Student Work Gallery: Summer 2025

Amy Phillips (CritMedia’25)

"Chaps is a short documentary about the World Gay Rodeo Finals in El Reno, Oklahoma. It weaves bull riding, drag performances, and personal stories to explore the unexpected harmony between queerness and rodeo culture.

Amy Phillips is an emerging filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist focusing on exploring gender and sexuality across the American landscape." —Amy Phillips (CritMedia'25)

Alex Ervin, critical media practices; Marcus Heins, media studies

"Marcus and I wanted to make an entertaining video that captivated the audience. In class with Professor Aburaddi, we learned about the ways social media can negatively affect people and thought that would be a good topic. Knowing how the digital world has become focused on brevity, we tried to bring that into our storytelling." —Alex Ervin, critical media practices

Created for MDST 1002 - Intro to Social Media

Michael Drapeau (CritMedia’24)

"A Millworker’s Lament is about the mundane and the surreal. I wanted to unearth those stories and express how I’ve matured as an artist while telling a story that was outside of the traditional video format I had grown used to over the years. I incorporated the use of celluloid black and white film, and assistance from my fellow friend and colleague Camden Alfrey (CritMedia), to shape a (12-image) photo essay in hopes of eliciting a feeling of nostalgia, sorrow, or reflection from the audience." —Michael Drapeau (CritMedia'24)

Mary Miller (EnvDes’25)

"Located at Winona Municipal Airport, my capstone project, Airport Ecologies, is a phased design proposal that imagines a future of a decommissioned airport site. This project challenges the physical edges and boundaries of an airport site and questions how it might support human and non-human users at the intersection of aviation, recreation, education and ecology." —Mary Miller (EnvDes'25)

  Read More

Haya Benessa, communication; Emily Chang, communication and psychology; Ryan Podber, communication; Grayson McCall, art history; Javier Tiscareno, business

Lily Polack (EnvDes)

Matthew Keane, Will Endrud, Sam Strimling (all InfoSci'25)

"Taking a trip to the mountains should be a seamless experience, with the focus being on shredding the slopes. Our website allows users to access data that covers 10 Colorado mountains, providing statistics, driving details, weather and more. Our goal is to provide users with information as quickly as possible to allow for the best trip possible." —Matthew Keane (InfoSci'25)

  Explore Mountain Mavericks

Ella Bogdan (Comm’25)

"This photo was taken at the Hands Off protest on April 5 in Boulder, in response to what participants called an illegal power grab by Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Among a crowd of hundreds, I was struck by three young girls chanting and holding signs with remarkable passion and clarity. Professor Ross Taylor encouraged us to immerse ourselves in the moment and get close to our subjects. This advice gave me the confidence to capture this scene. Their determination felt symbolic of a new generation unwilling to be silent." —Ella Bogdan (Comm'25)

Created for JRNL 3102: Photojournalism 1

Bailey Craig (Jour'25)

Burger Boss: A Tactical Restaurant Game

"I wanted to play with the elements of a mole within a group setting and how you confront these ideas, either through reading body language or verbally communicating. The setting of a restaurant felt ideal, as from kitchen to front house, there is an intricate balance between the needs of the staff and the guests, and one small mistake can set it astray. This exercise was also a creative way to highlight the course concepts and the difficulty navigating the unconscious inclusion of colonialism, lack of inclusivity and torture, which are all present within the gaming sphere." —Bailey Craig (Jour'25)

Created for COMM 3000: Issues in Communication - Game Studies

Krispy Kreme

"Being a copywriter is my creative freedom. It’s where strategy meets cheeky self-expression. This Krispy Kreme campaign allowed me to lean into my voice while crafting something smart and playful. The Creative Program within APRD, especially the copywriting courses, gave me not just the tools to execute bold ideas, but also invaluable mentorship and industry connections. Winning gold was the cherry on top, a reminder that trusting your voice pays off." —Cassidy Hill

DuoFlingo

Sunsilk

"The Sunsilk campaign came from a mix of bold strategy and playful storytelling. Sunsilk embraced an undeniable human truth with humor. This project pushed me creatively in my effort to make it feel both unexpected and still true to the brand. Winning gold at the Golden Nuggets awards was such a meaningful way to close out my time in CMCI." —Julia Goodman (StratComm'25)

Spicy K-Kups

"I wanted the Heinz campaign to feel unexpected, playful and bold, all while still being true to the brand. Heinz playfully disrupted coffee culture by sneaking ketchup where it didn’t belong." —Julia Goodman (StratComm'25)

Foot Tall Milk