Connor Decker

Arlo Fillmore

Post-Grad Job

Spotlight Media Productions

How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?

It allowed me to be able to try my major out right in the beginning, which only made me fall in love with it more. I think it provides a different type of learning. Instead of squeezing all majorclasses into the end of school, I learned over time and had much more time to mess up and improve. It allows for substantial growth that I don’t think would have happened without theUpside-Down Curriculum.

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Champlain?

My favorite class I’ve taken at Champlain was Writing the City. I took this class during my timein Dublin, and it was the first time I was forced to really use my creativity. We went on outings during class in which we explored different parts of the city. This opened my eyes to many new places, and overall was just a joy to be in. My professor was also a spectacular creative teacher and writer, and she encouraged me to produce good work and feel good about my abilities.

What do you like about going to college in Burlington?

I love Burlington because it is so beautiful. We have the lake and mountains surrounding us. Ialso love the food here! I spend my free time down by the lake or skiing. Burlington has grown to be my home. Another thing is that people here are usually very kind, and that isn’t something that you can find everywhere.

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Julia Leonard

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Derek Mann

Specialization

Sonic Arts

Internship

Burton Snowboards

What made you choose your major?

I chose Broadcast Media Production because I just thought it would be really fun. I went to a technical high school and never actually planned to go to college, but I’m really glad I did because it has opened up so many opportunities for me. I’ve never been happier!

Tell us about your internship!

I was a Digital Marketing Intern at Burton. I pulled and edited video clips from the Burton Snowboards Instagram page and worked on transcribing videos and organizing sequences with clips of raw footage to be edited by someone else on the team. My classroom work helped me with this internship because I had the post-production skills in order to succeed.

What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found particularly rewarding?

I’m working on my Capstone documentary right now, and it’s definitely the most rewarding project because I get to solidify people’s stories and experiences with Dog Mountain, a Vermont non-profit, through my video. It just feels really good to know I’m helping people leave a legacy.

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Luke Marcheski

Specialization

Motion Graphics

What’s the best thing about living on campus?

I spent my first year at 396 Main Street. For Champlain, it is a long walk to campus. Compared to UVM and other colleges, the walk is nothing. The fact that Champlain’s campus is both condensed and spread about the community is very unique and allowed me to be closer to the city than I would have been at a centralized campus. I have lived in apartments in the latter three years, and the availability of apartments near Champlain is incredible. I have been ableto build my own experience in Burlington through living in these apartments, and thankfully, Champlain was never too far away.

What’s your favorite Core experience?

My favorite Core experience was the entirety of the Global Condition course taught by Lionel Beasley. Throughout the entire semester, Professor Beasley kept an amazing balance between relaxed and professional, treating us like colleagues and peers rather than students. When I first arrived at college, I was very happy that this classroom environment was captured in many classes, but Professor Beasley stood out above the rest.

How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?

I equate my experience at Champlain with how a Swiss Army knife is built. I have been taught so many different things, both related to my major and outside of it. Through the style which it was taught, I truly believe that I will graduate with an incredible wealth of knowledge that I can begin my career with.

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