By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – The Digital Expressions Media Camp has become a summer tradition for Linley Fegley.
A soon-to-be senior at Cambridge High School, she’s attended the weeklong University of Nebraska at Kearney event three straight years.
“I enjoy seeing some familiar faces, and I really love all of the experiences – being live on the radio, shooting videos, taking pictures and seeing what we can create,” said Fegley, one of 16 students who participated in the camp that concluded Friday.
Back in her hometown, Fegley runs her own photography business and works on school projects through a digital media class offered there. But she’s always looking for more opportunities to get involved.
“During the Digital Expressions Camp, you get a little bit of everything,” she said. “That’s huge for me because I don’t have access to all of these things where I’m at.”
Hosted by the UNK Department of Communication, the media camp gives high schoolers an opportunity to explore careers in broadcasting and communication while gaining hands-on experience in the field. They learn about photography, videography, graphic design, social media and video, audio and photo editing using UNK’s high-end equipment, utilize the on-campus video studio and get their own airtime with the campus radio station, KLPR 91.1 FM.
Attendees showcase their creativity throughout the week by creating public service announcements, photo and video packages and TV news stories.
“The goal has always been to get high school students behind a camera or microphone and hopefully spark a passion for it,” said associate professor Jacob Rosdail, who directs the camp. “Some of these campers come from high schools that have Striv or a similar video program, but many don’t get any exposure to this as a possible career path or college major. Very few high schools have broadcast radio stations. Oftentimes, you can have conversations with these campers and think you know them, but then you put them behind a microphone and a completely different side of them comes out.”
In addition to learning from UNK students and faculty, camp participants get to meet professionals currently working in the field. The group toured the NRG Media and NTV studios and engaged with guest speakers and UNK alumni such as Grace McDonald, who works at 10/11 News in Lincoln, and Evan Jones, founder of Best Boy Media and RPAC Rundown. Jim Timm, president and executive director of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, also spoke to the group.
These behind-the-scenes looks at the broadcasting industry are another highlight for Fegley.
“My grandpa listens to KRVN and he’s going to freak out because I got to meet Jon Willis (a current UNK student and sports broadcaster),” she said with a smile. “I gotta get a picture with him before the end of camp.”
Along with the educational aspects, the camp allows high schoolers to interact with members of the UNK Department of Communication and develop relationships with each other. There are a variety of fun social activities throughout the week, and most participants stay in the same residence hall.
“It definitely opens up new horizons, especially if they’re staying on campus,” UNK senior Josie McCormick said. “It really helps them transition into college life. If they decide to come here to UNK or any other college, they’ll already have experience living in the dorms, so it’s much less nerve-wracking because you know what to expect.”
A Bradshaw native, McCormick attended the Digital Expressions Media Camp two times during high school, leading to her decision to attend UNK, where she’s studying multimedia with a minor in media production. She’s served as a camp counselor the past three years.
“I’m really glad that my counselor in high school sent this camp to me on a whim. It turned out to be one of the greatest experiences,” said McCormick, a designer and website manager for The Antelope student newspaper. “I love UNK and I really found my people here.”
McCormick graduates in December, so this might be her last Digital Expressions Media Camp. Fegley already knows she’ll be here next summer.
“Someone told me the first year that I couldn’t sign the board in the radio studio until I had been here for four years. So now I’m coming back next year to sign that board,” she said with a laugh.
