Four students from Niagara College’s Broadcasting program graduated in a most unique way: busy at work behind the scenes to help make Virtual Convocation a success for the Class of 2021.
Sarah Cedeno Almengor, Nick Hatlevik, Aaron Taylor-Head, and James Wilson graduated from the Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program on the afternoon of June 23 as part of a student crew who are working alongside college staff and faculty on the College’s Virtual Convocation ceremonies.
The gig is a paid opportunity for the team of students to both apply and enhance the skills they have learned in the program. Led by Broadcasting professor Peter VandenBerg, students take on roles as directors, graphics, audio mixers, editors, teleprompter operators, camera and floor managers, and more to transform the traditional ceremonies into a highly interactive virtual experience, and bring the ceremonies – which are broadcast live from the Welland Campus – into the homes of graduates and viewers around the world.
VandenBerg applauded the four graduating students for their sincere desire to work on the 10 convocation ceremonies for the Class of 2021 between June 21 and June 25 — including their own graduation. He noted that they have been passionately applying their experiences and education from the program to make convocation a success since June last year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led the College to pursue a virtual format.
“One of the qualities I can’t teach is the desire to want to contribute to others. These four students model the selfless attitude that it takes to want to work on a production and proudly make a difference for the other almost 4,000 graduates,” said VandenBerg. “As much as these four are also graduating Wednesday afternoon, they are focused on making this a special week for all their fellow 2021 grads across the College. They would all rather be in the studio working than watching.”
This year, all four graduating students are taking critical roles in contributing to the success of the ceremonies.
Sarah Cedeno Almengor: main content editor
Sarah Cedeno Almengor works behind the scenes editing content for the live-streamed ceremonies.
When she looks back on enrolling in the Broadcasting program at NC, Cedeno recalls that, while it was not originally her preferred option, she now feels it worked out for the best. Cedeno, who is originally from Panama, found soon found herself in Niagara, shifting from her original interest in Film to Television, and hasn’t looked back since.
“TV is fun. I love it,” she said.
Over the course of the program, Cedeno has gained experience through many opportunities available through her program. Working on the Canadian Olympic wrestling trials in Niagara Falls in 2019 was a personal highlight for her.
Through working on virtual convocation, she is putting her skills to work while gaining valuable experience.
“It’s mostly just learning to be on your feet no matter what you’re doing,” she said. “There’s a lot that can go wrong during the actual live show so it’s learning how to deal with that, stay calm, and solve problems.”
While she noted that remote learning during the pandemic has been challenging, Cedeno is happy that she made it through.
“A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be here. This wasn’t the plan,” she said. “Here I am today, graduating!”
In a social media post on convocation day, Sarah Cedeno Almengor opens up about how meaningful the experience of graduating has been for her.
Nick Hatlevik: producer
Nick Hatlevik works in the control room during Virtual Convocation.
While the role of producer was performed by VandenBerg for the 2020 ceremonies, he passed the reins to Hatlevik this year. Hatlevik, who is originally from Vancouver and is a current St. Catharines resident, brings his broadcasting skills to the dual role of tech producer and producer, in addition to designing the tech layout and managing the technical setup. He noted that enjoys working on a big production like virtual convocation with its many moving parts.
“Its’ been interesting to have so much trust put in you,” he said. “To be in charge of a team of people is very challenging. It’s been a lot of fun so far.”
Three years ago, Hatlevik was unsure about his career path. He enrolled in Broadcasting after becoming involved with video work as a high school student. At NC, he acquired more hands-on experience and signed up for various roles in many broadcasting opportunities available through his program. He also worked an internal internship and coached other NC students.
Beginning last year, his involvement with virtual convocation also opened new doors for him, leading to a contract summer position working on virtual events.
Hatlevik feels that being able to complete a portion of his studies remotely during the past year has been helpful to him as he balanced a full-time job in restaurant management with his college classes.
While he had always envisioned graduation as a typical in-person event, he has found it interesting to be a part of the College’s virtual convocations – especially last year, when the entire concept of convocation had to be reimagined in a virtual format.
“I definitely don’t mind working my graduation, I almost prefer it. I love being in production and being involved, telling stories to an audience is something that I love doing,” said Hatlevik. “This is a unique opportunity to be able to do that and share memories. Otherwise, maybe they’d get their name on a website.”
Aaron Taylor Head: Jib camera operator
Aaron Taylor-Head works the camera at the Welland Campus studio during the live stream ceremony.
For Welland resident Taylor-Head, graduation means that all of his years in the program have been worthwhile.
“I’ve put in the time and I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “The people that have mentored me and I’ve grown to look up to have seen that I’ve put in that work, that I have learned, and they’re giving me this graduation so it’s a reassurance that I’m improving and I will continue to do so.”
Over the course of the program, he has shifted his original focus from Film to TV and honed his skill set in the fast pace of shooting. He learned a lot and values the experience he gained – especially working a corporate video with his cohort featuring therapeutic horse riding, as well as working with the College’s Marketing department.
Working on virtual convocation this time around, Taylor-Head is the jib camera operator in the convocation stage space, and he shot and edited some of the video content included in the ceremonies.
For him, the experience is about being in the moment and reacting to situations that arise. With 10 ceremonies over the course of a week, with less than two weeks of prep time, it’s intense and consistency is critical.
“You have to be consistent and make sure that each one has as much effort put into it as the last to make sure every person gets what they should out of this for their own convocation,” he said.
James Wilson: Director
James Wilson works the control room during virtual convocation.
Wilson enrolled in the Broadcasting program after working in the field of computer programming. The St. Catharines resident also continued to work full-time as a software engineer as he pursued his studies at NC.
His technical background has come in handy throughout the program as well as in his current role as director and technical director for the June convocation ceremonies. It was Wilson who designed the automation GFX program to facilitate graduates’ names being displayed during the ceremonies -as each of the almost 4,000 names for the Class of 2021 are called out individually. Because Wilson was able to code the program from scratch, he saved the crew hours of manual input. He also configured the control room logistics for the virtual ceremonies.
Completing a portion of his studies during the pandemic is a detail that Wilson takes in stride. Like Hatlevik, he noted that he appreciated the flexibility remote learning offered as he continued to work a full-time job.
Wilson also valued the opportunity to get involved with many broadcasting opportunities available to him as a student, such as covering the Olympic Wrestling Trials in Niagara Falls in December 2019 and many other sporting events.
Post-graduation, he hopes to work in the field as a technical director or replay operator.
Wilson doesn’t mind the fact that he is working on his convocation day, nor that the ceremonies are virtual.
“I prefer that they are virtual rather than in-person anyway, and getting to work on it,” he said. “[Graduating] is more of a step towards actually working in the field and moving on with my career.”
Proud professor
Working alongside these graduating students through all the virtual ceremonies – from spring and fall 2021 to spring 2021 – and on their very convocation day, has been a meaningful experience for VandenBerg.
“It is very much a privilege to work alongside them, and I am so incredibly proud to witness their professionalism as they represent our program and college,” he said.” I am truly in awe watching how they’ve grown into these incredibly capable professionals. I’m so proud to see them graduate but, selfishly, would love them to stay and be lifelong Niagara College students – instead, I’ll accept and support them as lifelong learners.”
- Files for this article were provided by second-year Broadcasting student Sydney Gillett who is also working behind the scenes for Virtual Convocation.
