MSU Telecasters

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Our Story

The MSU Telecasters Alumni Group was born from the planning of the 2008 Alumni Bash. At that event, more than 50 alumni from across the country converged on East Lansing to celebrate a milestone in college television.

Our Mission

The MSU Telecasters Alumni Group exists to support the activities of Michigan State University with a special focus on the Executive Board of MSU Telecasters.

First Year Goals

We hope to achieve many things, such as:

Member Benefits

The MSU Alumni Association has officially recognized the MSU Telecasters Alumni Group as an Alumni Interest Group. As such, we strongly encourage our members to join the MSU Alumni Association.

Meet the Board of Directors

Pam Saunders (Ozdych) President '94 BA Journalism Telecasters member: 1990–1994 Executive Producer; On Line Lansing: Writer, Producer; The Green & White Report: Creator/Producer Pam spent 12 years in local news as a Special Projects/Newscast/Executive Producer at stations in Grand Rapids, Illinois, Virginia, Atlanta and Detroit. In 2006, she was honored by NATAS with a Michigan Emmy for a program she produced about Identity Theft. In 2002, Pam was nominated for a Southern Regional Emmy for writing and has received a few Georgia AP and SPJ nods. As a journalist, she has investigated child prostitution, the cost of prison incarceration, profiteering from organ donation and discrimination against the mentally challenged. In 2003, she produced and wrote a prime time documentary featuring President Jimmy Carter at his boyhood home for the CBS affiliate in Atlanta In 2005, Pam became a freelance field producer/writer based in Metro Detroit handling projects for the networks and corporate clients. Her work has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, E!, Extra!, The CBS Early Show, Animal Planet, Spike TV, Court TV and Tru TV. She's married to Kent Saunders, an Emmy-winning photographer at WXYZ-TV.
Rich Perry Vice-President '86 Telecommunication Telecasters member: 1985–1986 MSU Today Studio lighting, chyron, TD.. Sports Producer For many years worked as a Producer/Director/Editor/YouNameIt with broadcast affiliates and cable in the Detroit area. Today, Rich works with corporations to help them develop their own private television networks and web-based applications for corporate communication, distance learning and marketing. Rich says he considers his time with Telecasters one of his favorite experiences at State.
Alan Wigodski Secretary '93 Telecommunication/Film Studies Telecasters member: 1990–1993 (The ShoW) Telecasters Equipment Manager, Green & White Report Alan spends his time creating... behind a computer. He is a highly skilled avid editor and visual effects assistant. Since graduation, he spent time working as a director and producer before moving into post-production. He has worked for two production houses in Metro Detroit: Universal Images and Producers Color Service.
Maureen Enright Director of Young Alumni '08 Advertising Telecasters member: 2005–2008 Executive Producer, MSU&U Maureen is Jr. Copywriter for Solomon Friedman Advertising in Bloomfield Hills where she writes for clients including the DSO, The Henry Ford, Andiamo, Olga's, NAB and KFC. She is thrilled to help welcome new graduates into the Telecasters Alumni group!
Ryan Alloway Director of Public Relations & Events '09 Communications 2008–09 Executive Producer, MSU Telecasters 2007–09 Director of Communications, MSU Telecasters Sideshow: Actor, Writer Ryan is a die-hard Telecaster and the newest member of the Alumni Board. He graduated May 2009 with a degree in Communications & PR. An internship at Discovery Communications in D.C. upon graduation has turned into a job! He is a research analyst for Investigation Discovery, Planet Green and Discovery Health.
Andrew Sobotka National Director '07 Telecommunication Telecasters member: 2003–2007 The ShoW Andrew graduated in 2007 majoring in Telecommunication. He currently lives in Chicago and is working for a company that provides an online solution for web video, working with clients such as UFC and Fox. He spent 4 years on 'The ShoW' and 3 years on the E-Board as Programming Director. Andrew is excited to be National Director of the Telecaster Alumni Group, in his time with Telecasters he made a lot of friends and is excited to reconnect and to meet other alums from years past.
Michael Jordan Web Director '09 Telecommunication 2005–08 Web Director for MSU Telecasters 2005–09 The ShoW: Associate Producer MJ just completed back-to-back internships at The Late Night with Conan O'Brien & Jimmy Fallon in NYC. While, finishing up coursework for his TISM degree, MJ is also working on freelance projects as a website engineer, software developer, graphic designer, photographer, videographer and pianist. MJ can do anything! Take a look around the website…whatever he does…he knocks it out of park!

West Region: Co-Directors

Brandon Peeples: CA

Telecasters: Executive Producer, Sideshow Writer/Producer

Aaron Bleyaert: Los Angeles, CA

Telecasters: 1998–2001 The ShoW Writer/Actor/Producer, MSU Telecasters Executive Producer
National Director, MSU Telecasters Alumni Group
Current Employer: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

In his final year at MSU Aaron did an internship in NYC at Late Night with Conan O’Brien. They loved him so much that within a few weeks of graduation he landed a fulltime gig there. He did research for the show, wrote a daily blog, produced a weekly Late Night podcast and produced comedy videos for the Late Night Underground website! He now serves as the full-time blogger for The Tonight Show!

Aaron also serves as the MSU Telecasters Alumni National Director. In this role, he represents the regional groups with a vote on the Board of Directors. His presence at the 2008 Alumni Bash was a big hit with students. Aaron wants to give back to the program at MSU that gave him "the edge" in the real world.

South Region: Co-Directors

Jennifer Semetko: Orlando, FL

Telecasters: 2004–2008 Sideshow, Actor/Writer
Current Employer: Hewitt Associates, Leave Coordinator

Jennifer works in human resources on the leave of absence team. She administers and consults to clients such as Starbucks, Express, and Citizens Bank.

I am very excited to be the South Regional Director. I am thrilled to be able to help connect other Telecaster Alumni in Florida. Networks are a great way to connect and I think this group will be a great resource both for Alumni and current MSU students.

East Region: Co-Directors

David Cooper: New York, NY

Telecasters: 2005–2009 The ShoW, Producer/Director, 2007–2009 Executive Producer
Current Employer: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

David graduated May 2009 from MSU Honors College majoring in Telecommunication. He currently lives in New York City and working for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." David was executive producer for Telecasters for two years as well as producer of "The ShoW." He is really excited to represent East Coast Telecasters as long as they aren't as obnoxious as New Yorkers… Seriously, he is really excited to represent East Coast Telecasters and connect up with other MSU Alumni too.

Matt Vermeulen: New York, NY

Telecasters: 1997–2001
The ShoW Producer 1999–2001
MSU Telecasters Executive Producer 2000– 2001
Current Employer: Financial Analyst for Viacom.

Melissa Zeidman (Schwartz): New York, NY

Telecasters: 1992–1994
The ShoW: Director, Floor Director, Set Designer
Green & White Report: Director
Current Employer: ABC News: World News Now

At ABC News since 1994, Melissa has worked as a Graphic Production Assistant & Associate Director of Playback. As part of the ABC News team, she has won a Peabody, Dupont and a number of Emmy recognitions.

Midwest Region: Co-Directors

Sherry Bagnall: Charlotte, NC

Telecasters: 2005–2007 MSU & U Producer/Co-Creator

Sherry recently moved back to Detroit to pursue a job in media. After college, she moved to Charlotte, NC to work as a Production Assistant for the NASCAR Media Group. There, she helped producers create television shows by digitizing video content, creating cut downs, and helping with on-location shoots. Recent shows include "Road to Daytona," "NASCAR Confidential," and "NASCAR Wives." She's excited a Telecaster Alumni group is finally taking off. Telecasters definitely made an impact on her college career.

Andrew Sobotka: Chicago, IL

Telecasters: 2003–2007
The ShoW: Producer, Director
MSU Telecasters: Executive Producer
Current Employer: CSG Systems, Inc

Upon graduation, Andrew worked for the nation's largest technology camp, iD Tech, teaching the youth of America the finer points of technology/web/video. He then took a position with Hewlett-Packard as a technology consultant throughout the country. He now works for CSG Systems, Inc as a Technical Support Specialist based in Chicago.

History of MSU Telecasters

In the 1950’s, a group called MSU Broadcasters was formed by a few students from the Department of Radio, Television, and Film in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. This group was intent on providing themselves with an opportunity to enhance their experience in television by producing and directing their own programs. MSU Broadcasters, in cooperation with WKAR-TV, began operating out of WKAR’s studios originally located in World War II vintage Quonset huts at the site of the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Under the supervision of Channel 23’s staff, the students of MSU Broadcasters gained first hand knowledge in television production in an effort to supplement their academic experience. What they didn’t know was that they were laying the groundwork for what was to become the largest, most active student-run production company in the United States.

In 1982, a new CAS building was opened and the Department of Radio, Television, and Film became the Department of Telecommunication. MSU Broadcasters moved across the hall from WKAR’s Studio C into the brand new TC Department Studios D and E. Finally, MSU Telecasters had a place to call its home, a home that was capable of supporting the production needs of an organization which at the time was over two-hundred members strong.

In the early eighties, MSU Broadcasters, with the desire to expand their programming and reflect the changing nature of electronic media, changed their name to MSU Telecasters and registered as a student organization under the umbrella of the ASMSU Programming Board. In 1982-83, MSU Telecasters created three regularly scheduled programs: Uplink, a bi-weekly magazine show for and about students; Zoorific, a children’s program produced with help from Lansing’s Potter Park Zoo; and Face to Face, a weekly news and current affairs program. Uplink later became MSU Profile, Zoorific proved impractical and Face to Face was renamed On Line Lansing. Both MSU Profile and On Line Lansing lasted well into the late 80’s and early 90’s, and both found their way into the Saturday morning on-air schedule of WKAR-TV. On Line Lansing was to be reformed as MSU Upfront in the early 2000’s with a base in current news, issues and student opinions created with an extra flair for entertainment.

In addition to these two stalwart programs, the students in Telecasters experimented with other program ideas. During the 1983-84 school year, the Promotions program was founded. They were responsible for producing programs for the university. In 1986, “Videosynchrasies”, a short lived music video program, was produced. In the late 80’s, “Promotions” changed their name to Special Projects, and became responsible for producing pilot programs for interested students within the Telecasters framework. In 1989-90, Special Projects produced two pilot programs, “Triv-Quest,” a trivia-game show, and “Spartan Sports.”

Reflecting the changing interests of the student producers and crew, during the 1989-90 season, MSU Profile was canceled. During the 1992-93 school year, The Green and White Report came to life. It was a revamping of Profile more oriented to news. In 1995 the name was changed to “Green and White”. It was to be resurrected with a new name and new energy in 2005 as MSU and U.

The 1988 school year led to the start of The Show, which originally was to be a talk/comedy show but morphed into an in-studio comedy show set in a college dorm room. The Show continues today, as the nation’s longest continuously running college sitcom.

1995 brought on Sideshow, a sketch comedy, also still in production. Another program new to MSU Telecasters was Sixs Wild, started during the 1996-97 school year.

From 1982 to the present, MSU Telecasters has drawn on the creativity and hard work of its members to constantly update and improve its ongoing programs and invent new ones. In 2008, Telecasters produces two long running programs and one recent addition.