Featured student: Russell Alquizar

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Liz Murphy Thomas

Where are you from originally? What’s your Origin Story?

This question makes it seem like you’re interviewing a super hero! Which in a way, I suppose everyone is in their own way.

My name is Russell Alquizar and I am a 22-year-old Digital Media student working towards my BAS at FSCJ. I’m originally from Virginia Beach, VA., although I remember next to nothing because we moved to Jacksonville when I was two. The few memories I do have of Virginia before moving include building a snowman with my uncle and being hit in the face with a snowball by a cousin of mine; another side note is that I’ve never seen real snow since then.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media?

We can start with the fact that I was in a magnet program in high school for four years, more specifically the math/science/engineering program. By the end of my time in high school I knew exactly what I did not to do, and that included math/science/engineering.

For a while after high school I still didn’t really know what I wanted to do exactly. I was going to FSCJ for my AA with the intention of transferring to some university. Although by the time I was about to receive my AA, I was still very much undecided. A lot of my family is in the medical field, and at that time quite a few of them were trying to persuade me to go into that. If it wasn’t the medical field I was being talked to about, it was also very often the option of the military from my uncles who are mostly all in the navy. But I knew even then that neither of those were anything that I was interested in, and not something that I could wake up to having to do or deal with every day. What I also knew then was that whatever it was that I was going to decide to do was going to be something that I personally enjoyed and knew that I could live with for the rest of my life. Luckily by the time of my last few classes in the AA program, a few of them were some of the intro digital media courses. Those last few classes helped me decide on what I wanted to. I realized that using a computer for creating things, or art, is something that I enjoyed and encompassed a lot more that I had originally imagined. With the help of the school, I was talked into not transferring to a university and joining the digital media program here; and it was totally not because a university would have wanted me to take another year or two’s worth of pre-reqs. But honestly, I haven’t looked back since and this is something that I know I will be able to enjoy for the rest of my life.

Who inspires you the most and why?

I can’t say that I have just one person that inspires me the most, because there is definitely more than one person who does. Two of them being my parents, and as cliché as it is, they’ve really done so much for me and given even more to get me where I am today.

What do you do off campus?

I play the guitar and the piano; music is something that I very much enjoy!

I also enjoy going to the gym, and when I’m not doing that I’m probably playing Pokémon Omega Ruby on my 3DS. I also currently work at West Elm, so if you ever purchase furniture there I might be the one to help you load your car or put your furniture together.

What work are you most proud of?

I’m not too sure that I have something that I can say that I am the most proud of. I always have the feeling that there was always something that be better or that whatever I’m working on isn’t finished. But my most recent work is currently some of my favorite.

Interesting facts about you:

Music is something that I considered going into because I play the guitar and the piano. I took a few music classes and realized I wasn’t going to end up being a rock star that way.
I’ve had 2 surgeries as a kid to remove a birthmark on the side of my face that could have turned cancerous.
I’ve also travelled out of the country of to visit the Philippines a few times, as well as Ecuador.

Favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

Umm, I’m going to be honest and say that I can’t really say that I have a favorite book or comic. I’m not as much into reading as I probably should be, but I’m definitely open to suggestions as to what I should read! As for any other question about my favorite anything, it’s always been difficult for me to choose just one! For my favorite movie, off the top of my head I can name Memento; but if you ask me that question again I’ll probably have a different answer. My favorite series would most probably be Breaking Bad! For my favorite video game I’d have to say Mega Man X.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

Somewhere down the future I’d like to be able to create content that I enjoy, as well as the user/viewer would enjoy whether it be through images, video or any other form.

I’m still not 100% locked into a decision yet, as far as a career in the digital media field but if I had to choose right now I’d probably choose film. I’d like to be somewhere in the film making industry somewhere in the future. I’ve always said that one day I would have my name in the credits of a feature film!

One thing you wish you could share with others is…

My girlfriend and I started a YouTube channel a while back where we cover songs! More specifically, she sings and I play the guitar. We haven’t posted recently because she goes to school down in Boca Raton, but when we’re together we’ll be sure to put out more content as soon as possible. If you checked it out, and maybe subscribed if you liked with you heard that would be awesome and more than appreciated!

Our featured students are student-selected. Once a student has been featured, they nominate the next student to be profiled. Come back next month to see who’s been picked!
Have any questions? Please contact Professor Liz Murphy Thomas at Liz.Thomas@fscj.edu

Featured student: Niam Jones

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Liz Murphy Thomas

What is your name?

Niam Jones

Where are you from originally? What’s your Origin Story?

I was born in Savannah Georgia. I moved to Jacksonville as a kid and I’ve been here ever since.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media?

As a creative, I’ve been expressing myself through music for quite some time. A nasty car accident sidelined me from doing a few things, chief of which is touring. So I decided it would be a perfect time to return to school and not only finish what I started, but also expand my spectrum for creativity.

Who inspires you the most and why?

My 6 yr old son and 4 yr old daughter.
They’ve both given me the motivation to finish school. While I don’t connect a degree with success, I do want them to understand that having one gets them off to a good start.
Particularly, my daughter reminds me what it was like to live completely inside the world of your own imagination and my son is a constant reminder that I will never know everything. Creativity and curiosity are things that become more difficult for some people to tap into as our lives become more complicated. Fortunately for me, I’m a large child.

What do you do off campus?

I make audio and visual oddities from the inside of a Cork. I also do sound design (and more recently technical direction…thanks school!) for NPR show host Al Letson! (I may also be known to 1 or 2 people as rap weirdo, Willie Evans Jr.)

What work are you most proud of?

In 2005 I had my first experience with a national music release with a group called Asamov. We were one of only a few hip hop artists to achieve this out of Jacksonville. There’s no way that I can describe in a paragraph what the experience was like, but I will say this:
Some kids say they want to be a fireman, or a doctor, or a lawyer when they grow up. When I was a kid, what I wanted to do most was make music and travel the world letting people hear it. The day that I walked into Best Buy and bought my own CD [Oct 6th 2005 2:15pm], my bucket list shortened significantly! And yes, this was when CD’s were still sold….anywhere.

Interesting facts about you:

I was T-Boned by a dump truck, pulled out by the Jaws of Life, and Life
Flight’ed to the trauma unit a few years ago. Did I survive? Who knows?
Perhaps I’m typing this from my comboooooooooooterrrrrrr!

Happy (belated) Halloween.

Also, I kissed the Blarney Stone when I was 17.
And yes, I do know what the locals do to it…

Favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

Movie: The Last Dragon
Book: The DragonLance Chronicles (though its been a while)
Series: That’s tough. TV is pretty good right now…
Video Game: Tekken / Assassin’s Creed
Comic: The (old) New Mutants

What are your future goals and aspirations?

As long as I am a content creator I’m fine.
Oh, and money. Money is… important.
I’d also like to handsome and in shape. Can being taller be a goal?
One thing you wish you could share with others is…
The old adage that tells you to do what you love is an old adage for a reason. There’s a %300 chance that life won’t go the way you plan it to but, when you’re doing what you love to do it doesn’t matter very much.

Click here for Niam’s work:

www.willieevansjr.com

Featured student: Lindsay Dale

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Liz Murphy Thomas

What is your name?

Lindsay Lange Dale (Gregory)

Where are you from originally? What’s your Origin Story?

I was born and raised in Jacksonville. I have lived here most of my life… with the exception of the few years I’ve lived in North Carolina. It was a great experience exploring a new area, but I love it here… This will always be my home.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media?

I am pursing a degree in Digital Media because I consider myself a creative person. From a very young age, I aspired to be an Artist when I “grew up”. Having a strong traditional art background, along with a passion for technology and computers lead me to this degree…

I consider it a practical way to be an artist, without being a “starving Artist”.

Who inspires you the most and why?

My mother is the person who inspires me the most. Her sense of artistry was passed down to me, and as a child, all she did was teach and push me to pursue my inner creativity.

What do you do off campus?

Off campus I wear many hats. I work part time as a waitress at the Jacksonville Millhouse, and I also do part time freelance Graphic and Web Design for them. I have the coolest dog ever, Bradley. And I love spending time with my extremely supportive husband, Justin.

What work are you most proud of?

I can’t pinpoint a particular piece, I am proud of all of my work!
I truly put my heart into every piece of art I create, whether it is digital or traditional. I love taking a break from digital design from time to time, in order to paint and draw. But, if I had to pick some of my favorites, I would say that my Photography and Portrait work, Wedding Invitation Design, and anything I have ever painted.

Interesting facts about you:

Hmmmmm. Tough one… for those who know me, they know I LOVE to laugh. (And to make people laugh.) I am also a very positive and joyous person.

Favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

Book: The Outliers. Movie: Wall E. Series: Six Feet Under. Video game: Super Mario World (SNES)

What are your future goals and aspirations?

I don’t have a particular path or job title in mind. I know that ultimately, I want to walk into work every day doing something I enjoy: CREATING! I want to draw and paint and design. I love it and live for it.

One thing you wish you could share with others is…

I want to share my strong beliefs for Education. Going back to school wasn’t just so I could land a job, it was about being educated. An education is something you should value, and it is also something that NO ONE can take away from you. I have an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, for being able to grow to be what I aspired to be as a young child.

You can find examples of Lindsay’s work at her school and professional websites:

Featured student: Will Jordan

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Liz Murphy Thomas

What is your name:

Will Jordan

What’s your Origin Story?

I am a Jacksonville native and I grew up in two separate families. I spent most of my lifetime with my mother on weekdays and my father on weekends. At an early age, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, and despite my high level of intelligence, I was socially challenged. Until 10^th grade, I never really had any true friends, and I’ve never hung out with anyone away from school or church. I was usually confined to my family at home, watching TV or playing video games. My childhood neighborhood was just north of the Riverside/Avondale area, but I also resided in the Northside and Springfield areas too. I graduated from Paxon in 2007 and obtained my AA in 2011 at FSCJ.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media?

Advertising and graphic design is a career in high demand, and art is my most influential form of communication.

Who inspires you the most and why?

That’s a difficult question to answer, and it’s a long list of people. It includes my parents, my family, my pastor, my church, my teachers and professors, my counselors, my high school basketball coach, and my best friend of almost 10 years, Emily Dale. But of course, I do inspire others as well. (I would put Jon Taffer on this list because he’s the perfect no-nonsense celebrity model of inspiring success)

What do you do off campus?

I love to hang out with friends, play basketball (recreational or competitive), and go roller skating. Being a die-hard sports fan, I also enjoy attending sporting events.

What work are you most proud of?

My paintings, especially of the mayor and President Obama.

Favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

Movies: James Bond, Star Wars, Steven Spielberg classics, anything sports-related, childhood-age classics from the 2000s and before (I have a personal video library of all the above mentioned items)

TV Series: Both shows involving Jon Taffer (Bar Rescue and Hungry Investors), House of Payne, Cops, anything involving police videos or crazy moments on home video. I also watch some Discovery/Science Channel and Animal Planet, watching how everyday objects are made and watching some survival shows as well as some facts/documentaries on certain animals of interest.

Music: Whatever interests me. WAPE 95.1 is my favorite station.

Video Games: Classic Sonic and Mario games, Pokemon, Fighting games

What are your future goals and aspirations?

I want to be a blessing to others, working on art and digital media projects and tutoring in mathematics. I also have a desire to design logos and basketball courts, but I may try making ads or commercials too. As an active church member, I want to organize a church basketball team or league.

Interesting facts about you:

I am very kind, understandable, and respectful of others. I am well-known for my talents and my presence at school and church. I never hesitate to ask questions whenever possible. I’m actively involved in my church as a newsletter editor and choir member. I used to work in the church’s media ministry. I’m a lifetime supporter of my alma mater’s (Paxon) athletic program. Whenever I’m presented with a problem that I’m familiar with, I look for the solution rather than the excuse.

One thing you wish you could share with others is…

I would share with others how much I matured during my high school and early college years because with being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, I had to mature myself into a sociable and respectful young man despite having few friends to begin with. I would strongly encourage others to set goals and follow them; stay in school; choose your friends wisely; promote drug and sex education rather than participate in such activities; respect one another; and make a difference in other people’s lives.

You can find samples of Will’s work and learn more about his story through the following links:

Artwork portfolio

Digital Imaging portfolio

Graphic Design portfolio

Jacksonville.com: A special gift

Our featured students are nominated by their classmates. Have someone you’d like to nominate? Please contact Professor Liz Murphy Thomas at Liz.Thomas@fscj.edu

Featured student: Stephen Hybarger

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Liz Murphy Thomas

What is your name:

Stephen Hybarger

Where are you from originally?:

I’m born and raised in Jacksonville. I spent a lot of my life thinking I wanted to be a pro Baseball player and as a pitcher with 11 different pitches. I believed I could do it until I found photography through a friend in California who taught me the basics over Facebook.

A few years later I was tasked with making a video in Professor Boese’s class. I ended up making a dance documentary and after I posted it online I had people from all over come to me telling me I inspired them, since then I’ve continued shooting with the desire to inspire everyone around me as much as I can and that is how I came up with InspiredCinematics.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media:

I already do work in the Digital media field through photography and videography, I feel like getting a degree in Digital Media will allow me to further my skills in these fields as well as graphic design.

Who inspires you the most and why?

I’m most Inspired by John Morley who taught me photography when I started, Eric Thomas who is a motivational speaker and I’ve learned a lot about motivation through his words, and lastly Eric Main. He is an actor I know personally that pushes me to improve myself and reminds me just about everyday that no matter how rough things get to never give up.

What do you do off campus?

I do a lot of photography and videography of campus, I have had the opportunity to travel and do gymnastic photography with a company as well as shoot music videos for a company in downtown along with my own personal works.

What work are you most proud of?

The work I’m most proud of is a dance video I did for a friend who created an amazing choreographed dance to pay tribute to his mother that passed away.

What are some interesting facts about you:

I’m a hip-hop dancer, I drive a motorcycle, and I can sing R&B.

What is your favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

My favorite book is Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, movie is Inception, series is The Walking Dead, video game is a toss up between Call of Duty and the Need for Speed series, and comic is Superman.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

I would like to inspire and positively impact as many people through my work as I can. I would also like to own and run my own production studio shooting films and doing photography.

One thing you wish you could share with others…

No matter what your dream may be follow it and take every opportunity that comes your way because life is too short not to enjoy every second of it. I know when I look back over my life I don’t want any regrets and I hope you won’t have any either!

You can find samples of Stephen’s work on his portfolio:

InspiredCinematics

Our featured students are nominated by their classmates. Have someone you’d like to nominate? Please contact Professor Liz Murphy Thomas at Liz.Thomas@fscj.edu

Featured student: Justin Ache

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Liz Murphy Thomas

What is your name:

Justin Ache

Where are you from originally?:

I’m from all over. Born in Wisconsin, grew up in South Florida, and I have been in Jacksonville since 1997.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media:

I’ve been doing graphic design in one shape or form for the past 10 years, either contracted with companies or in jobs. I figured if I wanted to further my career (or mentor others) and manage creative progress on a larger scale, I needed to get a degree. Took me long enough to decide that, but better late than never.

Who inspires you the most and why?

The Internet inspires me. The good and the bad. I came from a traditional art background, but without spending my life in galleries, you can never learn enough about the craft. With digital media, styles and techniques change all the time. The ability to find out what is going on in real time trumps any particular individual.

What do you do off campus?

Ride my motorcycle, take photos, cook and bake, or shopping/drinking/eating local.

What work are you most proud of?

My first real client, the (now defunct) Jacksonville Barracudas. They let me design all of their print media for a season. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I tried real hard and lucked out, and I always remember that fondly. I’ve gotten a lot better over the years, so the struggle to be good isn’t as hard anymore; I miss really trying.

What are some interesting facts about you:

I ride a motorcycle. I like to cook and bake. I am one of the laziest people you will meet.

What is your favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

Batman. To all of the above.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

To better my career and become a better artist yada yada insert cliché resume goal here. No, I really want to be awesome at what I do, be it art, photography, daydreaming, etc. Ultimately, I would want to be the art director at a small to medium sized non-profit, and maybe teach digital media and graphic design on the side.

One thing you wish you could share with others…

Do what you want. Stay weird. But don’t shut yourself in, go out and meet people and figure out what makes them tick. The only way to objectively look at you is by comparing yourself to others.

You can find samples of Justin’s work on his portfolio:

www.justinache.com

Our featured students are nominated by their classmates. Have someone you’d like to nominate? Please contact Professor Liz Murphy Thomas at Liz.Thomas@fscj.edu

Featured student: Julie Bradley

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Liz Murphy Thomas

What is your name:

Julie Bradley

Where are you from originally?:

I was born in Clearwater Florida, but I was raised in Jacksonville for as long as I can remember. I have had interest in the arts since I was a child and my strongest skill is traditional drawing. I am now pursuing this degree to advance my skills in digital media.

Why are you pursuing a degree in Digital Media:

I was in an art history class here at FSCJ, while pursuing my A.A. I was lost and wasn’t sure where to push myself without feeling unsure. My professor liked my work when she saw me drawing in class, so she brought up the idea of the Digital Media Bachelor’s program since it was new at the time and she gave me more information after sparking my interest.

Who inspires you the most and why?

I can’t put my thoughts into just one person, but the people who inspire me are the ones who put countless hours into their own creations. I find inspiration in the people who can work outside of daily jobs and make projects they love come to life. The drive to develop and create their ideas makes me feel like I can do whatever I really want if I just fuel my drive to do so.

What do you do off campus?

Outside of campus I work part time to pay off bills and I work on drawings in my spare time to develop my portfolio work.

What work are you most proud of?

I don’t want to pick any one piece I’ve made, but I find a lot of pride and happiness in how far my skills have come in such a short time. My favorite works are the ones I’ve made in my 3D Animation class, as I enjoyed getting lost in the virtual world of my imagination.

What are some interesting facts about you:

I can spark a conversation with most anybody
I have interest in multicultural trends
I have a wide range of musical interests

What is your favorite Book / Movie / Series / Video Game / Comic?

Book series: “Blue is for Nightmares” by Laurie Stolarz
Hiyao Miyazaki films/”chick flicks”
Games: Kingdom Hearts series, Tomb Raider, Pokemon, Animal Crossing
Online games: Dragon Nest, Trickster Online

What are your future goals and aspirations?

My future goal is to work for a 2D or 3D animation studio so I can work in the animation, character design, story scripting, or environment making departments. I have a strong interest in all of those areas and so far I have not made up my mind. I plan to use that future stability to maintain my family and to support a comfortable and creative way of life.

One thing you wish you could share with others…

I wish I could share my inspiration to make more out of life with the people who want more but can’t find the will to change their status. Some people need a push and I would love to help people obtain an inspiration to get what they want.

You can find samples of Julie’s work on her portfolio:

http://veenaviera.com/portfolio/

Thanks for reading this newest addition to our blog! We hope to us this to feature some of the great students our program is fostering. These posts will highlight some of what they are doing and what goals they have. The featured student will be picked by their classmates and one of our talented students is responsible for contacting and collecting these stories.

Have a suggestion for a student you’d like to see featured? Please contact Professor Liz Murphy Thomas at Liz.Thomas@fscj.edu