I’m glad to report that once again, Specs Howard grads have proven to be winners. Starting with the Michigan’s Associated Press Broadcast Awards, I’m delighted to report that 14 of our grads will be honored at the ceremony on April 12. The list includes:
Amy Miller - WDET-FM
Craig Fahly - WDET-FM
Shelley Irwin - WGVU (2)
Jon King - WHMI (4)
Jessica Matthews - WHMI (2)
Lindsey Smith - WHMI
Rob St. Mary - WDET-FM (3)
Note: These were won while he was News Director at WOOD-AM in Grand Rapids
Charlie Rood - WSGW
Bob Mundie - WWJ
Bill Stevens - WWJ
Florence Walton - WWJ
Tony Ortiz - WWJ
Corey Adkins - WWTV-WWUP-TV (4) - Corey is a photojournalist
Donn Bosquet - WXYZ-TV - Donn is a Director of the 6 & 11 news
Also in this week, Gerry Gava – a 1980 graduate -- was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Quarter Century Club. Gerry is the Manager of of Distribution Services for CTV Television in Toronto.
After talking about Stacey Szostek’s new job at Postique last week, I thought I’d ask Operations Manager Brian Chidester(also a grad) to do some research for me. Imagine my surprise to discover that a third of their creative and technical staff are Specs Howard grads!
BREAKING NEWS...Stacey has already been promoted to Assistant Editor & recent grad Fred Sczykutowicz has been added to the graphics department.
Other recent shout-outs from grads:
Mark Sadrack - AV Event Coordinator - Encore Productions - Las
Vegas
Scott Hooker - Air Talent - WPCV - Lakeland FL
Kathy Aune - Traffic/Continuity Dir. - KDKB - Mesa AZ
Steve Jones - Promotion Coordinator - Magic 105.1 - Detroit
Sara Fouracre - Morning Show - 97.1 "The Ticket" - Detroit
Mindy Pauris - Anchor/Reporter - WLIO-TV - Lima OH
As you can see, our grads wind up all over the place. But when I heard the latest from Erin Fleming, a 1999 grad, I knew this was one letter worth sharing:
Mr. Kernen,
I am off to Cairo, Egypt of all places! I am going to be part of a group of English-speaking radio stations that are bringing western culture not only to the Egyptians, but to the Americans, Canadians, and the British abroad. I am tying up lose ends at the "BEAR" (in Northern Michigan) before I head off to the Middle East to hopefully help educate the people in Egypt and surrounding areas on American culture, Western Civilization, entertain Americans and other people abroad, and shed light on what democracy can do for country.
I never thought in a million years that radio would allow to do the things I have done, to see the things that I have seen, and to experience some of the best and worst of things that life has to offer.I have had a chance to work with some of the most talented people in the world through out my career and all of them told me the same thing: “Work Hard, don't complain, go the extra mile and enjoy every challenge and opportunity that presents itself.”
Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts changed my life. I am looking forward to the next set of challenges that the radio industry throws my way. Mr. Kernen, I sincerely want to thank you for opening my eyes to all of the wonderful things that can happen in radio if you want it bad enough. I have partied with rock stars, seen Barry Bonds break a home run record, and now I am traveling to foreign lands.
I am truly grateful! Take care and you can bet I will keep in touch.
Erin Fleming
RTV-99
Also, just to let you know, it’s Open Enrollment Month for Specs Howard graduates that are interested in registering for the Graphic Design Program. Don’t forget, we’re offering alumni a $1,000 scholarship. Call the admissions office for details and make an appointment. We’re making it really easy on you, folks. We’re even going to be open on Saturdays through May 3rd, (10 AM- 2 PM). The admissions department is going all out to make it festive with bagels, coffee, and lots of giveaways. I understand they even have some Pistons and Tigers tickets!
You know, the more I learn about this program, the more excited I get! It’s really going to be so cool. --uk
The word is out by now I guess, but just in case you haven’t heard, Specs Howard School is now offering a Graphic Design Program. It’s something your Uncle Kernen is really excited about because I have been getting calls from employers looking for graduates with graphic and web design skills for some time now.
There are a lot of crossover opportunities out there for RTV (radio & television) grads. Currently, we’ve got Roberto Boschian over at WYCD (99.5 FM). He graduated from the RTV program with a concentration in television. The thin line between radio and TV, of course, is nothing new.
However, he not only made the leap from TV to radio, he’s the graphic/web design guru over there. It seems he had some experience with that too. Roberto’s official title is “Digital Manager.” More specifically, he is responsible for designing the station’s promotional products (think stickers, t-shirts, etc.), developing and maintaining the station’s website and providing video content for the radio station’s website. It’s just mind-boggling, isn’t it? To view some of his handiwork, visit the station's website here.
So for any of you grads out there that want to come back for the new graphic design program, we’re offering a $1,000 alumni scholarship. Graphic design students will be learning the fundamentals of both graphic and web design and it’s all wrapped up in an impressive package! Not only do all students receive the tools they’ll need (Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium), classes will meet only twice a week. The rest will be done online.
If you want to learn more about it, stop in for one of our Graphic Design Demo Days on April 1st or 8th. We’ll have a session at 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM on both days. Call the school for details or to RSVP at 248-358-9000.
RECORD BREAKERS
Now it’s catch up time. As usual I’ve been inundated with all kinds of good news to share. Here’s hoping nothing falls through the cracks…
How’s this for a good day? On the day of her graduation, Stacey Szostek (who had been hired by Postique as a Dupe-Tech two weeks earlier) was surprised to find that not only had she won Highest GPA, the man who'd hired her -- Brian Chidester -- was the commencement speaker for her class!
In addition to being awarded a $1,000 grant from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation, Stacey also won an award in their 2008 College Broadcast Awards Competition. She and classmate Jena Major won a second place video award in the news feature/magazine program category.
And now, just last week, Stacey broke all existing records going from Dupe-Tech to Assistant Editor at Postique in 30 days. My sincere congratulations, Stacey!
While I’m talking about records, I feel honored to mention that grad Shelley Irwin will soon receive her fifth straight Gracie Award at the American Women in Radio & Television's event this June. Shelley works for Grand Valley State’s WGVU-TV & Radio. Not only has she won five Gracies in a row, Shelley was also honored with an award at the recent MAB Conference. WAY TO GO, SHELLEY!
And last but not least, Grand Rapids News/Talk WOOD radio just hired its third straight Specs grad as their new News Director. Rod Kackley was hired to replace recently departed Rob St. Mary when he exited to join WDET, who had replaced Rich Jones when he left for Jacksonville Florida. I’ll be checking the Guinness Record Book shortly!
GRADS IN PRINT
I read a very nice article in The Michigan Chronicle about Specs Howard Hall of Famer Lloyd Jackson, recognizing him as the first African American to hold a news management position at legendary WJR. Congratulations to Lloyd and a sincere thanks to Lloyd for recognizing the old SHS in your bio. Click here for the full story!
I would also like to thank Susan Whithall for a great piece on Mac Kelley -- or as he is now known, Wolfman Mac -- in a recent edition of The Detroit News. Wolfman Mac’s Nightmare SINema premiered on MY TV 20 this past Saturday at 1:00 AM.
For those of you who grew up watching Sir Graves Ghastly and The Ghoul, this is an updated 21st Century version of the late night creep fest. Local TV that isn’t news -- what a concept!
As digital multi-channel television develops over the next few years, we'll hopefully see more locally produced programs of all kinds. If you’ve got an original idea, your day is coming!
For the full story, pictures and video about Wolfman Mac, click here.
Visit the official NIGHTMARE SINema website here.
SHOUT OUTS
I also heeard from Jenna McWilliams of WXFL-TV in Albany, Georgia, who
wrote the following excerpts for me:
Greetings from the South!
It has been almost three years since I left Specs and I thought I would bring you up to date on my adventures.
After leaving Specs, it took me almost 8 months to find a job – and I had a college degree in journalism! Yes, I know it sounds like a long time but I wasn’t trying that hard right away. But after dubbing 50 demos and sending them out everywhere and anywhere, I was hired by Fox 33 in Cadillac, Michigan. This was great news to me since I thought I’d be relocating very far from home.
After about a year of one-woman-banding it (editor's note - that’s short for shooting, writing, voicing, and finding her own stories), bad news hit. Our company merged with another and I basically lost my job.I wasn’t the only one whose contract was "not being renewed" so I moved home and started the process again.
This time though, with my foot already in the door and some experience on my resume, it didn’t take long to get me back on the screen. I was hired in January of 2008 at WFXL Fox 31 in Albany, Georgia. Yes, a whole 16-hour drive away from good old Michigan.
I love my new job and have had many comments on my work (thanks to my editing classes at Specs). I’m great and so is the weather and so is my career. Thanks for everything and keep in touch – we’ll soon be adding a morning show and could use some new blood! ~J. McWilliams
By the way, in my last blog, I mentioned that grad Bob Mounts, PD of WOBR in Nags Head, North Carolina needed a mid-day air talent. I am delighted to report that recent grad Katie Gates starts in two weeks!
I also want to acknowledge a few of you who’ve taken the time to check in with us through the school’s website. You too can do this by visiting here.
Tim Timmerman
Kiss 107 - Morning Show Air Talent - Cincinnati, OH
Robert Logan
Midwestern Video - Camera Operator - Roseville, MI
Amanda Fiolek
Motor City Casino - DJ - Radio Bar
Cumulus Radio - Detroit & Promotion Assistant - Ann Arbor, MI
Wayne Murphy
President-Filmwerx Creative Services - Brighton, MI
James Jackson
WOFL-TV - News Photographer - Lake St. Mary, FL
Jane Asher
Worldtalkradio.com - Executive Producer - San Diego, CA
Nancy Dabney
Word of Faith Ministries - TV Department Supervisor - Producer - Southfield
Kristen Ewing
Rogers Television -Videographer - Mississauga Ontario, Canada
Nathan Parsons
WGHP-TV - News Photo-Journalist - High Point, NC
Whew! And I didn't know where to start.... If you think I missed anything let me know and remember, visit your Uncle Kernen once in awhile.
'Til the next time, see ya, bye! uk
