Vol. 19, No. 21

Feb. 24, 2000

Campaign for Delaware video is a five-time winner

The campaign for Delaware video has gained a lot of attention. Not only has it served as the centerpiece for UD’s first comprehensive capital campaign, but the video also has won five awards for excellence. What makes the recognition even better is that the film was produced in-house by UD staff, students and faculty, using UD video facilities, according to Lonnie Hearn, IT/Media Services, the writer, producer and director. “We have so many talented people on campus–from actors to singers to those involved in video production who worked as a team and made this video successful and representative of the University,” Hearn said. The video’s awards include the Videographer Award of Overall Excellence, the Videographer Award of Distinction for Videography, the Communicator Crystal Award, the 1999 Telly Award, and the first-place video award for Excellence in Not-For-Profit Communications from National Society of Fund Raising Excecutives. In addition Bob DiIorio, IT/ Media Services, and coproducer, principal cameraman and editor, won the Golden Reel Award from the International Television Association award for editing–a prestigious, professional award competing against thousands of entries. ITVA members include 8,000 television professionals in 93 chapters worldwide, Hearn said. The opening scene of the Campaign for Delaware video is a reenactment of Francis Alison’s academy, the school that evolved into the Newark Academy and eventually the University of Delaware. The small class of 10 made its mark in the founding of the country with students who included George Read, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; James Smith, a governor of Pennsylvania and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and Thomas McKean, also a signer of the declaration. Eric Miller, the son of George Miller, English, played Thomas McKean and sang the alma mater accompanying the scene, and Ryan Troutman, son of Kathy Troutman, IT-University Media Services, played the role of George Reed. The video showcases the University as a land-, sea- and space-grant institution and presents vignettes of the myriad of academic, research and athletic activities that make up the vitality and versatility of UD–from the marine studies research vessel cutting through the water to UD’s Fightin’ Blue Hen mascot YoUDee in action; to physical therapy; to championship ice skaters; to students in the lab, in the classroom and on the playing field. Also included are scenes of Commencement, with President David P. Roselle officially closing the ceremony. Against this background, he speaks of the importance of Campaign for Delaware in furthering the University’s mission. The video closes with members of the UD Chorale in the rotunda of Gore Hall singing the alma mater. “Paul Head, director of the UD Chorale, and Charles Clark, audio engineer in the music department, made major contributions to the success of this segment,” Hearn said. “Kathleen Pirkl Tague, who teaches in the Professional Theatre Training Program, was narrator, and her husband Steve Tague, an assistant professor in PTTP, portrayed Francis Alison. PTTP also did costume design and make-up for the Alison segment. Virtually all of the children in the classroom scene are the children of UD faculty, staff or alumni,” Hearn said. “Making the video was a challenge and a great privilege,” Hearn said. The video premiered at the kickoff of Campaign for Delaware on Oct. 2, 1998, and also was screened during the University’s budget request presentation to the Delaware General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee. More than 3,000 copies of the video have been distributed to alumni and friends of the University. To date, the Campaign for Delaware has raised more than $193 million toward its goal of $225 million. The video was a joint effort produced by the Media Services staff, in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations and the Office of the President. –Sue Moncure