CCBC Featured on ‘The College Tour’ Series
By D.Dilard, The Avenue News I March 7, 2023
Community College of Baltimore County has announced it will be featured in Season 8 of The College Tour series, hosted by Alex Boylan, a former “Amazing Race” winner and on-screen personality.
The College Tour is a series created to enable high school students to virtually travel across America for an inside look at colleges and universities. Each episode of The College Tour highlights a college or university through the eyes of its students, faculty and alumni, providing prospective students with an intimate look at life on campus beyond brochures or websites.
CCBC will host an invitation-only premiere party for The College Tour episode on Thursday, March 16 at the Cinemark Theater in Towson, and the episode will be available for public viewing from CCBC’s website beginning March 17.
The cast of students will walk the “orange carpet” at the premiere and participate in a panel discussion hosted virtually by Boylan. The episode will debut on Amazon Prime on May 23.
“We’re extremely proud that CCBC and our amazing students and alumni are featured on The College Tour series,” CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis said.
“At CCBC, we have a diverse student body who have a wide range of career goals. It is wonderful that our students have been able to tell their stories on The College Tour, and we hope that others who may have been considering community college will learn more about all of the opportunities we have at CCBC and take the next step in their education.”
With three main campuses and three extension centers, CCBC educates nearly 50,000 students each year who choose from more than 280 programs, including 60 online programs.
Located in Baltimore County, CCBC is among the largest community colleges in Maryland and a major provider of workforce training in the Baltimore region. Based on their goals, students have the option to transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree, learn new career skills or enter the workforce.
CCBC students and alumni, along with their respective majors, highlighted in The College Tour episode include:
Anderson Jaggernauth (Essex) — alumni, General Studies
Asia Lee (Nottingham) – student, Elementary Education
Bernard Mkumbuzi (Owngs Mills) – student, American Sign Language/Interpreter Prep
Francessca Prado (Essex) – student, Psychology
Iyona Anderson (Baltimore) – non-credit student, Pharmacy Tech
Kalla Lavender (Owings Mills) – student, Cybersecurity
Leah Howard – (Pikesville) – alumni, Fine Arts
Nichelle Roane (Baltimore) – alumni, Center for Business Innovation
Philemon Phalwas (Belcamp) – student, Dental Hygiene
Ryan Washington (Mt. Airy, Md.) – alumni/faculty, Automotive Tech
Bringing the College Experience to Your Screen
By Katy Griffin, UNLV News Center I February 3, 2023
UNLV’s episode of The College Tour features the stories of 20 Rebels and an in-depth look at what it’s like to be a student here.
What’s the best way to get a feel for a college experience? Visit the campus and see it for yourself.
But for many out-of-state (or country) college-bound kids, coming to Las Vegas may not be in the cards. So the UNLV Office of Admissions is bringing them the next best thing: The College Tour.
The College Tour is a TV series from an award-winning team that tells the story of a single college through the lens of its students. Host Alex Boylan and the College Tour crew were on campus in November for a whirlwind 10 days to interview 20 students and alumni to highlight UNLV in a way that hasn’t been done before.
Meet five of the students featured in the series. UNLV’s episode of The College Tour will premiere in April on The College Tour website and be available for streaming in June on Amazon Prime and other platforms.
Sonia Sánchez Gabana
Masters of Arts in Hispanic Studies
Why did you want to be part of The College Tour? When I got the email about TCT coming to UNLV I thought it would be a cool thing to submit, something different than what you get to do on a regular basis. I would have really loved to have had a TCT about UNLV before I came here so I could get a vibe or learn from other people like me, who were doing the same things as me so I can get a feeling and learn more about it, especially from being so far away.
Advice for fellow students? Don’t have expectations, come with an open mind, and buy a really good sunscreen.
What are your favorite Vegas activities? One of my favorite things so far has been going to a music festival. I got to see 5 Seconds of Summer, Avril Lavinge, Big Time Rush. UNLV gave us discount tickets so it was really cool.
I’ve also been on a lot of hikes around the area like Red Rock, Arizona Hot Springs. I’ve really enjoyed traveling around the country, too. The airport is so close by. Flights might be expensive but you can get a good deal so I’ve been traveling all over
UNLV in one word: Unexpected.
Michael Knapp
Hospitality Management
Advice for new students? Don’t get overworked, and don’t get stressed. Do a light load your first semester so you can get accustomed to the college lifestyle. And, you’re an adult now, so it can be overwhelming. But take your time, don’t sweat the small stuff, don’t get overworked your first semester, and just find a flow that works for you. Then you can carry that with you for the rest of your college career and you’ll be successful.
For fellow military students, remember that it’s a big adjustment because a lot of us have served previously so we’re a little bit older coming into school. So you have to find that balance between how to work with younger people and how to relate to them and that can be a challenge. But there are great resources on campus and around the valley that will help veterans who want to go to school to help pursue their goals and get used to how college is as an older student. You’ll find your way and you’ll be successful.
Why did you want to be part of The College Tour? I saw the email come through and I thought it’d be a cool experience. I was thinking about taking acting classes or film classes on the side or as a hobby, and I just wanted to test it out and see how it would be. I didn’t even know if I’d get picked, I just thought it’d be a fun cool thing to do and it’s something that I can take with me to show my kids down the road or my family and be like look I did this cool thing it was a cool project I got to do. The show is a great show. I’ve watched it a few times because I’m from Florida, my brother went to FAU and they were there, and seeing how the whole thing worked would be pretty cool.
UNLV in one word: Inclusive.
Hieu Nguyen
Hospitality Management; Minors in Global Entrepreneurship, Management
Research & Creative Honors
What was the filming experience like? UNLV has given me so many opportunities to grow. Being a part of The College Tour allows me to give back to my beloved Rebels family and practice one of my core values: Service. The filming experience was challenging at first but turned out great eventually. I got to film at six different locations, which I hold dear to my heart.
What advice do you have for new students? Striking the iron when it is hot is alright. However, there is a greater option! Let’s proactively research, reach out, and have conversations with people; you can pave the way and bring in opportunities by yourself.
UNLV in one word: Enterprising.
Lester Cruz
Mechanical Engineering
UNLV in one word: Welcoming.
Why did you want to be part of The College Tour? I feel like I had a really unique experience at UNLV and I wanted to share it. I felt like I had a lot to say–I’m a pretty unique character so I thought I’d make a good addition. My experience is unique because I’m a college orientation leader so I know a lot about campus, I help plan events. I participate in The Glitter Squad which is pretty unique.
Ryder Hankins
Marketing, International Business; Minors in Italian Studies, Global Entrepreneurship
Why did you want to be part of The College Tour? I wanted to be part of The College Tour because UNLV has had such an impact on my life, and I wanted to do what I could to share my experience with others who are looking for the same things in their college experience. UNLV has a lot of great opportunities, and I wanted more people to take advantage of them. If there’s one thing I would want a new student to know about UNLV is that amazing experiences–like studying abroad, joining fraternities or sororities, or just simply getting involved–are so much easier than they seem. All it takes is that first step.
What are your favorite Vegas activities? My favorite thing to do around the city is to check out all of the amazing coffee shops around the city. We were recently ranked 21 in the Best Coffee Cities in the United States.
UNLV in one word: Exponential.
Watch behind-the-scenes footage of UNLV’s episode
West Grad to Be Among Those Featured in ‘the College Tour’ Episode About UNI
By Andy Milone, The Courier I February 3, 2023
CEDAR FALLS — A 2020 Waterloo West High School graduate is making the most of his time at the University of Northern Iowa.
Ethan Ahrens, a junior studying digital media production, applied to be a part of the “The College Tour” series episode about UNI and was selected to share more with audiences about the hands-on experience he’s received while studying at the state school.
The university is hosting a special launch party for the premiere of UNI’s episode at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St.
In mid-October, 10 students were filmed for the 30-minute episode focused on campus life and experience. UNI joins a group of about 80 higher education institutions that have their own videos as part of the Amazon Prime series created and hosted by Alex Boylan, a well-known reality show contestant, television show host, film producer and traveler.
“I wrote up my own script, and thought they would edit it heavily but they maybe changed two sentences,” Ahrens, 20, explained.
The small film crew then shot segments of him working and reading his script at Lang Hall while inside a campus television news studio, audio recording studio, editing lab, productions class, and the hallways of the building, but he’s not yet sure what made the final cut.
“It wasn’t long, maybe an hour and a half tops that I was working with them,” Ahrens said. “I was surprised at how calm the director was … You hear horror stories of people being on movie sets for three days, and I haven’t heard anybody say that film or TV production is an easy thing to be a part of.”
During the filming, Ahrens also got the chance to see some of the high-level cameras being used as well as learn about the various challenges and triumphs that happen on set.
“I’ve been interested in video production ever since I took an introduction class as a sophomore in high school, and I would make videos for fun of anything that came to mind,” said Ahrens.
His proud personal experiences range from documenting UNI students and faculty at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota as part of a research trip to making a short video his freshman year that revolved around a Haiku poem.
He hopes his path leads him to creating fun content on the side or as his primary occupation. One of his early ideas is creating videos that involves fun facts about crazy things to have happened in history. But he admits that he has to find a way to make them different from what else is already out there in the crowded market.
“I can tell you that I don’t want to be a vlogger or someone who’s reacting to various things,” he said.
Ahrens hopes to attend the free 6:30 p.m. pre-premiere party Wednesday in the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center lobby. The viewing follows at 7:30 p.m. in the center’s Davis Hall. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet him and other cast members and enjoy special treats.
Following the premiere, look for the 10 individual segments to be released gradually on official UNI web and social media platforms.
While Ahrens has seen an episode teaser with him shown for a second, he hasn’t seen any part of the full show yet. He’s excited to see the final product and what others have shared about their college experience.
“This will be something I can look back on when I’m 60 and will help me remember what I was like in college,” Ahrens said.
UNI to Be Featured in “The College Tour”
By Caroline Christensen, The Northern Iowan I February 2, 2023
The Panthers are once again on the prowl – for Amazon Prime Video.
“The College Tour,” an Amazon series which highlights different colleges and universities in the United States, came to UNI fall 2022 to showcase all UNI has to offer. Ten UNI students are featured in different segments exhibiting everything from academics, UNI faculty, how to find a major, activities to do in the Cedar Valley and much more.
The full episode will be released on Amazon Prime Video June 29, but the UNI community can get an exclusive premiere of the episode Wednesday, Feb. 8 in the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. A pre-show event complete with free food and drinks will be held in the lobby at 6:30 p.m., and the premiere is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. in Davis Hall. The event will also be live streamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. People who can attend the event in person are encouraged to showcase their Panther pride by wearing UNI gear.
UNI’s Director of University Relations, Pete Moris, commends the ten students who participated in the filming of the tour, and encourages people to attend the premiere February 8.
“We have ten students who just nailed it,” Moris said. “They did an amazing job. Really what we were trying to do was get a cross section of not only different backgrounds, majors, and hometowns. Our goal was to find some folks who were passionate about UNI and to share their experiences.”
Moris continued, “(The College Tour) is something unique. I’m not aware of any other colleges in Iowa that are being featured so I think any way we can differentiate UNI from all these other institutions is a good thing.”
To learn more about The College Tour, visit thecollegetour.com.
Behind the Scenes: The College Tour Episode on Semester at Sea
News from the Helm I November 25, 2022
Choosing where to go to college is a big deal and this process begins long before stepping foot on campus. While in-person campus visits certainly help in decision-making, they still have their own limitations. The challenge? Fitting a four-year experience into a short guided tour led by only one student perspective. The solution? The College Tour.
The College Tour is a TV series brought to you by multi-award-winning producers and tells the story of colleges and universities worldwide. Each episode focuses on a single college or university through the authentic lens of 10 student hosts who share their unique perspectives on everything from campus life to academics, housing, athletics, and more.
And the initial decision of where to go to college is just the first of many questions to answer: What should I study? Where should I live? Should I study abroad and if so, where? The College Tour embarks on a journey to answer the latter by highlighting a one-of-a-kind study abroad experience like no other… Semester at Sea!
The production crew, along with co-creators Alex Boylan, Lisa Hennessy, and Burton Roberts, joined voyagers in Aqaba, Jordan to capture life on a floating college campus during a 10-day stretch to Mombasa, Kenya. While on the ship, The College Tour will produce a 30-minute episode about 10 voyager stories and the shipboard community at large.
When the crew isn’t filming, they engage with voyagers by sharing meals, meeting one-on-one with students, and speaking to groups about the film industry.
As part of a ship-wide educational talk, Lisa Hennessy gave a presentation titled, “Lessons Learned Creating and Executive Producing TV Around the World” in which she shares her own story and what she learned while working on some of television’s highest-profile productions such as Survivor, The Biggest Loser, and Eco-Challenge. Her takeaway for students was to “be the author of their own story” by making the most of the opportunities and connections they encounter during Semester at Sea and beyond.
“It is so rewarding for our team to be among so many talented students, faculty, and staff.” Lisa shares, “I have had so many conversations with bright-young minds who are on their own journey to do what they love and make the world a better place. It’s a privilege for us to not only be here to capture this exceptional program, but to experience the magic of Semester at Sea for ourselves.”
Stay tuned for more exciting announcements about the upcoming release of The College Tour episode on Semester at Sea!
“The College Tour” Films on Campus
By Kate Murphy, The Northern Iowan I October 16, 2022
UNI students to be featured in 30-minute episode to be released in 2023
The series “The College Tour” began filming on UNI’s campus this past Monday and will be released in 2023.
The episode will follow 10 different UNI students and their personal experiences at the University of Northern Iowa. “The College Tour” streams on Roku and Amazon and will feature a 30-mintue episode about UNI’s campus.
Pete Moris, director of university relations, said a lot of preparation and planning on the part of the University Relations staff went into filming on campus.
“Jess Betts and Sean O’Neal were the two individuals who primarily worked hands-on with the producers and the crew, and they did a great job.” Moris said.
The series was created by many award-winning producers including Alex Boylan and Lisa Hennessy. The first episode aired in Sept. 2020. One of the reasons for creating this series was due to the pandemic occurring in 2020. College tours were shut down during the pandemic, but this series made it possible to tour campuses virtually.
Moris said they got so many students submitting their stories on campus. The toughest part was narrowing down the list of students participating to only 10.
“We had so many great submissions from our students,” Moris said, “It was really a good problem to have with so many UNI students wanting to tell their compelling story about their UNI experience.”
The series plans to showcase what each student enjoys most about UNI and the Cedar Valley. Each student’s story is going to be a unique experience they’ve had as a UNI Panther.
“There’s really a diverse cross-section of our campus represented. One of our objectives was to highlight the best that UNI has to offer and it was tough to really narrow things down to 10 students and their stories.” Moris said.
Moris thinks one of the best things about this series is that it showcases real students that are not acting. The series is a reality TV show that features different college campuses every episode. According to Moris, each student submitted a video sharing their stories and why they wanted to be involved in the production.
“For one student, they wanted to talk about how their financial aid package made a four-year degree accessible,” Moris said, “We’ve got other students talking about how much they love the arts and theater scene on campus. For another student, the sense of community and the relationships they’ve developed was an area they wanted to accentuate.”
According to Moris, the objective of having the University of Northern Iowa featured in this series is to show people what a wonderful place UNI really is.
“We’re excited about the vast audience that will get to see UNI featured on a variety of platforms,” Moris said, “We’re really looking forward to seeing all the planning and hard work showcase the many positive things UNI has to offer.”
Moris believes that it’s always better for students and parents to come see campus in person, however, “The College Tour” is a great way to introduce folks to UNI and hopefully spark their interest in becoming Panthers.
The full episode with host Alex Boylan is set for release sometime in early 2023. Moris said behind-the-scenes and teasers will be released leading up to the official launch of the episode.
“If you’re a high school student, take a look at our campus and all we have to offer from students who are here right now.” Moris said.
Maricopa Community Colleges Highlighted in Inaugural Spanish-Language Episode of ‘The College Tour’
By Queen Creek Sun Times Staff, Queen Creek Sun Times I October 15, 2022
Community college system celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing diverse student voices on fall series
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), with 10 individually accredited colleges throughout the Greater Phoenix area, will offer four-year degrees in fall 2023, pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission, and begin competing with some of the nation’s most established universities. With nearly 100,000 students, MCCCD understands its worth and isn’t afraid to reshape the traditional narrative of higher education. To prove it, MCCCD is the first institution of higher education to produce a Spanish language episode of “The College Tour,” an Amazon Prime Video series that offers potential students an inside look at what life is truly like at some of the nation’s largest universities.
The Spanish episode can be viewed on MCCCD’s dedicated landing page, with a forthcoming release on Amazon’s premium free streaming service. Each of the 20 unique student segments showcase all the system has to offer, including affordability, state-of-the-art programs, dual enrollment and unique opportunities for adult learners and first-generation college students — all told through the eyes of each student.
“Nine of our 10 colleges are designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and 36% of our student population identify as Hispanic, we felt a great responsibility to share these stories with our community,” said MCCCD Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. “As a system, we are always seeking out trailblazing ideas and new methods of communication to meet students where they are, and keep MCCCD top of mind as the best choice for an affordable, high-quality education.”
According to 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, individuals who identified as Hispanic or Latino made up the second-largest demographic group in the City of Phoenix. Additionally, from 2010 to 2020, Maricopa County saw the third-largest Hispanic population increase in the country. Data collected by the Pew Research Center shows that the number of Latinos enrolled in college increased from 2.9 million in 2010 to 4.1 million in 2021.
“We work to serve the next generation of students and hope the series inspires them to further their education,” said Executive Producer Alex Boylan. “Our show is inclusive to everybody, and each episode features diverse student voices because we want everyone to realize that college is accessible, and dreams are accessible as well.”
The episode highlights the fact that with more than 40 college and university partnerships and over 600 degree and certificate programs, students have plenty of options based on their goals and their needs, whether completing a degree or certificate, transferring to a university, learning new career skills or entering the workforce right away. The episode’s host, Lorena Segura, takes viewers on a road trip from one end of the Valley to the other to listen to the amazing and diverse stories the Greater Phoenix community has to offer.
“Without a doubt, the most exciting part is sharing my story and representing the Latin community and my home country of Mexico,” said Scottsdale Community College student, Camila Maldonado. Being able to show that I’m here studying and all of the opportunities this country has provided makes me excited to share the episode with all of my family and friends.”
The Spanish episode features the following current and former MCCCD students:
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College: First-generation college student Frida Guzman made her dreams a reality at CGCC, where she is currently enrolled as an honors student. Guzman appreciates that CGCC makes her education affordable. She hopes to inspire future female generations by helping them realize that obtaining a college education is achievable.
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College: Lourdes Sanchez’s dream of becoming a scientist took her from the desert city of Yuma to CGCC. She loves that the college finds ways to connect her social interests, like volunteering, to her coursework and student life.
- Mesa Community College: Adolfo Tenorio shares why attending MCC was one of the best decisions of his life. As a first-generation college student, Tenorio appreciated the guidance and support MCC’s faculty and staff provided. Now, he’s paying it forward as a tutor for other students on campus.
- Mesa Community College: Andrea Gallegos always knew she wanted to be an engineer, but wasn’t sure which area of study to focus on until she found MCC’s Mechanical Drafting program. Gallegos loves the small class sizes and affordable tuition. Through the MAPP MyPath2ASU program, she can easily transfer her credits to Arizona State University.
- Scottsdale Community College: Camila Maldonado chose SCC for its world-class dance program. She enjoys that the program focuses on all facets of the dance and entertainment industry. Thanks to the helpful faculty and instructors, Maldonado has found her community and has taken her passion for dance to the next level.
- Scottsdale Community College: Alondra Moguel always heard community college was more affordable than university, and now believes it’s true thanks to SCC. As a first-generation, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) student she enjoys the flexible learning options that allow her to take classes online and in person, as she balances working full time.
- GateWay Community College: Desiree Sanchez began her educational journey in the ACE (Achieving a College Education) program, which allowed her to earn up to 24 college credits before she graduated from GateWay Early College High School. The best part? All of her college classes were free through the program!
- GateWay Community College: Daniel Castaneda Martinez is focused on a career in computer science and information technology. He believes that education will create a better future for himself and his family. He is thankful for the patience and support of the college’s instructors and staff in helping him select a program he’s passionate about and making him feel represented.
- Phoenix College: Hugo Calel already had a career but felt unfulfilled and was ready to reskill and re-career for a role in the medical field. Calel chose PC for its longstanding reputation in the community. As an adult learner, he was worried about returning to college, but believes this has been one of the best experiences of his life.
- Phoenix College: Romeo Lebron came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in search of the American dream. After losing out on a job due to his limited English, he learned that PC offers one of the most diverse English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in Arizona and immediately enrolled. The college’s staff connected him with financial aid resources to help him cover the cost of tuition. Now, Lebron is on track to graduate and transfer to Arizona State University.
- Rio Salado College: Originally from Cuba, Vera Batista enrolled in classes online at Rio Salado with the goal of learning English and kick-starting her career in the healthcare industry. Batista loves the college’s flexible learning formats and that Rio’s staff have been supportive throughout her educational journey.
- Rio Salado College: Giselle Velazquez is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, who came to the U.S. with big dreams, including obtaining her citizenship. Convenient online classes are what led her to Rio Salado, where she graduated with her associate degree in cybersecurity before using a transfer partnership to move on to a university to complete her bachelor’s degree.
- South Mountain Community College: After struggling in high school, Evaristo Perez returned to college as an adult learner with the goal of completing his education to make his parents proud. He credits his academic advisor for his guidance and support. Now that he’s back on track, he enjoys taking part in student workshops and studying in the library.
- South Mountain Community College: Julio Cesar Villarreal Jr. channeled his passion for debate and competition into a degree in political science. He enjoys attending sporting events and interacting with students from all different backgrounds on SMCC’s campus. He hopes to pursue a degree and a career in law.
- Glendale Community College: Luis Tirado is a passionate soccer player who found new friends, teammates and his community at GCC. Thanks to the athletic department’s guidance, Tirado is able to take prerequisite courses, setting him up to transfer and complete his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
- Glendale Community College: Joana Huaracha Franco always knew she wanted to be the first in her family to graduate from college. She began her academic journey in the ACE (Achieving a College Education) program. Thanks to GCC’s excellent advising, tutors and professors, she was able to find the right classes and learned how to navigate higher education.
- Estrella Mountain Community College: Enrolling at EMCC was a natural choice for Esperanza Cadena, who knew she wanted to be close to home and family while attending college. With help from her professors and advisors, she was able to keep her GPA above 3.5 and take part in clubs, sports and even served as a student ambassador.
- Estrella Mountain Community College: Luis Beltran was looking for a college with innovative programs to keep him engaged and on track. He found that and more at EMCC. In his freshman year, Beltran is studying mechanical engineering and appreciates the one-on-one support he receives from his advisors, tutors and professors.
- Paradise Valley Community College: Cynthia Rojas Rangel’s parents emigrated from Mexico with the dream of pursuing higher education. Her journey at PVCC began as a junior in high school taking college courses through the ACE (Achieving a College Education) program. Thanks to the resources offered by PVCC, she was able to learn how to navigate college as a first-generation, Latina student.
- Paradise Valley Community College: Damaris Sanchez moved from Mexico with the hopes of attending a large university. Due to her limited English proficiency, financial resources and culture shock, Sanchez was in need of an educational lifeline, which turned out to be PVCC. She was drawn to the campus’ beauty and chose PVCC for its affordable tuition, small class sizes and student resources.
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‘The College Tour’ Comes to Arizona, Makes Seeing Campuses Accessible to Low-Income Students
By Bridget Dowd, Fronteras I October 12, 2022
Choosing where to go to college is a big decision for anyone. Visiting college campuses can make that decision easier, but not everyone gets that opportunity.
Marcos De Niza High School in Tempe serves a lot of low income and Hispanic students. Many of them will be the first in their family to go on to higher education.
Erin Smith is the Counseling Department Lead there. She said when students talk to her about college, the first question they ask is:
“Can we afford it? Is it even within my reach?”
Many of her students think college is simply not an option for them.
“Maybe they need to work to support their family at home,” Smith said. “We definitely have conversations with them all the time about how accessible it is, especially at the community college level.”
But how do students know where they want to go, especially if they can’t afford to visit some campuses in person?
This is something that television producer Alex Boylan has thought a lot about. Two years ago, he started a show called “The College Tour.”
“Each episode tells the story of a different college campus across America,” Boylan said.
The show takes viewers on a virtual tour of each school’s classrooms and features their students’ academic journeys.
“So no matter where you are in your potential college journey search, whether you’re a young person in high school or an adult learner, you get to get a real sense of what that campus, the culture, the feeling is really all about,” Boylan said.
The show has released about 100 episodes in its first two years.
“There’s 2,500 four-year institutions and above, there’s another 900 community colleges across the country,” Boylan said. “That’s a lot. We want to tell the story of every single one of them.”
The idea for the show came up when Boylan’s niece started looking at schools. She took a trip to visit a few campuses in California.
“Soon after that, she was like, ‘I wanna go look at schools in Arizona and I wanna look at schools in Florida, Texas, New York and everywhere else,’” Boylan said. “Her mom, was like ‘What do you think, we’re made of money?’ Most people do not have the finances to travel across America and just go step foot on campus at every place they want to.”
Now the show is making those tours accessible to even more families. Producers released their first Spanish language episode in August, featuring the Maricopa Community Colleges.
Boylan said they were in the process of filming an English episode at the school when they started to think about the large population of students from families whose parents and grandparents only speak Spanish.
“We want to make sure we’re speaking to them because when you look into the LatinX and Hispanic market, when their young person is going off to school, the whole family feels like they’re going off to school,” Boylan said. “It’s their culture.”
That was the case for Frida Guzman, who was featured on the Spanish episode of “The College Tour.” She is originally from Mexico City and moved to Arizona when she was 15 years old to attend high school.
“When I saw the difference between my country and this country, I felt like this was the perfect place for me to grow.”
She moved in with some family members who lived in Gilbert, without her parents by her side.
“English is not my first language. So I had to go to English As A Second Language (ESL) classes for some time,” Guzman said. “I honestly didn’t know what was going to be after high school.”
But she did well in her classes, got a scholarship to Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and now is in her second year of studying business. She said sometimes she’s still surprised that today she’s an American college student.
So when she heard “The College Tour” was looking for students to feature in their program, she jumped at the chance.
“When I came here, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of representation so for me,” Guzman said. “It’s important for [people] to know that immigrants or first generation students or women can do it.”
After getting her associates degree, Guzman plans to transfer to Arizona State for a bachelor’s in business administration. She’ll be the first in her family to do so.
EDITOR’S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to The Maricopa Community College District.
The College Tour TV Series Makes Higher Education Accessible to All
By Samantha Jonas-Hain, Edutorial Nigeria I October 8, 2022
International students seeking meaningful information about higher education abroad, are no longer bound by geography thanks to The College Tour TV series and website, which give students an up-close look at colleges and universities through the lens of their diverse student body. The College Tour is also an incredible online resource that gives people tools to decide which school will work best for them. All episodes of the series are available to stream on Amazon Prime and are also available for free on The College Tour app and website, giving unprecedented access to information, regardless of your location or finances. This is the ultimate in equity, and they are having a profound impact on students around the world.
“The goal was to create a show that can be seen by anyone, anywhere. It is not always possible to travel and look at a school, and it is extremely important that international students are afforded the same access to information as anyone else so they can make smart decisions about higher education based on their own individual needs,” said host, co-creator, and executive producer Alex Boylan.
Boylan, who won The Amazing Race, teamed up with Hollywood powerhouse Lisa Hennessy and Survivor finalist Burton Roberts to create a groundbreaking show that is now being used by counsellors and teachers as an educational tool to motivate students about higher education.
“Counselors have reached out letting us know that because of our show many students are choosing to further their education by attending college. We even created free classes on our website to help students choose the right school that will work best for them,” added Boylan.
One of the most unique free classes they offer is one specifically designed for first-generation college goers, who often feel lost, and overwhelmed throughout the process. Parents who didn’t attend college are using the class, as well, to help them guide their children and be part of the decision-making. Other classes include an international class, majors , and their “core” class which breaks down what to look for in a college.
The site also has additional resources, such as digital series and blogs that talk about everything from financial aid to the admissions process. The whole point is to take away the stress and replace it will be easy to understand information. They are also dedicated to showcasing a wide group of voices, so everyone watching can have the chance to relate and feel represented. From first-generation collegegoers to international students and students with autism or hearing impairments, every group is seen and celebrated for their own success.
“I’m so happy I got to experience such an amazing college setting. It has shaped me into being a more active, well-rounded individual with a global mindset and a diverse perspective on the world,” said Nigerian transfer student Binta Olabisi, who was featured in the Florida International University episode. Olabisi, spent three years at FIU, graduating with a BA in Economics, after having served as vice president of the Undergraduates Economic Club, member of the National Business Honor Society and member of Tau Sigma National Honor Society.
The College Tour is now filming its 7th season and continues to dedicate itself to ensuring a brighter future for today’s students. To view episodes, watch digital series or take The Class, please visit Home – TheCollegeTour.com.
Amazon Series ‘The College Tour’ Features Ramapo in Mahwah
By Logan Williamson, Patch.Com I October 3, 2022
Ramapo College of New Jersey is featured in an episode on Season 6 of “The College Tour,” an Amazon Prime series highlighting U.S. colleges.
MAHWAH, NJ — Named to Conde Nast’s Traveler’s 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America, Ramapo College of New Jersey was featured in an episode of “The College Tour,” an Amazon Prime series spotlighting colleges and universities across the nation. An exclusive on-campus screening with the student cast in attendance will be held on Oct. 13.
Just a bus ride away from New York City is the liberal arts school, where
“opportunity abounds,” show host Alex Boylan said at the start of the episode.
“Small class sizes and engaged faculty members offer hands-on learning and individual student attention,” Boylan added. “Students aren’t just given a voice; they are encouraged to raise their own.”
Over the half-hour episode, viewers will meet Ramapo students who embody their mascot — the Roadrunner — in that they are “always on the move,” Boylan said.
Each episode of the show tells the story of a college through the lens of its students, according to the show’s website. During Ramapo’s free screening event, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Sharp Theater, clips of the episode will be premiered, college spokesperson Angela Daidone said.
“It is no wonder why Ramapo is a nationally top-ranked public college,” Boylan said in the episode’s intro, referring to its four-year graduation rates that exceed national averages and “innovative academics.”