Large turnout for Life Through Word and Lens showcase

Numerous Cowley College Creative Writing and Mass Communication students had their fall semester works on display during the Life Through Word and Lens showcase held Thursday in the Earle N. Wright Community Room and Gallery Hallway.

The large turnout of community members, friends and family were treated to perusing writing portfolios, digital photos, and film.

Creative Writing and Poetry Writing students with portfolios at the Life Through Word and Lens showcase on Thursday were Araina Berry, Hunter Freeman, Syriah Marque, Tamara McNack, Grigorios Nasai, Felipe Mentz, Randolph Rhodd, Daria Shchukina, Tori Virden, and Eden Williams.

“I am so pleased with the work of my students this semester,” Humanities and Communications Department Chair Marlys Cervantes said. “Our freshmen really came through with some strong portfolios, and all of the students had such a solid showing of their writing. I look forward to next semester.”

The writing portfolios for these students, as well as the online students, can be seen on our online literary magazine, Mile Marker Review, at milemarkerreview.net/copy-of-portfolios-spring-2022.

The mass communication students worked hard to show off their talents in photography, film, broadcasting, and audio production.

Digital Photography students: Angela Swallow, Amber Dauber, Slava Sychev, Liza Danilova, and Evander Hutchinson hung the impressive show with examples of various types of photography from black and white, film-style prints to gallery wraps and even a crystal ball challenge.

Eight pieces sold from the walls of the Life through Word and Lens Gallery in the Brown Center.

“We really appreciated the feedback from our community members and Cowley co-workers who attended,” Director of Mass Communication Meg Smith said.

Audio Video Production students: Kyra Ruhlen, Luke Macy, Aigiza Nasyrova, Liza Danilova, and Geshawna Francis captured attention with their audio/video storytelling, an audio assignment was on 'display' at the entry to the gallery where the visitors could listen to the short stories each student recorded based on a photograph they were randomly assigned.

The students scripted a story and then narrated and edited the piece in GarageBand as part of the audio portion of the course. These students also showed off their video storytelling with their Creepy Pastas on display in the Wright Room on the big screen.

Students in the course learn to use Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier, iMovie, Audacity, and GarageBand. The semester culminates with a student film based off a childhood story. This year the story was Jack and the Bean Stock, rewritten with a Bitcoin plot and a gender twist and presented as Jackie and the Ben Stock. Jackie (Kyra Ruhlen) sells her mom's (Aigiza Nasyrova) Uber vehicle to George Stock (Taylor Kilpatrick) for Bitcoin, and later she climbs the corporate ladder working for Crypto Giant Ben (Trevor Leggett) before his big fall. Students worked together to storyboard, write, film, and edit the student film together. The Fall 2021 film, Finding Neomi, will be submitted for screening in the upcoming Bison Bison Film Festival at the Burford Theatre from March 31-April 1.

News Media Practicum students: Macie Nation, Evander Hutchinson, Randolph Rhodd, Aigiza Nasyrova, Liza Danilova, Maria Luiza Garuba Coelho, Graycen Elliott, Luke Faulkner, Aaron Medrano Jr, Arnau Sagrera, Taylor Kilpatrick, Trevor Leggett, Luke Macy, Macie Nation, Makayla  Stone produced four episodes of the Cowley College News as well as many Cowley Sports Updates spotlighting the talented students of the college. On display for the event were their 30-second public service announcements.

“There was a great deal of work on display, and many hands were involved in the creation of the student showcase, Life Through Word and Lens,” Smith said. “We appreciate the wonderful turnout for the event.”

Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu