University of St. Francis students win video awards
Students and faculty at the University of St. Francis have won awards for video production.
Students Derrek Matichak of Joliet and Brendan Walsh of Plainfield received an Award of Distinction from The Videographer Awards 2004 competition in which 2,134 entries from throughout the United States and several foreign countries competed. The Award of Distinction is given for projects that clearly exceed industry standards. Their "JCA 2003 State Playoffs" earned the honor in the video productions/creativity/videography category.
The video captures highlights of the last three games of Joliet Catholic Academy’s state championship bid. Both students produced, directed, edited and did the camera work. The students utilized a variety of special effects, incorporating digital composites, colorized and other effects.
The video projects are an opportunity to "get outside the everyday environment and try something new, to take skills and apply them in different creative ways," said Walsh. "They were a great way to enhance our field production skills," Matichak added.
Matichak, a JCA alumnus, graduated from the University
of St. Francis in May. He is presently serving
an internship at CLTV News and is interested in
pursuing a career in visual effects and motion
graphics. Walsh is a junior at USF.
An Award of Distinction was also earned in the videos for sale/how to category for "Sheepshead Mushrooms: How to Find Them and Pick Them," produced, directed and edited by Richard Lorenc, professor of mass communication at USF. Camera work was by Walsh, who spent last fall break filming in Will County area woods.
Both videos have aired on area cable stations.
USF students also earned second place in the all-student category in the 19th Annual Volunteer Video Awards, which covers cable stations in Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Frankfort, Joliet, Lemont, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Plainfield, Romeoville, Shorewood and Will County Sports 6. Sarah Haldeman of Channahon and Walsh produced a documentary of the NHRA Nationals car race at Route 66 Speedway.
Work by Haldeman and Walsh on the university’s television program "Exploring Joliet" was also honored as one of the top five community event programs at the19th Annual Volunteer Video Awards. "Exploring Joliet" is a 30-minute program about the city, its people, plans and activities. The show, produced by USF students in collaboration with the City of Joliet, airs on Joliet television Channel 6 on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St., serves 4,300 students nationwide. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study, including Mass Communication, as well as 10 graduate programs.