I recently celebrated my 37th year at the Specs Howard School, so I’ve experienced my share of numerous benchmarks over the years. There was the first time I discovered one of my students was the daughter of a student I’d had years ago. Then there was the time that a grad just HAD to show me pictures of their GRANDCHILD!
The most recent episode is perhaps the most humbling for more reason than one. I attend the annual Associated Press Broadcasters Awards Banquet every year because many grads usually win awards. This year was no exception.
Pat Sweeting of WWJ radio was honored for her LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT as a newsperson and she was my student! Again, in case you didn’t catch that the first time (I know, I had to keep pinching myself), she won a lifetime achievement award and she was MY STUDENT!
I didn't know whether to say "OW" or "WOW!"
Seriously, I am delighted for Pat. She richly deserves this award -- even if it does remind me that I'm OLD. Yeesh!
Of course, I’m happy to report that many of our other grads received AP awards too. Also from WWJ were Bob Mundie, Bill Stevens (who won 2), Gary Lundy and Tony Ortiz. Corey Adkins and his wife Stephanie (from Channels 9 & 10 in Traverse City/Cadillac) won 5 awards for videography. Shelley Irwin of WGVU-TV & Radio (Grand Rapids), Amy Miller of WDET (Detroit) and John Hall of WSGW Radio (Saginaw) won awards. And finally, Jon King, Jessica Matthews and Lindsay Smith won “Station of the Year” with 15 awards between them for WHMI (Howell). I was a proud uncle.
GRAD ROUND-UP
Rich Rockwell checked in to let me know in the short four months since graduating, he and fellow grad April Hawker are doing mornings together on an Internet Station called Crush Radio in Hot Springs Arkansas.
Ivy Prosper let us know that she works for a talent agency called Film/Comm Talent their head booker in St. Catharines, Ontario and was just hired to host a pilot TV show called, "Sun Shop." She was hired before she even met the producers on the strength of her demo reel. I wish her the very best.
I ran into recent grad Laura Sutherland at a recent visit to WRIF and was pleased to discover that she's been hired to be Trudi Daniels’ news producer. Very cool.
I heard from grad Theron Dahlerup who has a similar position at 97.1 "The Ticket," except that he produces the entire morning show for Bill McCallister and Jay Towers.
Finally, the latest news from two of my favorite grads, Todd & Tommy Brunswick of The Skeleton Factory Films. Their latest film, "Born of Earth," starring Daniel Baldwin, is now available on “Comcast On Demand.” In further news, The Skeleton Factory will be holding “Fright Nights” all summer starting June 24th at the Emagine Theatre in Canton. They'll have contests and events all summer leading up to their horror convention, MOTOR CITY NIGHTMARES, which will be held at the Novi Sheraton in October.
Stay tuned...I'll have details!
Until next time.
Your Great-Great (eep) Uncle Kernen
Greetings specs students, alumni, and friends. As I mentioned in my last post, the Specs Howard Street team is out and about in metro Detroit, collaborating with 89X and 101 WRIF to produce original web videos. Well the time has come for you to see all of their work, along with some classic Specs Howard spots online. Check out our new streaming video channel, Specs Howard TV! Its updated weekly with new shows, so be sure to bookmark it
Specs students helped out at the 22nd Annual Dick Purton Radiothon for the Salvation Army. The event raised over $2.2 million for the Bed and Bread program, which provides food, shelter and services to people in need. Amanda Wilton, event manager, couldn't speak more highly of the Specs interns that worked the event:
"Thank you so much for all your hard work in coordinating the students to help us with the Dick Purtan Radiothon. I have to say that they all were a true joy to work with."
On behalf of me and the Specs staff, I want to say thank you for everyone that donated the time and effort towards the event. Check out the video above to see Fox 2's coverage of the successful fundraiser.
As you know, Specs grads are everywhere and doing great things. I was excited to hear that one of our favorite grads, Billy Green (Billy the Kid), checked in with the great news that he's the newest addition to one of Americas legendary radio stations, WHTZ - Z-100 in the nations largest market...New York City! Z-100 is the home of equally legendary air talent, Scott Shannon. Pretty fast company. Billy has been in Dallas for the last 8 years and to this day remains the only grad to have had his picture featured on thousands of Pepsi Cola cans that were distributed all over Texas! Way to go Billy!
Other successes in radio includes WHMI's big win for General Excellence award for news coverage in 2008. Specs grad Jon King received recognition for Best Spot News in providing live, “as-it-happened” coverage of the June 8th tornado that moved across Livingston County. Jessica Mathews was honored for Best Hard News with her reports about a disturbing trend by drug dealers to targeting children. Radio journalism in action! Great job!
Back at Specs we have something to celebrate of our own. Steve Julin, Director of Curriculum Development and long time Video Editing instructor, was named Educator of the Year by the Digital Arts, Film & Television (D.A.F.T.) folks. He will receive the award at the annual Michigan Youth Arts Festival in early May. Steve has been involved with the school for 17 years and has been responsible for many of the progressive ideas, techniques and equipment acquisitions that have kept the school in the forefront the industries and students that we serve. Congratulations Steve...you've earned it!
