Media Fellows Learn Storytelling Skills at Disney World
Game-winning quarterbacks aren’t the only ones who shout the catchphrase, “I’m going to Disney World!”
So do students from Loyola’s School of Communication.
Consider the 15 SOC students who took a recent fall trip to Walt Disney World for a behind the scenes workshop. The sophomore students, all part of the SOC Media Fellows, traveled to Orlando, Florida as part of their studies in communication and storytelling.
The special workshop taught the Media Fellows how Disney creates and develops stories at its theme parks. In this case, the students received an exclusive tour of Animal Kingdom, where they learned about how story ideas are developed from concept, to design, to production on attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage, and the Tree of Life.
“As students with majors in media, the behind-the-scenes workshop was a great way for us to understand more of the inner workings of Disney’s storytelling,” said Ava Brooklier, a sophomore journalism major and student president of the Media Fellows.
The Media Fellows are an exclusive cohort of School of Communication students selected for their academic accomplishments, creativity and service work. Each year, 25-30 freshmen are chosen to be Media Fellows, and they spend the next four years taking classes together, performing campus and community engagement activities, and attending special events.
Four Loyola Media Fellows pose with Daisy and Donald Duck during a trip to Walt Disney World to explore storytelling and connect with their peers.
"It was so good to bond and to get to know my peers better at one of the most magical places on earth,’ said Ireland Kopsch, a sophomore journalism major. “The trip brought us together in a way that classroom time just can't, and it was amazing to share that experience with the group."
The trip also allowed students to spend two days visiting separate Disney theme parks: Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. The Media Fellows also attended an ice cream social and an opening and closing night group dinner. The entire group stayed at the Disney All Star Sports Resort.
“I think getting to spend time with all the members of the fellowship brought us closer,” said Will Nichols, a sophomore journalism major. “I think spending that much time together helped us all to feel more connected as a group.”
Each year, a new group of Loyola freshmen are selected to be Media Fellows based on their academic performance, extracurricular accomplishments and their creativity. For more information about the Media Fellows, and to view an application, visit: SOC Media Fellows