Canisius College

Organizations:

• Jam Vafai, Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts - in regards to a High School Workshop held at Canisius College.

  “On behalf of myself and my students, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, your staff, and students for a great experience. We got a lot out of the two workshops. Your students were informative, helpful, and extremely friendly. Thank you for your generosity.”

• Bonnie Campbell, Lafayette High School – in regards to a High School Workshop held at Canisius College

  “Thanks for yesterday. The guys were very helpful and patient. Matt [one student] was simply amazed at the equipment and couldn’t believe that there were opportunities available to him in Buffalo of that quality. He is capable of honor roll grades, and has chosen to flounder and fail…Perhaps this will change his focus. You never know what experiences touch children. Thanks again.”

• Anonymous – from COM 491/492 - Video Institute Course Evaluation form

  “Having the hands-on experience, learning from mistakes, working on deadlines, client interactions, etc. were all experiences that aren’t often available to [students]. I wish there were more experiences like this in the academic world, as I think I learned more through these five months than I have in the past couple of years of study.”

• Jennifer Eberhart – Video Institute student
  
  

  “My involvement in the Video Institute has really helped me to grow both as a leader and as a video student. I am amazed at the opportunities that have been offered through this program. Through the creation of videos benefiting both Vive La Casa Refugee House and the Frank Lloyd Wright Rowing Boathouse Corporation, I was able to develop hands-on experience in field shooting and post-production, and I also learned how to communicate with outside organizations.
  
  The VI also provides opportunities to travel…so I jumped at the chance to visit both El Salvador and more recently, India. These travel opportunities really give the students the ability to not only develop real-world video skills, but to also learn about foreign cultures and appreciate people’s differences.
  
  All in all, the Video Institute has led me on an amazing adventure these past few years. I’ve done interviews with a famous producer who has it all and refugees who have close to nothing. I have held a camera in schools and buildings around Buffalo, on horseback in the mountains of El Salvador, at Mayan ruins in Honduras, and on a boat ride near the Indian Ocean. The Video Institute is definitely hard work, but the people you will meet and the places you will go are worth more than anything.”