classroom photos courtesy of Amanda Hudeck, Public Engagement Coordinator, CEO
The CEO's Wolverine Express takes faculty, staff, students, and alumni from the University of Michigan to under-resourced high schools across the state to promote higher education through sharing their stories of aspiration, education, and career experiences. This past fall, with support from The John and Patricia Mitchell Family Community Outreach Fund, FTVM's study faculty (Colin Gunckel) and production faculty (David Marek) participated in this initiative.
On October 24, 2019, Associate Professor Colin Gunckel took the Wolverine Express to Jackson High School to speak with Ms. Dailey’s Social Media students (grades 9-12). Gunckel told students about his own journey through higher education and the circuitous route that led him to a career in the Department of Film, Television, and Media. He emphasized the importance of higher education as more than a means to an end, but rather as an experience that can give students a full sense of the wide range of career and life options that exist. Gunckel also encouraged the class to constantly challenge themselves, to step outside their comfort zones, to always continue to learn and grow, and to find their passion and pursue it in every way possible.
On November 1, 2019, Production Faculty David Marek travelled to Cesar Chavez Academy to speak with the students from Ms. Mosko’s Spanish Language through Culture and Media class (grades 9-12). Marek shared his unusual journey through community college to his undergraduate and graduate studies. He discussed how his decision to pursue higher education led to discovering his passion for storytelling and filmmaking, which, in turn, opened up a world of personal, creative and professional opportunities. He screened some of his creative work with the students and shared the FTVM promotional trailer, along with information on the Department. While answering questions about higher education and the FTVM Department in particular, he shared images of FTVM's 3 world class TV Studios and behind-the-scenes photos of FTVM students working on their film, television and media projects.
