Here at Kean, students are always motivated and encouraged to pursue what they are passionate about. For the students in Advanced TV Productions, the expectations are no less. This is the reason for one of their latest projects: Senior Year.
Senior Year is a late-night inspired show which features ten segments all wrapped up in one show. This is a countdown to graduation while showcasing some of the amazing talents that Kean students have. It is also a glimpse into the student life here at Kean and shows viewers how skilled and accomplished the students are.
Working on Senior Year gives the communication students a taste of what it is like to work on a set, which many of them would like to do in the future. They are learning about the equipment, the work that goes behind the scenes to produce a show and how to effectively work on a team toward a common goal. The Advanced TV Production students have come together to produce content that they are proud of while challenging themselves to raise the bar.
Senior Year is aired daily on UnionTV34 at 3:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., which makes this the first time that KeanTV had the opportunity to show their content on public access television. This is a great opportunity for the students involved as they are able to show their content to an even broader audience.
Professor Gina Gili, KeanTV adviser, said, "I am incredibly proud of what these students have put forth. KeanTV has grown incredibly in the past couple of years, and it's all because of the hard work and dedication of all the amazing students at Kean University; I couldn't do it without them."
The first episode of Senior Year was published to the Kean TV YouTube account on Oct. 1, 2019 and gave viewers a good look into what the show has to offer. They have now published several episodes and are continuously working to produce more. New content is provided in each episode whether it be through new segments or new student features, which keeps the audience engaged.
The show begins with an introduction from the show's host, Brad Scott. He then leads the show into the news segment, which can include anything from campus, local and international news. This keeps the viewers up to date on what is going on in the community and beyond.
There is a talent spotlight where students are invited to show their skills, such as singing or playing instruments. In some cases, the students also have a question and answer session where they share how they came to develop this talent, and why it is important to them. This segment showcases the students on campus and their abilities, as well as shows a nonacademic side of student involvement.
Taha on the Street is another segment included in Senior Year, in which a student goes to popular areas on campus and interviews students that come by. He asks questions related to campus, students' majors, their future plans and student involvement. This segment shows the audience student perspectives, as well as provides entertainment.
Other segments include interviews from students working on the set, such as the producers or directors. By doing this, viewers can get to know what goes into making a show like this. It allows students to explain their passion for being on a media team and how this will help them in the future. Sometimes faculty are also interviewed, which gives students a different perspective on the college experience.
Student Spotlight is a segment in which students with outstanding achievements and goals are selected to share their story. They explain all of their accomplishments and how they were able to achieve them. This gives viewers motivation and assurance that they can achieve their goals as long as they set their minds to them.
Overall, Senior Year is an outlet for communication students to showcase their passion and hard work. By working on this show, they are able to practice now what they hope to do in their future careers.
The President of KeanTV Beba Zilkic said, “Being part of this show has only given me more reassurance that this is what I want to be doing in my future. I love directing and producing with my fellow students, and it's a glimpse into the career I want to delve wholeheartedly into.”
To watch episodes of Senior Year, be sure to subscribe to the Kean TV YouTube page. For more information on Kean TV or Senior Year, be sure to follow them on Instagram @keantv and @keansenioryear.
