SOS Answers the Call

By Jackie Kofron '27, October 16, 2023

Newly created fund enables ICTV students to travel to California to showcase their work.

(Left-to-right): AJ Pass '23, Rebecca Rivera '23, Julia Stitely '24 and Ava Berardi '25 posing with their Best Student Series Award from the Merced Queer Film Festival.

(Photo submitted)

Hands-on learning opportunities have long been one of the hallmarks of the Roy H. Park School of Communications. Recently, the creation of the Special Opportunities for Students (SOS) Fund within the school has broadened those opportunities.

That’s how four ICTV producers found themselves in Merced, California, earlier this year at the Merced Queer Film Festival, screening their show “The Universal Truth,” which had been given the festival’s Best Student Series award for its third episode, titled “For Instance.”

Produced by Rebecca Rivera ’23, AJ Pass ’23, Julia Stitely ’24, and Ava Berardi ’25, the show is an original five-episode fictional television series that follows Milky Way, an immortal being enrolled in college, focused on having fun.

Screening Room

You can watch “For Instance,” the third episode of the award-winning show “The Universal Truth,” here.

But there’s deeper themes to the show as well. Stitely sums it up as “queer kids struggling in college,” which is why, when Stitely was looking for film festivals to submit to, the second-year festival — which screens work that is either created by or reflective of the LGBTQIA+ community — was the perfect fit.

“I’m very appreciative of the support we’ve received from Park School Dean Amy Falkner and all those who have contributed to the SOS fund to make [The students'] trip possible...I’m thrilled they had the chance to attend the festival, accept the award, and screen an episode of their show in front of a live audience.”

Jeremy Menard, Manager of Radio and Television Operations

Working with Jeremy Menard, the college’s Manager of Radio and Television Operations, the students submitted their work. Upon finding out they’d been accepted they began working on the logistics of getting across the county — which is where the fund came in useful. Though the station covered the entry fee, and the registration fee was picked up by the festival once the students were selected as finalists, the travel and hotel costs for the four students was covered by the fund.

“I’m very appreciative of the support we’ve received from Park School Dean Amy Falkner and all those who have contributed to the SOS fund to make the trip possible,” he said. “I’m also very proud of the students who produced and contributed to ‘The Universal Truth.’ They showed great enthusiasm, passion, and hard work throughout the production process and are deserving recipients of their award. I’m thrilled they had the chance to attend the festival, accept the award, and screen an episode of their show in front of a live audience.”

The experience was indeed once-in-a-lifetime. Most of the projects at the festival were shown in small groups, which gave the students the opportunity to connect with filmmakers from all around the globe

“The Park School wants students to succeed and to have new and interesting experiences. This fund gives them the opportunity.”

Rebecca Rivera ’23

“The community was really invested in this kind of work,” said Rivera. “The festival had a really tight-knit feel to it.”

Rivera also expressed her gratitude for the fund, and the opportunities it provides students.

“The Park School wants students to succeed and to have new and interesting experiences,” Rivera said. “This fund gives them the opportunity. It’s always good to be able put your work out there. If you don’t, no one may ever know about what you’re doing.”