The Digital Media program is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the bachelors degree! What an amazing ride this has been, too. Since 2002, over 2,300 students have graduated, with countless alumni taking part in courses; all making contributions in industry. This is manifested through amazing achievements, amazing stories, and amazing knowledge we hope alumni will share at the event.
We invite alumni and graduates of the program, all the way back from the days as Multimedia Communication Technology, to the present Digital Media program, to celebrate with us. The event will be held March 31st, at the Utah Valley Convention Center. We have an entire day and evening planned out with unique activities such as panel discussions, workshops, portfolio development presentations, a live broadcast, and even an evening music mixer, just to name a few. Most activities will be led by esteemed alumni, with the express goal of connecting with our current student body, to inspire the next generation of media practitioners that will continue to lead the industry forward.
To showcase our achievements, though, take a moment to learn more about the program.
The Digital Media 20th Anniversary event will be held on Friday, March 31st, 2023 at the Utah Valley Convention Center located on the third floor.
If you are planning to attend, please fill out the Registration Form. Hope to see you all there!
Registration
Attendees (Students, Alumni, Guests) arrive to register and prepare for daily activities. Please allow yourself enough time to park (see Map), register, and find seating for the first activity. This is a time, too, for alumni, students in the DGM program, as well as invited guests, to mingle and prepare for the day-long event. Gonna be epic!
Welcome Message
We’ll be privileged to hear from a special guest who will kickoff the event and set the tone for the day - who could it possibly be?
Keynote Speaker
Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from Tom McFarland, the first Department Chair of the program, known as Multimedia Communication Technology, and later the Dean of the College of Computer Science. He was one of several key individuals at the genesis of what would culminate in a few short years into the bachelors degree we now celebrate.
Panel Discussions by Degree
Panel discussions will bring industry experts, many of whom are our alumni, by degree, to address pertinent topics that affect our field through highly interactive discussions. These panels will be useful to get a bead on relevant subject matter such as concerns with Ai and blockchain, audio formats and recoding techniques that may affect the industry, to unique views on cinema and the modern age of streaming. This will conclude our morning block of activities.
Lunch Break
Attendees will take the first of two break for lunch. Discount codes will available for local eateries - check the event program for a code list. If attendees would like to bring their own lunch, please use bottom floor seating, or optional outside facilities of the UVCC building.
Degree Workshops, Presentations, and Portfolio Development Series
Attendees will have a unique opportunity to receive hands-on training centered on various topics in their chosen degree. The four-hour block has been arranged according to presenter requirements under the direction of degree goals. This means some activities may be 50 min, or combined into two and run 90 to 120 minutes, dependent on delivery of content. To be sure, though, this block makes up the bulk of the learning series of activities for the day and a wonderful opportunity few have the chance to experience - so take advantage!
Dinner Break
Whew! With all the amazing information acquired at the workshops and presentations, attendees will surely be hungry. Take the dinner break at nearby restaurants, again, to spend time with friends, talk to alumni, and review all that has been learned from the days activities. Discount codes will once again be available. This is the time to rest and prepare for the evening events, which in our minds, is gonna knock your socks off.
Special Screening Event
Attendees will be offered an amazing opportunity to view ‘Aliens Abducted My Parents And Now I Feel Kinda Left Out’ with Director, Producer, and DGM alumnus, Jake Van Wagoner. There will be a Q&A session after the screening, with many of the production team on the panel, quite a few whom are alumni of the program, and should not be missed. This will be a once in a lifetime experience to see this film. Read the Script interview!
Evening ‘Live’ Music Mixer
Attendees will be treated to a variety of live music acts for the evening. Many of the musical talent will be alumni of the MCT/DGM program over the years and have readily accepted to participate at the 20th Anniversary Event. This will be held on the outside Terrace (weather pending) allowing attendees to mingle with industry and public VIP’s. The main musical actor the mixer menu is Queenadilla, and you can learn more about the band at Utah Stories.
Networking Hall and Breakout Sessions
The culminates with a unique personalized set of happenings directly after the film screening, with potentially life-altering evening networking activities. The networking time will be arranged in an open forum around degrees and provide opportunities to meet with many alumni offering one-on-one mentoring, time to spend asking questions of industry experts, catching up with DGM friends, as well as in-person portfolio reviews. Yes, this will be amazing as student volunteers have even gamified the time!
