August 18, 2008
A summer of experiences and opportunities…
Well, school is almost here again and the summer is drawing to a close. We, the summer project managers at the Schroeder Center for Career Development, are now going to reflect a little on our summer projects.
The Community Fair will again take place this year. Hopefully, we should have about 70 organizations participate in the festivities on September 2 from 11:00- 1:30. Pat and I learned a lot from the interaction with local industries. First and foremost, people want what’s best for them, always. So Pat and I learned quickly when dealing with potential participants and sponsors to raise a need. This was not too difficult, the whole “new client” spiel did the trick. Although, interestingly enough, some businesses flat-out told us “no,” which still today I cannot understand. Once we gathered sponsors, reserved the field house and caterer, and finally confirmed enough businesses, the rest was just management. Overall, the success of the project will be measured in the attendance on September 2.
Our other project which is about to hit shelves soon is the Career Success Tips from Wabash Alumni. We scoured the United States for the broadest, most diverse group of alumni to give our students the best possible career advice DVD. After six hours of footage, hours of editing, downloads and uploads, condensing and cutting, and just spending some quality time with Brandon and Jeana we had ourselves a DVD. I have to admit, there were times when I thought that this project was going to flop. However, once Pat and I got a clear vision of our goal, things started to work out. We interviewed alumni in Chicago, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Denver, and Boulder. The alumni took time out of their schedules to share their advice and stories. I know it is stated many times, but Wabash alumni are some of the best and most generous guys you will ever meet. There will always be technical issues, but the knowledge and experiences we gained over a great summer will stick with us.
Pat and I learned a little about ourselves this summer as well. Pat went from a guy who was thinking about a joint law and business degree after Wabash to pursuing a career in the film world. He has found a passion for making movies and writing scripts and is going to pursue this adventure after Wabash. I reaffirmed my belief that I want to pursue law after Wabash; furthermore, this experience has taught me that there are so many different types of law out there that I can practically do whatever interests me. I also decided to pick up an economics minor. I have always wanted to do so, but never have really pursued it. This summer’s interaction with alumni and fundraising has made me realize the importance of economics. We both appreciate the opportunities we were given this summer and we hope that our work benefits Wabash students this upcoming school year.
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August 05, 2008
Theatre Helps Re-Discover Inner Child
Spencer Elliott '10 - I’ve recently come to the realization that if you become apathetic; the concrete jungle will slowly blot out your inner-child. The morning traffic, cold coffee, hour-long meetings, lunch lines, squeaky chairs, jammed printers, progress reports, and afternoon traffic take their toll over time.
This newfound understanding is not some divine revelation — it took my internship with the 2008 Summer Conservatory for Youth at the Indiana Repertory Theatre to realize that my inner-child was in peril. When I started the program I quickly realized that, compared to the children, I lacked wholehearted spontaneity and enthusiasm. However, over a period of four weeks, the students and teachers awakened within each other and myself a child-like desire to learn new things, meet different people, and take bold risks.
To those who are unfamiliar with the Summer Conservatory, let me enlighten you — this was the 11th year of the program with 67 students ages 8 to 18 participating with over 20 high caliber professionals directing and instructing classes. Acting track students received training in acting, voice, movement, Shakespeare, creative dramatics, and dance for theatre. Production track students received training in stage management, directing, lighting, scenic design, costumes, properties and playwriting. The four-week program culminated in a public performance that drew an enthusiastic full house of over 193 people.
While the final presentation was meaningful, at the IRT we believe that the ongoing education of youth is of the utmost importance. First and foremost, Summer Conservatory makes each student self-aware and self-assured members of a greater community that believes in the importance of theatre in modern society. In addition, over four weeks, while each student makes a different degree of progress on the stage; everyone is more prepared for the real world (for the post-it, the printer, and the paycheck). They learn to react truthfully, think critically, and unapologetically strive to achieve their goals.
I honestly hope my students bring the genuine to the real world that severely lacks it; I know my inner child and I will.
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August 01, 2008
Gaining Invaluable Experience in awesome Ann Arbor
I have been participating in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Michigan since May. As the name suggests, the program gives opportunity for undergraduates from across the country to participate in a research work going on at the physics department at the University of Michigan.
I am involved in a research at an atomic physics lab, which is searching for an electric dipole moment (eEDM) in electrons using polar molecules such as tungsten carbide. The ongoing research has a big importance in the physics world. There have been a lot of theoretical predictions of eEDM and finding eEDM experimentally gives us a new idea about the symmetry of the universe. With that ultimate goal in mind, we are now studying the properties of a supersonic gas jet of tungsten atoms seeded with meta-stable noble gases and also a beam of tungsten-carbide molecules.
Ann Arbor has been providing me great hospitality. It is a college-town with a lot of things to do. Even though this is a summer time with maybe 10% of the total students present, there are a lot of interesting things going on. I visited Ann Arbor Street Art Fair last week. The festival is an annual event with about a half million people coming here to see top quality artwork by the finest artists.
In addition to the research work, I also got an opportunity to attend the Michigan Quantum Summer School, a two-week long conference on quantum information science and precision measurement experiments. I found myself lucky to be able to attend talks given by famous atomic physicists. When I worked at Prof. Martin Madsen’s lab at Wabash last summer, I read many papers on quantum computing, and this year I was able to go to the lectures given by the same authors. During the conference, I met Eric Cornell (2001 Physics Nobel Prize Laureate) from University of Colorado, Boulder who came to visit our lab. I also presented a poster on the work I am doing during the conference. One more historic thing I learned about the conference was that, Michigan provided a good location for the development of quantum mechanics in 1930s and 1940s by running quantum summer schools and, with the same spirit, they revived the concept of Michigan Quantum Summer School from this year after about 50 years.
Rabin Paudel '10
Pictures:
1) My research group
2) UM REU students in front of FermiLab
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July 28, 2008
Internship with opportunities
Steve Popovich, '10--As we all know, internships are about giving students “real life” job experiences and the opportunity for them to figure out what they actually want to do after Wabash. The internship I have this summer has encompassed these beliefs completely. I am working with Adorant Services Group as a small business consultant. The experiences I receive from this job are quite unique compared with other internships offered. Basically, my prime responsibility is structuring and creating a marketing and sales plan for an up-and-coming company. Now you may be thinking, hmmm…that is a pretty hefty job for a kid in college that has no experience with this type of thing, and I couldn’t agree more! But, I have quickly learned that there is no experience better than real world experience; fully immersing yourself in something that you have no idea about, then getting the hang of it, then actually becoming good at it. The best gratification of this experience is the learning curve and finding the capability within yourself to accomplish difficult tasks. Kind of sounds similar to the Wabash curriculum huh?
This internship has also shown me much of Indiana, as well as Chicago, and even Milwaukee, WI. Our 4th of July weekend in Milwaukee was quite the memorable experience. My boss sent me and the other intern Mark Shultz up to Milwaukee for a consumer interview, but he wanted to make sure we also had a good time. It just so happened that during 4th of July weekend, Summerfest was going on. For those of us that are not familiar with Summerfest, it is the largest outdoor music festival in the world. So our boss got us a hotel room on the top floor of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee and sent us on our way to Summerfest. All he said was, “I want you guys to have a good time,” and we sure did.
Another aspect of the internship that I enjoy is my boss’ enthusiasm to introduce us to other successful alumni and pick their brains about their careers. One of the notable meetings was with Greg Jania at W.P. Global Partners in the financial district of Chicago. It was a great feeling to walk through the financial district of Chicago dressed in a suit. It gave me a feeling of somewhat importance and substance. But, the lunch meeting with Mr. Jania in his 39th floor conference room overlooking the city was the highlight of the day. We discussed different aspects of his career and the challenges he had to overcome to be where he is today. We also discussed career paths that we could follow after Wabash that will give us the opportunity to have a great jobs. This meeting as well as all of the other meetings with alums throughout the summer have been enlightening and have made me finally realize what I wish to pursue after Wabash. As I mentioned in short earlier, this internship has given me some great work experience, but the “real life” experience has been priceless.
Pictured above Steve Popovich and Mark Schultz on one of thier company visits.
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July 23, 2008
An Exciting Summer in Chicago
Rob Fenoglio '09 - “Sweet home Chicago” – that seems to be the theme of my summer so far. This summer I am interning at Navy Pier as a Summer Production Assistant. For anyone who is unaware of the major attraction that is Navy Pier, it is essentially a working pier (the Navy actually docks ships at the Pier) with many shows, rides, and events that go on every day. Things are never the same and that helps keep the days interesting and amusing.
I grew up near Chicago, so it is really fantastic to be living in the city all by myself, thanks to the Kemper Grant, and taking in everything this amazing city has to offer. Not only do I get to live in Little Italy (I’m Italian, so it’s like being at home but without all of the guilt my mother so lovingly provides), but I also get to be a part of something I love: Entertainment.
As a Summer Production Assistant, I have spent my summer helping organize major events, including the Navy Pier premiere of “The Dark Knight” on July 16, many of the shows that take place on stages located on the pier, finalize band contracts for performances in the Beer Garden, and deal with the crazy antics of behind-the-scenes producing. The experience has been everything I have hoped for and more!
Not only have I been able to see what a producer does, but I have also had hands –on experience with performers and bands on the weekends when I stage manage the Dock Street and Beer Garden stages. I never would have thought this much effort and skill is needed to produce a show everyday or manage a band for a few hours. The knowledge gained during this internship has been nothing short of priceless.
It is quite interesting to see how things are run behind-the-scenes and how something can be going perfect one moment, then the tide abruptly changes and everything feels like it could fall apart. Being able to think on your toes and critically to keep everything together is something Wabash has definitely taught me and that has been extremely helpful during this internship. Being a stage manager on the weekends has illustrated how much preparation goes into a band’s performance or a variety performer’s set. It has allowed me to have a newfound respect for performers and all of the things they do to prepare for a show and all of the things that must be done to keep a show running smoothly.
One of the perks of being part of the Entertainment Team at Navy Pier has been my access to some of the promotional ties with “The Dark Knight.” Anyone with knowledge of the film is aware that Chicago stands in for Gotham City and director Christopher Nolan shot almost all of the exterior shots here in the city last year and a major scene at Gotham Pier was shot on the East End of the Pier involving two ferries. Seeing how Navy Pier has an IMAX screen inside the Family Pavilion and some of the film was shot on the Pier, Christopher Nolan wanted to have a premiere here, in honor of the city.
I was able to attend some of the events during the premiere and was given a special screening on the film’s day of release. I was able to get a few photos of the Tumbler (Batmobile) and the Batpod (motorcycle) because they were on showcase in the Crystal Gardens for the VIP event that night. I was unable to attend the VIP party, but was able to see the vehicles before the official party.
My experiences producing and the knowledge gained in dealing with contracts have been extremely beneficial to me in my future endeavors in the entertainment industry. Once again, Wabash has helped me find an unbelievable internship and has supplied with the resources and knowledge to help me achieve everything I have wanted to during this opportunity. If you’re ever up in Chicago during the remainder of the summer, stop by and enjoy the unique atmosphere Navy Pier has to offer.
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July 17, 2008
Know Indiana: Morton '10 Learned at Repertory Theatre
Anthony Morton '10 - I could not ask for a better internship than what I just experienced. For the last eight weeks I had the opportunity to work at the Indiana Repertory Theatre downtown Indianapolis provided by a grant through Know Indiana. For the first four weeks of my internship I worked with various administrative departments, mainly the Youth Audience Development Department and the Development Department.
One project I completed for the Youth Audience was compiling demographic research about what schools attended what productions last season. More importantly, however, was finding schools the IRT hasn’t been able to get to the theatre. Then I learned about IRT’s mission: to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that engage, surprise, challenge and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, thereby helping to build a vital and vibrant community. Getting students to the theatre is absolutely one of their main priorities and I was more than happy to aid them in learning about what schools they could possibly reach out to whether it’s through underwriting ticket sales for student matinees or providing means for transportation to get students to the IRT.
When working for the Development Department I had the opportunity to learn about grant writing and grant proposal research, a subject I always thought was dull and loathsome, but as I dived into my research, I actually enjoyed the research I was doing and was able to find a number of foundations the IRT could send a request to whether it be for interests concerning culture, youth, or education. I was so fascinated because while the IRT is a non-profit organization, funding is so important because they need large sums of funding to produce the fully professional shows they put on stage.
When my first four weeks ended, I supervised a group of students interested in technical theatre during the IRT’s Summer Conservatory for Youth for the last four weeks. I had a group of ten students between the ages of fourteen and eighteen and we covered everything involved with the technical side of theatre including directing, stage management, playwriting, props, costumes, and set, sound, and light design. I was so fortunate to work with such a bright group of students. We covered so much in so little time that I was amazed to see them take it all in.
After learning about these different aspects of technical theatre, each student designed costume renderings and a set with a lighting plot for Shakespeare’s MacBeth, which the IRT is actually producing this fall. Each student also wrote a ten-minute play under the guidance of Jeff Casazza, a professional playwright, and Richard Roberts, the IRT’s dramaturge. Their plays then received a staged reading by professional actors such as Rob Johansen, Priscilla Lindsay, Milicent Wright, Robert Neal, Constance Macy, and Ryan Artzberger. The purpose of this reading was not to see how the actors displayed the characters, but for the playwrights to actually see and hear their work on stage and determine if they were satisfied with what they wrote or if they would like to continue making changes to perfect their play.
Fortunately for me, I did not take a back seat and merely supervise the students, but I participated in everything they did, which has actually thrown me into a loop of creativity have I have never experienced before. I am currently writing three short plays and want to learn more and more about technical theatre. From the moment I arrived, the IRT staff greeted me warmly. I was introduced to many new people and made many great friends. The friendly and family-like atmosphere was almost too much to bear as I parted with hugs, tears, and bittersweet good-byes. If you are ever in Indianapolis, be sure to visit the IRT for they surely have the ability to challenge minds, move hearts and inspire creativity.
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July 09, 2008
Goodrich on Life at the Phoenix Theatre
Matt Goodrich '09 - For the past two months I have been working at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis. This professional non-for-profit theatre produces plays that touch on interesting and sometimes controversial social issues through genres ranging from musicals to dramas to comedies. The Phoenix’s goal is to reach out to the public and make them think seriously about these issues. This goal can be seen in their catch phrase which states, “Plays. With Fire.”
When I arrived, my original position was to be filled with both creative and administrative duties. I had the opportunity to audition with my supervisor, Bryan Fonseca, for the Phoenix’s final main stage production of the season, the Terrance McNally play SOME MEN, and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been cast. Suddenly my internship had two very different sides to one fiery coin.
My day job portion of the internship was centered on the technical aspects of theatre (the ‘behind the scenes’ kind of stuff). I was put under the instruction of two young and incredibly talented theatre technicians, Justin Kidwell, the Technical Director, and Dani Norberg, the Master Electrician. From Justin I learned the finer details of theatrical carpentry including all the steps from how to correctly read stage blueprints to actually building and polishing set pieces. I was also given the chance to work some really powerful and fun tools that I had never even seen before. I can now comfortably say that there is no tool with more spectacle involved than a metal circular saw with it’s cascading shower of sparks and deafening screech as it cuts through pipe. I was not only involved in the stage construction of SOME MEN and then later the play MURDERERS, but also in some major theatre improvements such as the new light grid that we installed with metal pipes and ceiling anchors. I now have significant working knowledge of stage carpentry and construction that I am sure will come to good use in the very near future.
While working under Dani I learned skills that have already presented job opportunities as I will be a technician for the Indy Fringe Festival late this August. Dani taught me all the ins and outs (literally) of lights and their many intricacies. I can now take apart a light and either clean or fix it for better performance. I can also correctly and safely provide maintenance to all electrical connections needed. I learned how to read a light plot as well as what each of the different light models can do and how they are used. I was taught how to create the connection from the lights to the circuits to the dimmers to the light board for a show to work and then I learned how to program and run a show from the light board itself. In my time with Dani I quickly got over my fear of heights and became quite at home on the 20 foot high scaffolding.
When I was not working as a theatre techie, I was on the stage rehearsing and performing SOME MEN. This was an amazing experience for a young actor straight out of Ball Theatre. I was able to talk to and learn from actors with 20 plus years of professional acting experience and learned about different schools of acting and how they applied individually to the show. I learned much from the rest of the cast as well as my director, Bryan Fonseca, and have grown leaps and bounds as an actor. It has been very different to be involved in a two week rehearsal and six week run rather than Wabash’s usual five week rehearsal and four day run. It has also been really cool to have my first show outside of Wabash received so well by so many Indianapolis theatre goers (By the way, show up! The show itself runs until July 19th and is well worth the trip!).
I couldn’t have had a better and more comprehensive real world theatre experience than I did here at The Phoenix Theatre. It has been an amazing time with fantastic people. I can’t wait to take the volumes I have learned here back to Wabash and beyond.
Photo above right: Goodrich (middle row, center) with the cast of SOME MEN
Photo above left: Goodrich (right) in SOME MEN
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