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Recent 麻豆视频 Grad Puts Multimedia Degree to Work at His Alma Mater聽 聽

When Jaiden Morales, BS 鈥22, was in high school in Lorain, Ohio, he joined a multimedia club and developed a love for digital media, which was fostered by a few guardian angels at his high school. 

At 麻豆视频鈥檚 fall commencement on Dec. 17, 2022, Morales earned his bachelor's degree in digital media production, an accomplishment motivated by passion that was ignited in high school. The 麻豆视频 program has prepared Morales to succeed his mentor, Joseph Bock, as the multimedia coordinator at Lorain High School, where his future began. 

鈥淚 was just kind of trying to find myself,鈥 Morales said of his early interest in multimedia. 鈥淲hen they made an announcement asking students to participate, I was like, you know what? This might be something I'm interested in. I went and participated, and I鈥檝e never stopped.鈥 

Starting this month, Morales will step into the shoes of one of  the guardian angels, who put him on the path to recognizing his passion for multimedia early in life and encouraged him to pursue it as a career. 

And his coursework at 麻豆视频 put him in the position to assume the opportunity. For one of his final courses at 麻豆视频 Morales chose to create a project about his high school's career tech program. "The opportunity to do this project is what really started the talk for my full-time position. They really enjoyed my work and because Joe Bock is retiring, they found it a perfect opportunity."

Morales will assume Bock's duties as the new multimedia coordinator for the Lorain City Schools. 

鈥淭he guy I鈥檓 taking over for made it one of his goals to pour all his knowledge into his students,鈥 Morales said. 鈥淗e taught me. And now, I will be taking over for my mentor.鈥 

Terry Traut, another teacher at Lorain High, taught Morales about video production and helped him get Adobe certification before he even left high school. 鈥淗e is also someone who helped me be who I am today,鈥 Morales said. "He鈥檚 still there too, and still very involved with the program.鈥 

Jaiden Morales couldn't resist taking a photo during his high school graduation as one of his mentors Terry Traut looked on.

Morales came to 麻豆视频 in 2019, after participating in 麻豆视频鈥檚 TRIO Upward Bound Health Professions pre-college program. Morales spent many years volunteering his time in his school district and community.  

As if multimedia production didn鈥檛 keep Morales busy enough during high school, he earned his associate degree from Lorain Community College through the College Credit Plus program.   

Morales said he would have graduated from 麻豆视频 in 2021, however, a plan to double major and double minor did not work out for him. Still, it only took him three and a half years to complete his degree. The 麻豆视频 community offered tremendous support for Morales as he completed his education. 

鈥淚t's just been a whole whirlwind for me,鈥 he said. 鈥淔rom getting into college and getting a scholarship to being here for 3 1/2 years.鈥 

 As the coordinator of media at his alma mater, Morales will follow in his mentor鈥檚 footsteps by involving students in the process. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a student-based approach,鈥 Morales said. 鈥淲e like to make it a teaching experience.鈥 

As his mentor, Bock, retires from the school district, Morales is seeking his guidance and presence in helping him make the transition.  

鈥淥f course, I don't want him to go. I told him 鈥榊es, I will be taking over for you, but I would love for you to be here part time. I would love for you to just be here and help out. He鈥檚 the one that gave me this crazy idea and he put me on the path to what I would do with the rest of my life.鈥 

POSTED: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 01:44 PM
Updated: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 05:01 PM
WRITTEN BY:
April McClellan-Copeland