May 02, 2007
Sometimes life offers you the opportunity to be part of
something special, something so meaningful, you will remember it
forever. For many students who pass through the fourth floor of
Marillac Hall on the Queens campus, that “something special” is the
Television Club. On April 28, the Office of Alumni Relations and
College of Professional Studies held the Fourth Annual Television
Club Reunion in the Television studio in Marillac Hall. Over 60
alumni gathered to relive some of their own special memories from
their undergraduate involvement in the Television Club.
Photo
Gallery
The evening opened with light refreshments and an informal
meet-and-greet where alumni reconnected with old acquaintances and
met new ones. Opening remarks were made by Joanne Filippone ’89SVC,
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, The College of Professional
Studies, emphasizing the importance of reuniting at least once a
year for professional development. Greg Bogart ’73SVC, production
manager at the TV Center, also gave an update on recent
improvements of the facility including renovations to the edit lab,
a new jib camera, and an incoming video wall.
Many in attendance acknowledged the role of the Television Club
in launching their careers. George Pisanti ’98SVC, now an adjunct
professor for the College of Professional Studies, explained,
“[Involvement in the Television Club] prepares you for a life
beyond school. It gets you ready for the industry, you learn all
the equipment, you meet a lot of people, and without that training
I don’t think me or half the people in this room would be a success
in the television business.” And Frank Cipolla ’80SVC said, “I’ve
spent 30 years in radio and television, most recently as a reporter
and anchor at channel 9 in New York City, and it all started here
in 1977 as a disc jockey. That’s when I made the decision to go
into radio and television and I haven’t looked back since.”
For others, the fourth floor of Marillac Hall was much more than
a place of learning; lifelong friendships were built and solidified
in the late-night editing sessions and fast-paced production
schedules of the Television Club. Joe Malerba ’95SVC said, “We come
back every year and it’s really a homecoming because this was my
second home…This group made me feel like a big star.”
The event proved to be a great success with four decades of
alumni represented, ranging back to the 1970s. The remainder of the
night was spent reminiscing and reliving memories made in the
television studio. Like many others that evening, Melissa Kuch
’05CPS looks forward to future reunions, “I think its very
important (to have these types of events), it’s so difficult in the
real world with everyone’s different schedules, so when there is an
event like this it’s a great incentive to get everyone together and
reminisce about all the old times.”