the world. We’re not crafting fiction, we’re guiding real brands and real livelihoods,” she said. “The moment you respect the reality of their brand, you transition from student to professional.”

Clients for the Sandage Project are selected based on their ability to support meaningful, real-world public engagement experiences for students. Ideal clients are community partners—on or off campus—who are open to authentic collaboration and willing to actively engage with students throughout the process. Their mission or campaign should benefit from storytelling that creates emotional connection, often through real community voices or narratives.

Natalie Circolone, a senior in advertising, worked as the creative director for the EARS Effingham Animal Rescue Sanctuary, positioning the rescue as a transparent, caring, foster-based organization that helps people “write the next chapter” in each animal’s life by adopting or fostering. The team also helped to increase awareness and engagement through social media storytelling and small, tangible touchpoints like stickers and goodie bags that keep EARS visible in the community.

“The Sandage Project gives seniors in advertising a real opportunity to work in an agency setting, with designated roles and a real client,” Circolone said. “Through this project, I gained hands-on experience planning and executing a creative campaign, applying skills I’ve developed over the past four years in advertising courses. The opportunity to create something meaningful for such a great cause was a rewarding experience.”

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Department of Media & Cinema Studies partners with Flyover Film Studios to launch new internship

December 2, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood

Beginning in Fall 2025, the Department of Media & Cinema Studies created a new internship for students at Flyover Film Studios in Rantoul. Francisco Albarran, a senior in media and cinema studies, was the first student selected for the program.

Albarran was able to work on the production of a new drama Moses the Black, starring Omar Epps and rappers Wiz Khalifa and Quavo. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is an executive producer of the film, which is set to premiere in January 2026.

The semester-long internship, which grew out of conversations with Victor Font, senior lecturer of media and cinema studies, and Flyover Film Studios, offers students hands-on experience in a growing local film industry.

“Learning about Flyover’s [film] projects made me realize what a remarkable hands-on experience this could be for our MACS students,” Font said. “It took time and coordination to make it happen, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see this partnership become a reality.”

Film production in the region is expanding, thanks to new state tax incentives that are drawing more companies to shoot locally, said Derek Long, associate professor of media and cinema studies. For students, this surge translates into increased opportunities for on-set learning in a field where practical experience is essential.

“As MACS expands its media production-oriented curriculum, we are always seeking professionalization opportunities for our students, as media production is very much a learn-by-doing industry,” Long said.

The internship is designed for advanced production students willing to learn the different facets of the media production industry—from directing and cinematography to support and infrastructure roles.

I think the real benefit of this internship lies in opening students’ eyes to the wide variety of different types of labor that go into a professional media production in the 21st century, including those that aren’t necessarily ‘on set.’

Derek Long

Associate Professor of Media & Cinema Studies

“Our hope is that they get a broad sampling of the types of media industry work they might do after they finish their degree. In that sense, we want that broader experience to augment both the on-set focus of our classroom production curriculum and the critical thinking skills of our studies courses,” Long added.

Interns work both at Flyover Studios, which hosts sets, costumes, production offices, and other resources, and with visiting production companies shooting in Illinois.

“I think the real benefit of this internship lies in opening students’ eyes to the wide variety of different types of labor that go into a professional media production in the 21st century, including those that aren’t necessarily ‘on set,’” Long said.

Through his internship, Albarran was able to participate in many aspects of film production. He helped build bedroom and jail sets; shaped scenes filmed at Willard Airport in Savoy; and transported crew members.

Being involved in day-to-day operations also allowed Albarran to meet and interact with cast and crew, pictured below from left to right, the film’s director Yelena Popovic and actors Vonzell D. Scott (Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist) and Corey Hendrix (The Bear).

Albarran said he was nervous at times about his role on the set, but encouragement from everyone around him helped boost his confidence.

“I was anxious, but everyone was telling me to relax, just enjoy the moment—that I deserved to be there just as much as anyone else,” he said. “I have all these people who just believe in me, and there’s no greater feeling than that.”

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2025-26 Ebert Fellows announced

November 4, 2025 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern

Each fall, the Roger Ebert Fellowship program selects three College of Media undergraduate students to participate in the yearlong fellowship that aims to shape their skills in critical writing through immersion in the film industry.

The Roger Ebert Fellows chosen for the 2025-26 academic year are Paige Gaines, Amir Rehab, and Jin Wang.

The program, named after the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and University of Illinois journalism alum, allows students to work with former Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips in engaging with notable figures within the film and media industry and strengthening their critical analysis and writing skills.

This year, the Ebert Fellows will participate in monthly workshops both on campus and in Chicago, curate screenings through the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies at Spurlock Museum, and engage in radio exercises with Steve Morck, senior digital media producer at Illinois Public Media.

Phillips has been the advisor since the program began in 2015. When it comes to selecting the Ebert Fellows, he looks for something beyond the conventional: persuasive, compelling and “alive.”

“Ebert was a lot more than a ‘film critic,’ Phillips said. “He brought the world around him into the writing, which is not easy to do well, and he did it just about better than anybody.”

Another yearly highlight is the Fellows’ coverage of the True/False Film Fest in Missouri. This is a two-night excursion that entails covering the festival, where Phillips encourages the students to speak with people involved in the films that interest them the most.

“Whether it’s for radio podcasting, print, or introducing a film, anything we can do to get the students a little closer to the writer they want to become is the goal,” Phillips said.

Meet the 2025-26 Ebert Fellows

Paige Gaines is a senior earning a dual degree in media and cinema studies and in communication. She is looking forward to working with the other Fellows.

“Both of the other Fellows are in advertising, so it will bring different outlooks from what I have had,” Gaines said. “I’m really interested to see what I can learn from them and what they can learn from me.”

Gaines frequently attended Ebertfest as a child and is a distant relative of Roger Ebert. She wants to improve her review-writing skills and efficiency.

The True/False Film Fest is the event that Gaines is most excited for because of the screenings of documentaries revolving around social and political issues.

“I love telling stories about people who don’t have stories told about them as much,” Gaines said. “What better way to get exposure to that scene than going to where it’s hosted?”

One of Gaines’s favorite films is Therapy Dogs, a hybrid documentary-fiction comedy,because she saw it at an important part of her life, and it ignited her love for her career.

Amir Rehab, a senior in advertising, is looking forward to working with Phillips, meeting with directors, and evolving as a writer.

“Living in the USA and Algeria has given me so many different perspectives within our media that we consume,” he said. “Through design and editing, I learned how visuals can tell stories and evoke emotions.”

Rehab transferred to the University of Illinois last year and chose advertising as a major because it combines two things he has always loved—creativity and strategy.

He currently makes his own short-form documentaries and is interested in using this program to improve his storytelling capabilities and network.

“Putting yourself out there in uncomfortable situations in order to evolve is important,” Rehab said. ”If you’re just staying in the exact same spot, you’re not going to get anywhere.”

His favorite movie is Parasite, which won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Picture,because of the powerful message through the acting and visual storytelling.

“I was extremely impressed by the cinematography—the details in distinguishing class division and income inequality. It’s a very powerful message achieved not only through acting but also through visual storytelling and camera work!”

Jin Wang is a junior in advertising. She is most excited for the immersion trips to Chicago, where the students will work in the Ebert Fellow workshop and visit art exhibitions.

Wang is eager to learn more about film this year, as her criticism in the past has mostly revolved around paintings and sculpture.

“Criticism is essential because our experiences shape how we see the world,” Wang said. “It brings different viewpoints together and helps people express their own ideas.”

She is excited to collaborate with the other Fellows by contributing different ideas and opinions.

Wang’s favorite movie is the Korean film Wedding Dress because of the themes about family and love.

“It reminds me that love isn’t just about happy moments, but also about sacrifice,” Wang said. “It’s so emotional and it makes me feel deeply connected to the story and the characters.”

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Illini Watchers brings movie fans together for analytical discussion

October 30, 2025 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern

Every Friday night, the sound of lively movie-take debates pours from Room 1090 and drifts down the halls of Lincoln Hall during The Illini Watchers’ weekly meeting.

The registered student organization began around 2018, originally named C-U Cinefile, to review various forms of media. The Illini Watchers pride themselves on being a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of how familiar they are with the film scene.

“The club represents the legacy that the University of Illinois has been a place where criticism is formed,” said Jonathan Knipp, senior lecturer of media and cinema studies and faculty sponsor of the club.

Like a book club for movies, each meeting includes discussion mostly surrounding a film that was chosen the week before, also allowing time for members to talk about other random movies, theater screenings, books, music, and games.

“My exec team and I will make the slides with the parts we thought were interesting,” said Nicolas Roacho, junior in media and cinema studies and Illini Watchers president. “But it’s a really laid-back discussion about the film we assigned everyone to watch.”

The Illini Watchers' Letterboxd page — The Illini Watchers share their film ratings on their Letterboxd page.

During the meeting, they take an average of everyone’s rating of the movie and post it on the club’s Letterboxd page, a social network for film fans.

At the end of each meeting, Roacho and other executive members announce a theme for next week, taking movie nominations from members to spin on a wheel. Whichever movie the wheel lands on is the one up for discussion the following week.

A recent theme was Hispanic Heritage Month, where all the suggested movies had a Hispanic writer, director, or lead. These themes are made to introduce members to films they might not have watched before, like international cinema, Roacho said.

Other events the club organizes are group bus rides to a movie theater, movie-themed trivia games, picnics on the Quad, and a yearly Halloween costume contest. They also sometimes collaborate with their sister club, Illini Film and Video, a film and video production organization, of which Roacho is also the president.

As the faculty advisor, Knipp looks for resources to help the club grow, with his most recent project trying to connect the club to the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies.

His favorite part of being the advisor for the club is the same as being an instructor.

“It’s always about trying to start the conversation but not presiding over it or trying to influence it,” Knipp said. “Getting it kick-started so I can sit back and just let the students let their thoughts go wild.”

Knipp and Roacho emphasized the importance of appreciating media through their club.

“I like knowing that we are providing that community because it’s important to keep this sort of culture alive,” Roacho said.

With a membership count of just over 100, the group is diverse in majors, something both Knipp and Roacho say makes the Illini Watchers unique.

“The club is everything I wished for,” Roacho said. “There wasn’t a pool of people to talk about movies with at my high school; the people in Watchers are understanding of what I’m saying, even if they’re not too familiar with film.”

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Journalism student Nathan Gonzalez chosen for New York Times Corps

September 4, 2025

Nathan Gonzalez, a junior in journalism, was one of 19 undergraduate students nationwide chosen to join The New York Times Corps, the newsroom’s talent-mentorship program for aspiring journalists.

Gonzalez will be paired with NYT Pentagaon reporter John Ismay, receiving career guidance and professional development sessions until he graduates. After completing the program, Gonzalez will have the opportunity to visit the New York Times newsroom to learn from other journalists in person.

Gonzalez recently wrapped up a summer internship for FOX News at the Washington, D.C., Bureau, producing coverage of protests, U.S. District Court cases, Senate and House committee hearings, live shots, interviews, and press conferences with members of Congress.

Some of the content he produced aired on shows like Fox News Live, The Big Weekend Show, The Story, America Reports, America’s Newsroom, Special Report with Bret Baier, and The Will Cain Show.

Since its launch in 2022, the Times Corps has offered mentors to 80 undergraduates who demonstrated a commitment to the field of journalism. The best-performing corps members are considered for The New York Times Fellowship, a yearlong work program, and other journalistic opportunities.

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Media students gain unique, real-world experience through summer internships

September 3, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood

From working on film production crews and meeting famous actors to interviewing congressmen on Capitol Hill, several College of Media students ended their summers on a high note after wrapping up internships that offered memorable learning opportunities.

Francisco Albarran (MACS), Film Production Intern, Chili Finger

When media and cinema studies senior Francisco Albarran heard Chili Finger—a new film starring John Goodman, Judy Greer, Sean Astin, and Bryan Cranston—was filming nearby this summer, he took a chance and emailed Rantoul-based Flyover Film Studios, asking if he could help out.

To his surprise, the words “perfect timing” quickly appeared in his inbox and the very next day, Albarran was on set, helping build scenes and soaking in hands-on production experience at locations across central Illinois.

In his second week of the internship, Albarran got a surreal assignment: pick up Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) from his rental house in Champaign. The next day, Albarran was in his driveway, watching with awe as the garage door slowly opened revealing one of his all-time favorite actors.

“It looked so amazing. It looked like Walter White [the character Cranston played in Breaking Bad] was actually right there in front of my eyes, which basically he was,” Albarran said.

During the 20-minute drive, the two shared a conversation about the Chili Finger production, life in general, and Albarran’s own film aspirations. Albarran asked Cranston to sign a plank of wood he had saved from the film set as a souvenir. The message read: “Francisco, thanks for the ride, my friend, Bryan Cranston.”

“One week you have dirty laundry in the back of your car, and then the next you have an Emmy Award-winning [actor],” Albarran mused.

Albarran said meeting Cranston and working alongside the film crew, as well as working with his MACS 480 classmates, helped reinvigorate his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. He hopes to write, direct, and act in a short film this year.

Nathan Gonzalez (Journalism), Assignment Desk Intern, FOX News Channel at the Washington, D.C., Bureau

As an assignment desk intern for FOX News at the Washington, D.C. Bureau, Nathan Gonzalez, a junior in journalism, produced coverage of protests, U.S. District Court cases, Senate and House committee hearings, live shots, interviews, and press conferences with members of Congress.

Some of the content he produced even aired on shows like Fox News Live, The Big Weekend Show, The Story, America Reports, America’s Newsroom, Special Report with Bret Baier, and The Will Cain Show.

“That was a huge moment,” Gonzalez said. “It reassured me that even as a rising junior, I’m capable of producing content that meets national standards.”

Gonzalez learned how national political reporting is structured, the importance of fostering relationships with fellow reporters, and that national and local reporting aren’t as different as they seem.

“While national outlets have far more resources, the core skills—approaching officials and asking questions—apply at every level. If you can interview municipal officials, you can press congressmen on Capitol Hill, without a doubt,” Gonzalez said.

Jonathan Mathew (Journalism), Entertainment Promotions Intern, Chicago Dogs

Whether he was working in the team store, ushering VIPs, overseeing the team’s Kid Zone, or dressed up as “Squeeze” the mustard mascot, Jonathan Mathew, a junior in journalism, had a great experience as an entertainment promotions intern with the Chicago Dogs baseball team this summer.

Mathew said the opportunity to intern with the independent professional baseball team taught him a lot about sports business and entertainment, including different marketing techniques, as well as how to interact and engage with the public.

“I learned a lot of life lessons that will be valuable to me in the long run, and I am confident the return on investment I have with this internship will be more than I can imagine,” he said.

Mathew recalls one day working behind the mic as a gameday co-host tasked with entertaining the crowd between innings.

“That [is] an experience I will hold closely to my heart and have as a reminder to keep me motivated in achieving my career dream,” Mathew said.

Sarah Juan (Advertising), Social Media Content and Video Intern, Glow Recipe

Sarah Juan, a junior in advertising, went above and beyond to secure an internship at the global skin care company Glow Recipe, crafting a mock-campaign proposal highlighting a celebrity partnership. Her hard work paid off as Juan was awarded the internship as a social media content and video intern.

In her role, Juan assisted with content development, conducted market research, tracked metrics, and helped the social media team with new product launches, which was the highlight of the experience for her.

“Supporting the content team on set in NYC, I was able to work directly with models for new product launches and help direct filming for social content! Being on set was the most rewarding experience,” Juan said.

Juan recalls an important lesson her supervisor shared that will stick with her: “We’re all storytellers, no matter the industry you market in.”

“The beauty industry is tough and requires thick skin, but if you are passionate about supporting a mission through storytelling, that is what will get you far,” Juan said.

Cherie Chick (MS Advertising), Account Specialist Intern, Rakuten Advertising

Cherie Chick, an MS advertising student, applied to more than 80 positions and interviewed with eight different companies before securing an internship with her top choice, Rakuten Advertising. Rakuten provides advertising technology and consumer insights to global brands and retailers with a core focus on affiliate marketing, acting as the bridge between advertisers and publishers, including content creators, media outlets, and loyalty platforms.

Chick spent her summer in Chicago as an account specialist intern responsible for managing high-impact affiliate marketing campaigns by strategizing and negotiating publisher partnerships, optimizing creative placements to drive conversions, delivering performance insights to clients, and advising on quarterly spend strategies.

For Chick, the highlight of the internship was working with a diverse portfolio of client accounts spanning multiple countries and industries, from travel and finance to education and technology.

“This cross-regional exposure taught me how consumer behaviors, promotional calendars, and publisher relationships vary across markets,” Chick said. “For example, the way travelers research trips and the sites they interact with is entirely different from how consumers search for credit card offers or financial advisors.”

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Students in Media Entrepreneurship course win ‘Graphic Design USA’ magazine’s 2025 American Digital Design Award

July 23, 2025

Four students in the Spring 2025 ADV 409: Media Entrepreneurship course won 2025 American Digital Design Awards presented by Graphic Design USA magazine.

Alessandra Lopez, Macy Miller, Ben Riseman, and Emmanuel Tinajero, all 2025 graduates in advertising, were seniors at the time of the class.

The students created a comprehensive pitch deck for a new mobile app they conceptualized called Bad St!tch, which lets users share the ways they upcycle their clothes. If another user likes an upcycling idea but doesn’t want to or is unable to do it, they can hire the person who published the idea to do it for them, giving designers a way to showcase their work and potentially acquire customers.

Terry Kasdan, adjunct lecturer in advertising who teaches ADV 409, said the team won the award in the student work category for Bad St!tch’s brand identity and user interface, which they developed in class.

“As much as I still love my ‘day job’ as a digital marketer and agency owner, I have to admit, the hours I spend in class with the amazing students I’m so privileged to teach in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising and Technology Entrepreneur Center are truly my favorite parts of the week. Nothing beats seeing them transform ideas into real ventures and gain recognition for their creativity and hard work,” said Kasdan.

Their work was published in GDUSA’s 25th annual Digital Design Awards Showcase, alongside entries by Bank of America, Dell, and Marriott International, Inc. Kasdan said more than 13,000 entries across all categories were submitted this year and just 100 winners were chosen.    

See the winning student work.

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