“Remember to be respectful,” said Cole Kelley, 2021 West High graduate. “Everyone is a potential connection.”
After graduating last year, Kelley decided to pursue his love for video production at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC.) Kelley said he’d begun learning all about camera operations and potential career opportunities during his classes at the Waterloo Career Center (WCC.)
“My final project in the video production class really helped me see how all the pieces fit together,” said Kelley. “It was after that class that I knew this is what I wanted to do.”
Matthew Dunkerton, interactive media instructor at the WCC, remembers watching as the spark of storytelling caught Kelley’s attention his senior year.
“I enjoyed seeing him explore his curiosities as he searched for a career path. It was evident that digital media was the right fit,” said Dunkerton. “He’s put in a great deal of hard work over the past few years to position himself for success and I am confident and excited to see where it leads him next.”
“I really enjoyed his tenacity to learn everything he could, whether it was video production or marketing, he worked hard to make whatever he was doing quality,” said english instructor, Samuel Bass.
According to Kelley, the feeling was mutual, saying the encouragement and inspiration throughout the WCC was a key component to his decision to dive into video production.
“They were all very open to listening to ideas, always helping and inspiring students to create,” said Kelley.
Digital graphics instructor, Todd Kern, remembers Kelley’s impeccable work as a student, always striving to learn the foundations of concepts instead of just a surface level understanding.
“Cole always had a professional vibe around him,” said Kern. “He wanted to learn everything taught to him. He challenged me on issues and concepts to fully understand whatever was being discussed and he gave one hundred percent on all the work he turned in.”
Recently, Kelley got to learn on location with a film director, soaking up another exciting learning experience. Although, due to a customary non-disclosure agreement, he is unable to share details about the project, he says seeing a professional documentary director intently observe their surroundings to set up future shots is something that’s helped him start envisioning his potential career paths after graduating from DMACC.
Wherever his love of filmmaking takes him next, Bass, Dunkerton, Kern, and the rest of the WCC, will be there cheering for him each step of the way.
