Broadcasting students promote exhibit, discover ‘calling’

Karl Yody and Sean-Louis Philipsen have contributed to the broadcasting portion of the World of Wonders exhibit. Whether that means posting instant updates online or creating a promotional audio, the two broadcasting students have it covered.

Yody has assisted and helped plan everything from the scheduling and setup to the tear down of the event. He is also helping to make an audio piece to be used as a promo for the World of Wonders exhibit. “It will be a radio promo for the film festival, just like the poster boards,” he said.

The exhibit is a chance for all Integrated Media divisions at MHCC to be united.

“We’re trying to bring all the departments together here at the end of the two-year program to sort of have a culmination… a place to broadcast all our pieces that we’ve been working so hard on for a few years,” Yody said. “It’s nice to have a place where that’s being broadcasted.”

Yody has always been interested in music and sound, but didn’t originally pursue either as a career.

“I’m a little bit older than your average student, but I was able to retool and take on the program and learn some new skills that have enabled me to pursue a different career path,” he said. Broadcasting- — which he said has always been in the background of his life — can now be utilized. And he hopes to one day create his own radio network, within which he broadcast his own show.

Yody is pleased that he came to Mt. Hood’s Integrated Media program. “I think it’s a wonderful program,” he said. “I’m happy with it.”

Another student who discovered a different passion is Philipsen. He grew up wanting to be a meteorologist, but his dreams changed. “I love the weather so much, but during my sophomore year in high school (there) was a radio broadcasting class” that shifted his focus to sports broadcasting.

“I like football, I like basketball; I like calling games live at football fields, basketball courts,” said Philipsen. “It’s a lot of fun for me.” He has been doing this for eight years, since his junior year of high school. He said it was clunky at first, and he felt shy and nervous. No longer, however. “As time went on, I got comfortable with myself, understanding the rules and understanding how to call games correctly in my own styles. It’s easy for me.”

Philipsen first heard about Mt. Hood’s broadcasting program from a counselor at a different college and decided to pursue his passion here. “Fortunately for me Mt. Hood was probably the best place for me to continue my broadcasting career. (You) learn a little bit more advanced technical background producing and (getting) work content into radio.”

For the last two years, he has produced and co-hosted a sports talk radio show with a fellow Integrated Media classmate. The show ran for 60 consecutive weeks.

Philipsen has been in charge of the social media for the upcoming World of Wonders exhibit. “(I’ve been) using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. I’m basically the guy that updates frequently on any changes or any events that are going on,” he said. He is also doing promos for the event on Mt. Hood campus.

Philipsen enjoys his role with the social media. He likes interacting with people and seeing them have a good time, he said.

He is already looking ahead. He plans to earn his bachelor’s degree at Marylhurst University, beginning next fall. He is looking into its film and media studies department, which includes multimedia. The multimedia program incorporates broadcasting, photography, and video, which would enable Philipsen to broaden his knowledge.

Philipsen said he will miss Mt. Hood when he graduates, and gave some parting advice.

“It’s like family here for me,” he said. “I wish everyone the best. Whoever does come to Mt. Hood, come right in and have a great experience.”