Four BCA students express gratitude for receiving $1,000 scholarships
Four students in the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts are expressing gratitude after winning the Dr. Peter Orlik Broadcasting Scholarship.
Orlik was hired in 1969 by Wilbur Moore, who entrusted Orlik with crafting the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts. The scholarship is worth $1000 each.
The winners are:
- Chesterfield junior Kynoshia "Ky-Ky" Blake
- Farmington Hills junior Leah Robinson
- Lake Orion junior Kylie Barber
- Taylor senior Jeffrey Brown
Blake said she was surprised she won.
“I didn’t think I would; I don’t know why,” Blake said. “I didn’t even apply for it my previous years because I didn’t feel I (had enough accomplishments) to look eligible, but something this year told me to do it. Just to try it.”
Blake is pursuing a BCA major with a Cultural Competency Certificate and minors in entrepreneurship and event management.
Blake was the assistant editor for the first season of Moore Hall Television’s "Seven Deadly." She is now editor for the show's second season and assistant editor for "Songbird," a film still in the works. When not working on these projects, Blake produces content for her YouTube channel, Fun-S1ze Fundamentals.
Robinson said her reaction was emotional.
“I called my mom crying because college is really expensive,” Robinson said. “It was really a blessing at the end of the day. (Receiving the scholarship) affirmed that the hard work I do doesn’t go unnoticed."
Maggie Mayes, the BCA lecturer who filled out Blake and Robinson’s recommendation forms, said she was pleased to hear they won.
“They are both deserving recipients of the honor and excellent representatives of the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts,” Mayes said.
Barber saw her win as an example of the rewards gained from determination.
“I’ve applied year after year,” Barber said. “This is the third time I’ve applied. I (thought), ‘Whoa, hard work pays off.’”
Barber worked at News Central 34 during her first two years. She has interned for MAC TV Network in Mount Pleasant and is currently interning at 9&10 News in Cadillac.
Brown said he wasn’t very surprised he was a winner.
“I was pretty confident going into it that I was going to get (the scholarship) since I’m so involved with extra-curriculars,” Brown said.
Brown is a producer for MHTV’s "Down Time" and a member of the Film Society, a Registered Student Organization.
Brown said students should make time to apply for scholarships.
“Even if you don’t think you’re going to get it, you’re definitely not going to get it if you don’t apply,” Brown said. “Don’t just shut off your brain when you go home from classes.”
