Best of CASE District VII Award
 

Institution: University of San Diego

Title of entry: Chapman Family Foundation International Program at USD: Japan 2023

About this entry: Marketing Director Michelle Kennedy traveled to Japan with the two courses featured in this video over Spring Break 2023: Politics and the Environment and Intercultural Communication. Both classes studied their respective subjects related to Japan over the course of the semester at the University of San Diego and then experienced what they learned in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan, over an eight-day period. Kennedy spent time with both classes at USD before the trip and followed each to various locations and experiences in Japan. The purpose of producing this video was to capture moments and learning as they happened, and she did many of the interviews while walking with students to various historical landmarks to document their raw reactions. This piece captures the students’ experiences, “aha moments,” and surprises they encountered through b-roll and interviews. Edited by Creative Manager Tanya Aubin, the video underscores the value of immersive and experiential learning at USD. Many of the students had never traveled abroad, and all expressed gratitude for being able to travel through a grant from one of USD’s generous donors. Kennedy made sure to include that gratitude in the piece as a way to show the donor the impact of his generous gift. The video not only showcases to prospective students and parents what our students can experience at USD, but it also captures the incredible activities and learning that happened on the trip. The impact of showcasing the Japan trip delighted the donor, who is now considering making another donation for this particular program moving forward.