The University of Illinois showcased in new Amazon Prime Show
Sally Schulze, Fox32 Chicago | May 20, 2021
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A new Amazon Prime show called, “The College Tour,” is giving viewers the chance to tour schools, like the University of Illinois, by watching television.
“It really is a chance for students who might be attending the university to see what it’s like through the lens of young people like themselves,” said Executive Producer Lisa Hennessy. The show highlights 17 universities and colleges, with students introducing viewers to different aspects of their schools.
The show comes during a time when in-person tours are out of reach for many, due to cost and coronavirus. The host, Alex Boylan, says his niece’s experience helped launch it.
“She wanted to go to all different kinds of states and all different types of schools, and she didn’t have the finances to do that, and between that and then all of a sudden COVID hit, and what a challenge. So a light bulb went off saying higher education needs its own television show,” said Boylan.
The University of Illinois is the only school in the state and only Big Ten university to be profiled. The show’s executive producer is a U of I grad.
“I’m just so proud to have attended the University of Illinois and proud to help tell the university’s story because it’s such a great institution and really gave me my start in terms of helping launch my career,” said Hennessy. The tours are underway now on Amazon Prime.
‘College Tour’ series gives prospective students a taste of campus life at U of I
Nancy Harty, WBBM News Radio | May 23, 2021
CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled or changed a lot of college visits this past year but a new series gives prospective students a look at campus.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hosting a live watch party at 7 p.m. Sunday for “The College Tour” episode featuring the Big Ten school.
“The College Tour” is a streaming series that Executive Producer Lisa Hennessy started working on before the pandemic hit.
The Park Ridge native and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alum told WBBM Newsradio since the series debuted last October, it has shown high school students what they can expect academically and socially on campus.
“It’s a really authentic way to really get an idea of what a university is like though the voices of people who go there,” Hennessy told WBBM Newsradio.
Among the 11 students featured is Kennedy Campbell of Chicago, a sophomore who said Quad Day helped her find her place in Urbana-Champaign metro area. Campbell helped create a mentorship group for pre-med students.
“There’s really something for everyone. From Ultimate Frisbee to volunteer opportunities to creative writing,” Campbell said.
The first six episodes of “The College Tour” are available on Amazon Prime, YouTube and the show’s website. To listen to the full radio interview click here.
‘The College Tour’ series shares a unique perspective on campus life
Vivianne Linou, WGN Radio |May 21, 2021
In a new Amazon Prime TV Show, “The College Tour” tells the story of what life is really like on college campuses across the country and around the world. The University of Illinois is the only school in the state of Illinois and the Big 10 to be featured in this new magazine-style show. Reality TV star Alex Boylan and Executive Producer Lisa Hennessey joined Jon Hansen, filling in for Bob Sirott, to talk about the new show. To listen to the full interview, please click here.