Tuesday, February 21, 2012

J-School Students Learn the Ins and Outs of the Entertainment Business

J-School Students Learn the Ins and Outs of the Entertainment Business

Students prepare questions for the panel.
Entertainment panel discusses the industry with journalism and communication students.


This month, Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications students gathered to attend the seminar, “How to Make it in the Entertainment Industry.”  The seminar coordinated by Allie-Ryan Butler, assistant professor in SHSJC, offered students a chance to have an intimate conversation with members of the entertainment industry.

The keynote speaker for the event was Stacy Milner, co-founder of Executive Temps agency and author of "Leveraging UP!"  During the seminar students received vital information on techniques to climb the cooperate ladder in the entertainment industry. They also received tips on obtaining internships, office etiquette and resume structure.

The seminar closed with an open-panel discussion with seasoned entertainment professionals.  The panel consisted of Michelle Hord-White, vice president of talent development and pipeline programs at NBC Universal; Peter Campbell, manager of human resources at DreamWorks Animation SKG; Jason Ryan, Hampton alumnus and manager of rights clearances, standards and practices at TV One and Greg Brauer, production manager at WVEC Hampton Roads ABC Affiliate.

-Khalid Livingston

Monday, February 20, 2012

     
Lauren Perkins, a senior broadcast major at Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, shoots at Langley speedway during the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine.  Perkins’ work was part of a Voice Of America package that aired in January.   

 Scripps Howard’s Center for Broadcast Excellence team members shoot sit-down interviews with NASCAR Drive for Diversity participants after their workout in the student center gym. 

Sport management students promote NASCAR's Revolution Race Team on campus during HU's homecoming.


HU Wins NASCAR’s Educational Institution Of The Year Award

Hampton University was chosen as the educational institution of the year for the NASCAR Diversity initiative. The Health Physical Education and Recreation Department (HPER) and the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications worked together last year in an effort that produced the Eighth Annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine.

HPER Assistant Professor Dr. Ralph Charlton will accept the award in Daytona, Fla. Feb. 22. The award states as its criteria, “a college/university that attracts and trains diverse students for relevant careers in the motorsports industry with a recognized and relevant curriculum,” according to nascardiversity.com.

“Our involvement with NASCAR was initiated by a sport management alumnae, Arionne Allen, who currently works with NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, and we were able to involve both the sport management program and Scripps Howard,” Charlton said. “HPER sport management students developed and implemented an integrated marketing strategy on campus for the top minority drivers on NASCAR’s Revolution Racing Team while also meeting with the Teams' Directors during on track testing, to discuss marketing and internship opportunities and the Drive for Diversity program. It is a true testament to the success of our alumni, creativity and hard work of current students and interdisciplinary collaboration.”

At the event, Oct. 18-20, 2011, 45 Scripps Howard journalism students went to the student center gym and Langley Raceway and acted as “track-side” reporters by conducting pre and post-race interviews of the drivers. Students, under the supervision of professors William “Chris” Leonard, Van Dora Williams and Reggie Mitchell, held a mock news conference in the Scripps Howard School’s TV studio.  Student journalists asked rapid-fire questions of the combine drivers during the conference. Students also produced radio stories about the NASCAR activities which aired on WHOV 88.1, HU's radio station, throughout the week.


Jerry Brown, executive producer/director with Voice of America (VOA), in partnership with the Scripps Howard School coached journalism majors Asia Poteat and Lauren Perkins to produce a 3-minute television and radio sport packages on the events. The student-produced package aired on VOA’s global program “In Focus,” January 2012.

“I am thrilled that we played a major role in actualizing such an initiative,” said Leonard. “Moreover, to know that our efforts resulted in Hampton University receiving NASCAR's highest diversity award of the year [for a educational institution] makes everyone, who's a part of the Scripps Howard family proud, determined and committed to our mission of excellence.”

Drive for Diversity is the industry’s leading development program for minority and female drivers and crewmembers. The program has seen continuous growth since its inception in 2004. Drive for Diversity drivers compete in nearly 200 events at NASCAR Home Tracks across the country each year.

Leha Byrd 


Friday, February 17, 2012

Hampton U the Real Hillman: Bledsoe and Bell Share with HU Students

Hampton U the Real Hillman: Bledsoe and Bell Share with HU Students

Darryl M. Bell and Tempestt Bledsoe 

Rev. Haggins moderates a conversation with Bledsoe and Bell


The Hampton University Center for Public Policy and Leadership Spring Speaker’s Series, and the Department of Performing Arts co-sponsored a Conversation with Tempestt Bledsoe and Darryl M. Bell on Feb. 17,  in the Little Theater from 12-1 p.m. Bledsoe, known for her role as Vanessa in The Cosby Show and Bell, known for his role as Ron in A Different World, discussed the importance of artists using their creative influence to become activists in the community.

Bledsoe and Bell both discussed the influence The Cosby Show and A Different World had on the African- American community, and specifically, college-aged students. Bell even commented on how Hillman, the pretend college from the show, was modeled after Hampton University and even helped boost college enrollment during the 90s.

-Morgan Gusby '12

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Tour for Diversity in Medicine Stops at HU

The Tour for Diversity in Medicine Stops at HU

Hampton University will serve as the first stop for the Tour for Diversity in Medicine on Feb. 20. Eleven doctors, dentists and medical school students will join interested HU students and alumni in the Student Center to offer a full day of premedical enrichment activities.

The Tour for Diversity in Medicine was created by Dr. Alden M. Landry, an emergency medicine physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and Dr. Kameron Leigh Matthews, an attending physician at Cermak Health Services of Cook County in Chicago.

The purpose of the tour is to provide minority college students with a wide range of information and advice to plan for careers in medicine and dentistry, ultimately to diversify the health care profession. 

According to the Tour for Diversity in Medicine,  minority populations comprise more than 26 percent of the U.S. population; unfortunately African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans combined only represent about six percent of practicing physicians and five percent of dentists in the country.

Session topics will range from the application process and admissions tests for medical school to choosing the right specialty to an overview of health disparities. Students will have the opportunity to interact with the presenting physicians, dentists and medical students and hear their stories about how they overcame obstacles to pursue a career as a health care professional. 

HU students and alums are invited to attend the sessions. Registration is free, follow the link to register and learn more about the Tour for Diversity in Medicine, http://tour4diversity.org/students/.

Monday, February 6, 2012

HPER Chair Dr. Chevelle Hall stands with students in Munich, Germany in route to Innsbruck, Austria.


HU HPER student Jordan Bridges (second from left) stands with other volunteers on the ski slopes in Innsbruck Austria. 
HPER students volunteer at Winter Youth Olympics

Students from the Health Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Department traveled to Innsbruck, Austria to participate in the Winter Youth Olympics Jan. 13-23. This was the first assembly of its kind to host an international, multi-sport and cultural festival event, celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games.

The students traveled with HPER Chair Dr. Chevelle Hall and volunteered in various capacities throughout the games. Several medal events were demonstrated at the event, including ice hockey, figure skating, alpine skiing, and snowboarding. 

Junior Sport Management Major Dymond Bush volunteered on the Ice Crew in the Curling Hall.

“I scraped ice and shoveled snow to make the ice playable. The ice had to be smooth with no snow on it so that the curling rocks could slide faster and curl more,” Bush said. “I learned a lot about facilities management, as well as the fact that winter sport facilities require a lot of care and attention.”

Hall wanted students, a total of seven took the trip, to gain experiences that will sustain them after their time at HU.

“My goal was to provide an outstanding experience for the students,” she said. “I also wanted them to network, and they did.”
Hall said the students enjoyed the variety of the opening ceremony.

“It was great seeing all the countries represented and the U. S. got the biggest applause,” she said.

To participate in the event, Hall contacted its Human Resources and Volunteer Director to make arrangements for students to volunteer. There were more than 1, 400 volunteers and 70 countries were represented. In addition to Bush, HPER students Omari Miles, Jordan Bridges, Phil Faxio, Ashleigh Eubanks, Sunday Bejide and Taryn Williams took the trip.

Hall said she was pleased with the overall experience, especially for students’ sake.

“They have walked away with friends from several countries as well as internship possibilities,” she said. “The goal of HPER is to graduate our students to employment.”


Leha Byrd