INA, Ill. (July 18, 2024) — The STARS (Student Transfer & Retention Support) program took 15 students and 3 staff members to Walt Disney World to attend the Disney Imagination Campus in Orlando, Fla. on May 13-17, 2024. The students participated in the following workshops: Immersive Storytelling at Animal Kingdom, Leadership the Disney Way at EPCOT and Theme Park Design at Magic Kingdom.
PICTURED: Riley Bevis (2024 RLC Graduate, Pre-Vet), Robin Carr (Sophomore, Nursing), Kelley Flanigan (2024 RLC Graduate, Visual Communications), Cristian Gonzalaz (2024 RLC Graduate, Engineering), Natasha Lewis (2024 RLC Graduate, Culinary Arts Management), Olliver Lewis (Sophomore, Biology/Conservation Research), Payton Loss (2024 RLC Graduate, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management), Elicia Marlow, (Sophomore, Early Childhood Education), Kelsey Morris (2024 RLC Graduate, Art), Mallory Settles (Sophomore, Engineering), Patrick Shelton (2024 RLC Graduate, Criminal Justice), Lucas Sloan (Sophomore, History Secondary Education), Sherry Stevers (2024 RLC Graduate, Human Resources), Lily Taylor (Sophomore, Social Work), Alexis Zemla (2024 RLC Graduate, History), Mallory Moddelmog (Director of TRIO Programs), Amy Cook (STARS Advisor) and Dara Whaley (STARS Advisor)
"The Disney Imagination Campus was an amazing experience for the students in our STARS program," says Mallory Moddelmog, Director of TRIO Programs. "Amy Cook, Dara Whaley (RLC STARS advisors) and I accompanied the students and had the opportunity to watch them engage and learn in very meaningful way."
Each workshop was 2.5 hours in length and the students gained insight as to how Disney creates an inclusive environment for employees, engages all 5 senses to create immersive environments and combines imaginative vision with large-scale functionality to bring classic stories to life.
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During the Immersive Storytelling workshop at Animal Kingdom, students were able to investigate how storytelling at the Disney parks employs all 5 senses, learn about Disney Imagineers’ early design processes and engage in similar, hands-on design experiences, uncover examples of storytelling that tell stories in innovative ways, understand the different creative and technical roles that create an immersive experience and know firsthand the importance of creating a story for a diverse audience.
"The immersive atmosphere at Disney World is truly extraordinary," says STARS student Lucas Sloan. "Every detail, from the architecture to the soundscapes and even the scents, is meticulously crafted to transport visitors into different worlds. This level of immersion can make you feel like you're truly part of the Disney stories and create an unforgettable experience."
The second day of the Disney World trip, the STARS group made their way to EPCOT to learn effective communication, critical thinking and the art of innovation at the Leadership the Disney Way workshop. Our RLC students were taught the belief that everyone can be a leader, learned about the importance of Disney’s 5 Keys of Excellence, experienced the application of these principles by encountering problem-solving scenario and discovered their own personal leadership style.
"The Leadership the Disney Way workshop at EPCOT [was my favorite]!" said Sherry Stevers, a 2024 RLC Graduate. "I believe that everyone in the work force should take the leadership workshop. They would learn to focus on people's strengths."
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At the Theme Park Design Workshop, the STARS group learned the value and importance of diversity in the collaborative design process, determined how the convergence of creative and technical roles are necessary to design a theme park and explored the unique functional challenges of designing a theme park.
"I liked seeing how vast the parks really are, and how much goes into them," says RLC Sophomore Mallory Settles. "It really makes you realize how much work is required, and how many different people exist to be able to do it."
About the STARS Program:
Since 1997, The STARS program has operated at RLC, and is a federally funded program with the Department of Education. The program is a TRIO Student Support Services project that supports, nurtures and encourages qualified students through academic persistence and has been a catalyst to degree attainment, transfer and continued academic pursuit.
Benefits of being in the STARS program: Students receive personal academic advising, transfer assistance, one-on-one tutoring, early alerts and midterm grade checks, campus visits to area colleges/universities, cultural enrichment activities, career advisement, workshops on a variety of topics to aid students in their college experience and the opportunity to meet new friends.
Learn more about the STARS program, visit: www.rlc.edu/student-services/stars