Record Number of Applicants Expected for High School Digital Storytelling Workshop
| February 26, 2016 |
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By Tim McManus
A record number of applicants are expected for the School of Communication’s 5th annual High School Digital Storytelling Workshop.
Students from high schools across the country are invited to apply for six-days of intensive digital media instruction, which will be offered at the Loyola’s downtown Water Tower Campus June 19-24.
The application deadline is March 11.
Taught by the SOC’s experienced instructors, and mentored by Loyola undergraduates, 30 high school students will spend the week getting hands-on experience with emerging technologies, university life, and digital media skills.
Meghan Ashbrock, Event Coordinator and Workshop Manager, says she is expecting a record number of applications.
“It's a valuable opportunity for any student who is interested in Loyola or digital media to see what it's like to study communication in a world-class city. Also, it's a chance for them to gain skills that they’ll learn at the workshop and take them back to their school newspaper, radio station, and other extracurricular activities,” Ashbrock said.
Students can expect to be busy learning and having fun with peers from 8 a.m. until 11pm. Each morning in Loyola’s classrooms, they will increase their knowledge on various aspects of audio, video and journalism, and each night they will explore the city with Loyola’s staff and experience the diverse neighborhoods and cultures before returning to their dorm rooms at Baumhart Hall.
Entering its fifth year, the workshop was a memorable experience for several past participants, such as current Loyola sophomore and journalism major Jamie Hiskes.
“We went to Chinatown, Greektown, and Pilsen, and we got to interview a few locals there and ask them about their lives in those neighborhoods. It really opened my eyes to how culturally rich Chicago is. After the workshop, there was no question in my mind that Loyola would be perfect for me,” Hiskes said.
Hiskes said the experience was so worthwhile, she doesn’t hesitate to tell everyone about it. Her advice for this year’s participants is to take advantage of all the opportunities the workshop provides.
“They have the chance to work with some of the best communication professors in the country, in the third largest city in the country. A chance like that doesn’t come around too often,” Hiskes said. “They should have fun while they’re here, make friends with some of the other students who attend, and learn as much about Loyola and Chicago as they can. Having fun is the most important part, though.
In addition to meeting future students like Hiskes, Ashbrock believes the workshop benefits the SOC in more ways than one. It also contributes to the school’s mission of educating students while utilizing the changing technologies to address the social needs of our world.
“We have a lot to offer as a communication school in this huge media market, and I think it's a good way for us to build relationships with high schools, as well as their students and parents, and just foster that connection to our community.” Ashbrock said. “I think it's a good opportunity for us to mentor and train the next generation of communicators.”