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Jada Buford
Howard University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Production (Documentary/Nonfiction)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The most influential person to help guide me in seeking a career in television is my mother. My mother introduced me to a lot of shows that have been greatly influential to my path. Also, seeing and learning the works of Black women in television have inspired me to go into the field of television. The works of women such as Susan Fales-Hills and Debbie Allen (A Different World), Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single), Issa Rae (Insecure), Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends) and Ava DuVernay (Queen Sugar).
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Erica Lane
University of Southern California
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Development (Scripted Series)
Company:
Daniel L. Paulson Productions
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Orange is the New Black had a big influence on me, as it came out when I had just started high school and felt lost in terms of what I wanted to do someday. It was the first show I had seen that had actual, dynamic representations of queer women and women of color. It inspired me to want to create my own television dramas someday that push boundaries and don't apologize to the straight, white male dominated industry.
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Sammie Moynihan
University of Southern California
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Editing (Scripted)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The summer before my junior year of high school, I took a summer class on animation that introduced me to television as a medium of storytelling. This class inspired me to practice with different types of visual storytelling and help me re-ignite my interest in video making. I've also always been inspired to work creatively by my older sister, Erin, who is a writer and has always encouraged me to use my imagination.
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Faith Young
McDaniel College
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Star Trek Command Training Program
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired by the emotional and social impact that film and television has on society. I want to create entertaining and imaginative stories that have not been told before, all while reaching a wide and diverse audience.
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Chloe Pearson
University of Cincinnati
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Interactive Media
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have overcome many obstacles but one, in particular, was being told to not reach for the stars. That the dreams I had were too far-fetched and I was silly for trying. This internship means that as a young professional, I was able to prove myself to seasonal working professionals that I am capable of not only doing the work but could potentially have a seat at the table one day.
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Brenna Noyes
Wayne State University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Directing
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up being part Japanese in a primarily white town, I often felt different than everyone else. But when I watched Mulan, a strong female character who looked like me, I felt like I could conquer anything. All I wanted to do was jump into my television and battle the Huns by her side. Looking back at those memories, I realize how impactful media can be and I have made it my goal to create worlds that have lasting impacts on audiences.
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Claire Mildred
Carnegie Mellon University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Design (Costume)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I believe story telling has the power to change a nation. The most powerful way to change someone's mind it to tell a story that makes them think more in depth about their previous notions. I can't think of a better way to spend my life than contributing to the type of television that challenges ordinary people to look outside of their bubble.
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Casey Gardner
University of Southern California
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Agency
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Ever since I was a child, I have had an insatiable love for the arts. Thanks to my father's mild obsession with television and film, I grew up on the classics and quickly developed a rich vocabulary within the TV world. I soon fell in love with the art of storytelling and gravitated towards acting. As a young actress, I've continuously witnessed how integral actors and young artists are to the future of diverse storytelling, and I am thrilled to explore the Agency category in order to facilitate the needs, hopes, and dreams of this budding generation of creatives.
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Alex Garza
University of Southern California
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Animation
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been interested in animation and TV from a young age. Some of my favorite cartoons were SpongeBob SquarePants and Ren and Stimpy. Just imagining I could be the showrunner or visual director on a show someday is what inspired me.
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Megan Scott
Biola University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Virtual and Augmented Reality)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
After taking film classes in high school, my film teacher saw my talent, helped cultivate it, and encouraged me to pursue film. I soon realized how impactful television had been in my life and the opportunity it presented to impact others in a meaningful way. Since then, I have had opportunities through my university to discover storytelling and my passion for AR/VR Development.
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Tomi Tunrarebi
University of
Southern California
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Writing (Drama)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My mom passed away when I was fifteen, and the year following was a really hard time in my life. I had trouble talking to and relating with people, and television was one of the few things that was able to get through to me and reach me at a time when I felt out of touch with any and everything around me. After a discussion with a teacher who told me that I didn't have to be a doctor and that there were careers I could pursue to make television, I decided I wanted to write shows like those that were able to help me through such a dark time in hopes I would be able to help others.
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Alison Oses
University of California –
Los Angeles
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Movies for Television)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I grew up learning about film and television from my dad. Every Saturday consisted of watching his favorites from when he was growing up and absorbing every story he had about when and where he watched them. Storytelling, instantly, became part of my life, and these characters became my way of communicating how I felt. It is my goal and dream to be part of creating characters that make people feel heard.
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Kate Nouhan
Creighton University
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Casting
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
There are so many talented individuals who have inspired me to seek a career in the television industry, but my initial inspiration, funnily enough, was an animated show that lasted but one season called Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater. That show involved the eponymous character starring in various fairy tales and, it sparked a strong desire in me to write, act and direct, creating my own stories.
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Logan Marshall
Ohio University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Editing (Reality)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
It all started my freshman year of high school when I subscribed to Netflix. A then-little-known show called Breaking Bad caught my attention and lit a fire in me that continues burning to this day. As I veered more towards the world of post-production, I began studying the likes of Dede Allen, Thelma Schoonmaker, and Dylan Tichenor. Their work illuminated the art of editing and inspired me to continue on my own journey as an editor.
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Hannah Patterson
Georgia State University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Cinematography
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television was a big part of my childhood. The way stories and how they're told can move someone and teach them something in a different way really spoke to me growing up. I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to give back to the medium that partially raised me.
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Alyssa Fine
University of California -
Santa Barbara
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Production
(Live Television)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Ever since I was little, I would lose myself in television shows and the stories they tell, both real and fantasy. Additionally, working with my community television station in Santa Barbara has allowed me to see firsthand the positive impact television can have on communities and individuals. These experiences have fueled my love for television and inspired me to want to be a part of telling these stories myself.
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DeCarlos Hickson
University of
North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Children’s Programming)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have been inspired by so many animated and live action children’s programs growing up. However, I really connected with Bruce W. Smith’s animated series, The Proud Family. It was fun and relatable but even more important it gave me representation unlike any show I had ever seen. Likewise, I want to create new diverse narratives to connect and inspire future generations through television.
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Caroline Ho
Yale University
Graduation Year: 2022
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Category:
Music
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
On a daily basis, I am blessed to be studying music intensely while concurrently studying subjects such as game theory, computer science, creative writing, and political philosophy at Yale. The specificity of my music studies and these other lenses in which I use to look at the world are very much intertwined in my work. As a composer, I hope to bring such perspectives to television and film - it is not enough for me to simply understand the music, but to understand intent, message, and vision.
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Anna Khan
University of
Southern California
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Writing (Comedy)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Although I've known I wanted to be a writer since I was twelve, a career in television writing seemed impossible, especially when stories that featured people like me, Muslims and South Asians, weren't the norm. I thought this discrepancy might hinder my dreams, but it only inspired me. I write for television because I love storytelling, but I am pursuing a career in television so people like me can grow up seeing themselves on television the way I always wished I could.
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Moni Kovacs
Oregon State University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Production
(Commercials)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My passion for television and media started at a young age. The local library was a treasure trove of eccentric TV shows and films my dad would bring home every week. One, in particular, stood out: The Work of Director Spike Jonze, which inspired me to begin creating my own videos. In college, I became more serious about working in production and was given the opportunity to work on the TV show Portlandia that further strengthened my desire to work in the industry.
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Mariam Qureshi
University of
North Texas
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Program Planning &
Scheduling
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television has always been a way for me to find and foster community while connecting to different perspectives. Watching some of my favorite shows throughout my life has provided me with these gifts, and I have wanted nothing more than to strengthen relationships and provide community through the power of television as part of my career.
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Alana Walker
Grinnell College
Graduation Year: 2022
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Category:
Development
(Animation)
Company:
The Jim Henson Company
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
When I was in high school I visited Pixar Animation Studios and I viewed the artwork that was produced as Pixar created Coco and The Incredibles 2. I saw all the clay models and drawings created to construct the worlds the characters existed within. Afterward, I decided that I wanted to become an artist for animated projects.
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Skylar Van Tilburg
University of Oregon
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
PR/Publicity
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television has allowed me to learn about the world through visual stories. Growing up in a rural town in Oregon, television shows provided opportunities to learn about different cultures and listen to a variety of stories. I have known I wanted to work in the television industry since I was young, and Nina Barone, a Television Academy Foundation alumnus, inspired me to pursue this dream.
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Akhil Vaidya
University of Pennsylvania
Graduation Year: 2022
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Category:
Development (Unscripted)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My TV obsession began when I was much younger, and I credit the cartoons and children's entertainment I watched with sparking my interest in the television industry. As I have grown older, it is the queer and POC creators of modern television that have inspired me to follow through and pursue a career in television. These stories have meant so much to me as I have grown up, and I hope to have a career that helps these types of stories come to life on television.
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Ayline Rebollo
University of California -
Santa Barbara
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
News (Entertainment)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, I remember one of my favorite things to do with my parents was watch Spanish television. I would watch in awe at the telenovelas and reality programming, until my parents suggested it as a career to me one day. I immediately fell in love with the idea.
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Noa Neubia
Norfolk State University
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
PR/Publicity
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired to pursue a career in television at a very young age. I was infatuated by award shows! Award shows like Black Girls Rock, the BET awards, the Emmys and the Oscars, all blew me away. I always wanted to know what went into running such a grand event. As I got older I decided television was for me!
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Kevin Johnson
Howard University
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Development
(Scripted Series)
Company:
Act 111 Productions
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I'd never thought about a career in entertainment until winning a middle school talent show with a comedy routine. It was then that I understood why humans have been sharing stories since the dawn of time; to connect with and move others. Television grants storytellers that same fulfillment, while reaching even larger audiences.
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Kellynn Beasley
Georgia State University
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Development
(Scripted Series)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
As a child, I used to play with my dolls and film them as if they were on their own TV show. In middle and high school, I developed my talent for writing and eventually discovered the behind the scenes world of film and television. I saw that I could make a career out of writing and film/television as a scriptwriter, and the rest is history!
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Cheyenne Cobb
University of California –
Los Angeles
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Children's Programming)
Company:
Moonbug Entertainment
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
About a year ago during a committee meeting for the nonprofit board I serve on, Foster Nation, another member pitched an idea to have actress Tiffany Haddish come to support one of our events as she was a very active foster youth advocate and former foster youth herself. In the past few years I have taken up videography as a skill and have taught myself how to use Premiere Pro, inspired by former foster youth in media like Tiffany Haddish that further pave a way for other youth like myself to enter the entertainment industry. I also felt there was a lack of representation of former foster youth on the production and directing side of television and felt my insight could be valuable.
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Alana Delostrino
California State University – Fullerton
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Unscripted)
Company:
Endemol Shine
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
When I was 11 years old, I discovered Saturday Night Live and all of the women that have made it so great over the years. Seeing women like Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Kristen Wiig generate such entertaining and hilarious skits and characters, then go on to create even better film and television is inspiring.
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Kevin Ung
University of Southern California
Graduation Year: 2022
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Category:
Star Trek Command Training Program
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I remember my father telling me that 'people like us can't work in Hollywood because of the way we look'. That stuck with me my whole life, and I grew up thinking that perhaps he was right, since I never saw anyone like us on TV. The fact that I'm now in a position that will hopefully lead to a career in TV means that my father will be proved wrong in the best way possible.
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Grace Dumdaw
Swarthmore College
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Agency
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television and media have either sourced or promoted of many of the most defining cultural moments of the past few generations. Instead of only being an observer, I want to take matters into my own hands and have a significant role in creating content that tell the stories that have historically been unheard of overlooked while maintaining a level of entertainment.
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Adara Young
California State University –
Long Beach
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Unscripted)
Company:
44 Blue Productions
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Shonda Rhimes is my spirit animal and I have been watching her shows with my grandmother since I was 8 years old. I absolutely love how she has created the Grey's Anatomy universe and has kept it interesting enough to where 16 seasons later there's a spinoff. Being immersed in her world of drama has inspired me to want to create my own.
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Grayson Fisher
University of North Carolina - School of the Arts
Graduation Year: 2022
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Category:
Design
(Art Direction/Set Decoration)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My professor, Bob Keen, singlehandedly praises television the most out of anyone I know. His interest in television's workflow has undoubtedly inspired me to try television as a career. There are more work opportunities in television than in feature films, and companies like HBO show that television is no "less than" major motion pictures.
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Noni Bell
Northwestern University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Scripted Series)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I used to think that I was going to mainly focus on film, but taking courses on television writing at Northwestern such as Working in the Writer's Room and Formulaic Television made me look at the medium of television differently. These courses helped me gain a better appreciation for television as an institution and storytelling medium. I'm excited to grow as an artist within television!
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Natasha Berrios Laguerre
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
News (Broadcast)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
One day in high school I was forced to go to a career fair. I didn't want to go because I was certain that I wanted to be an architect. There was a reporter at the news booth that somehow with her words convince me to change my career to become a storyteller. I will never forget her name cause she has done a big change in my life. Her name is Leyla Santiago from CNN. At the time when I met her she was from a local news channel. She has been my role model ever since.
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Leo Kelly
New York University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development
(Children's Programming)
Company:
Moonbug Entertainment
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Elmo was my first word! I've wanted to write for kids since I was a kid and that's all thanks to the amazing programming I was raised on. I'm grateful to my parents for letting me immerse in the digital world (within limits) because it taught me that my imagination is my greatest strength. Now I hope I'll be able to make shows that inspire the next generation and continue the cycle.
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Kailah Christopher
Towson University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Production
(Movies for Television)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, watching television was a big part of my life, however, it was hard to relate to characters as a young, black female in many of my favorite shows. Soon, I began drawing comics and writing stories including diverse characters and experiences that were underrepresented in media. While in my high school's medical academy program, I took a class specializing in Television, and learned that I can make this into a career in the industry! Shonda Rhimes, Charles S. Dutton, Lena Waithe, Jordan Peele, and Gina Prince-Bythewood are just some of the people who have inspired me over the years.
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Pubali Ghosh
Savannah College of Art and Design
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Casting
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I love a good story, one with risk, fully fleshed out character development and one that leaves me speechless by the end. Television to me gives the story enough time to grow and and fully encompass all of those aspects. I hope to one day create television that tells complex stories in a unique way.
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Nicole Auringer
Texas State University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Sound
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Going into audio engineering, I never thought about it being a male-dominated industry, it was just something I loved to do. But now knowing and experiencing it, I am looking forward to making a name for myself in this world.
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Jemeiya Bonner
Howard University
Graduation Year: 2022
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Category:
Development
(Scripted Series)
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I can confidently say that Kerry Washington inspired me to seek a career in television. Through Washington, I was not only introduced to more complex storytelling (as I was in middle school when I began watching Scandal) but Washington also released a short online series introducing those behind the scenes and their everyday tasks. As I was already interested in a career in film/television, this series lit a fire and helped hone my goal.
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Cindy Chen
The Pennsylvania State University
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Editing
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired by the stories of the creators, show runners, producers, directors, cast and crew of the shows I loved. Their creativity, passion and determination for storytelling changed my life and they are the inspiration behind my dreams of working in television.
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Sydney Reyes
Purdue University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Editing
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always loved being a part of a creative team. I love shaping a story through editing. But now I would love to get a job in television to change how race is viewed and shown in the media for the better. The representation we currently have is not acceptable.
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Daysha Veronica
University of California – Los Angeles
Graduation Year: 2021
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Category:
Development
(Scripted Series)
Company:
Valhalla Entertainment
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Hands down: Shonda Rhimes. Shonda's shows really changed the landscape for what kind of stories could be told and who could be the ones telling those stories. Issa Rae is also another black woman who has inspired my passion for television. I love that she displays black life without making it feel like a PSA.
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Christian Alexander
Washington University in St. Louis
Graduation Year: 2023
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Category:
Development
(Children's Programming)
Company:
Moonbug Entertainment
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
In my eyes, television is the most transformative and innovative medium of storytelling that's out there. My AP English Language teacher in high school inspired me to dig deep to understand what goes into a good story--comparable to the ingredients a chef uses while cooking. My AP English Literature teacher motivated me to notice and draw the thematic connections and points of interest within and between stories. These two teachers in particular provided me with a deep interest in storytelling and fiction, which naturally led to my interest in seeking a career in television.
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Atieh Bandehyazdani
California State University - Northridge
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Physical Production/ Business Management
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The ability of media to capture the truth of human nature, relationships, and human sensitivity intrigued me from an early age. If I could choose one medium to use as a universal form of communication, one with the power to provoke and unite the people, I would choose Television. To me, Television, as the most accessible and internationally viewed medium, subtly raises awareness and addresses controversial issues effectively. TV provides entertainment and the excitement that people so greatly desire and find infinitely fascinating infusing the stories that need to be heard with a greater sense of purpose.
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Luis Zuniga
California State University -
Long Beach
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Development/Production
(Unscripted)
Company:
Bunim-Murray Productions
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I discovered television production my first year of college. I was immediately fascinated by the amount of hard work put into a television product and I knew I had to be a part of it.
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Angela Young
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Corporate Social Responsibility
Company:
The Walt Disney Company
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Initially, I was inspired to pursue a career in music because during my time navigating through the foster care system, music was my source of inspiration and comfort. Throughout my journey through higher education, I have realized there are many people who are talented, intelligent, and more than capable to achieve everything they've ever dreamed of, but do not have the support and opportunities needed to get to where they want to be. Once I heard that the Television Academy was hosting a CSR category, I knew this was the perfect opportunity for me to use my personal experiences to advocate for others.
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Claire Ross
Pace University
Graduation Year: 2020
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Category:
Choreography
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What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been interested in dance on camera. Growing up I always marveled at any dance TV show and dreamt of being a part of that process. I’ve been very lucky to have met some of those individuals who create the content I was so influenced and energized by. It is those individuals that have greatly inspired me to seek a career in television, and have made me feel like this career path is tangible.
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