B E TH A N Y Magazine
S TU D E NT AC TI V ITI E S
Creation Station Bethany student helps area library, schools with video projects BY L ANCE SCHWARTZ DIREC TOR OF INSTITUTIONAL COM MUNICATION
Several Bethany students are using their video production talents this summer to help with a variety of projects in southern Minnesota. Most of these projects stemmed from the radical changes to the normal routine brought on by the pandemic. Four students worked with Bethany alumnus Kurt Shrader to help produce a virtual commencement ceremony for Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School and for all three Mankato Public High Schools – Central, East, and West. Among those four students is Bethany sophomore Franklin Selvey who’s branched out on his own to record and produce a popular event for the Blue Earth County Library. When the Blue Earth County Library closed its doors to the public during the pandemic, one of the services that was greatly missed was a weekly story time series for young children. Jennie Heins, whose husband is Bethany Associate Professor of Biology Chad Heins, is an employee at the Blue Earth County Library. She reached out to Selvey to see if he might be able to help record and produce a video story time series for the kids who were missing their normal trips to the library. The story time episodes are posted to the Blue Earth County Library Facebook page. Parents can sit down with their children and watch the stories just like they would in person. Each episode is made up of two or three different picture books read by librarians and volunteers. Selvey has enjoyed taking part in all these important community projects.
Submitted photos
Top: Franklin Selvey behind the scenes during the filming for Mankato West High School's graduation ceremony. Above: Recording for the graduation ceremony of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.
“I like helping with this project, because it’s something I can do to bring the library out to kids who miss it, and make their days a little more normal during this strange time. The librarians are very appreciative, and it brings me back to when my mom used to take me to the Blue Earth County Library!” His work for the graduation ceremonies wasn’t nearly as hands-on and production oriented. But he also appreciated the experience. “I was a camera op for about six hours a day [for three days]. It was a pretty routine project for the most part, but it was nice to be outside for most of the time, as well as to see the class of 2020 get to walk in person.” The opportunities for all of these projects came as something of an unexpected blessing. Selvey had hoped to be part of an internship at the Bethany Communication Program’s Stone Path Studios this summer. That opportunity was unfortunately called off when the College had to close buildings and departments as a result of the pandemic and Minnesota’s Stay at Home order. 13
