Hunter Langhart, a 2012 graduate of Blue Valley West High School, is wasting little time positioning himself for a career in broadcast communications. He chose to attend JCCC this fall because he’s anxious to jump at early opportunities to gain broadcast experience. 

“I heard JCCC was a great place and it provides hands-on broadcast opportunities,” he said. “So, when looking at colleges, I decided to check it out.” 

Even in the first year of college, JCCC’s journalism and mass communications program provides students with supervised on-the-job training while earning college credit. It’s this kind of opportunity former students call invaluable and rare for underclassmen at four-year universities. 

“I know JCCC provides quality education at a great value,” Langhart said. “I had one friend who originally was going to go straight to the University of Kansas, but he decided JCCC would be a better place for him to start. He did that and now he’s finishing his filmmaking degree at KU. My plan is to get as many classes as I can at JCCC before transferring on to finish my bachelor’s degree at a four-year university.” 

Langhart also expects JCCC to provide him with a smooth transition from high school to a college environment. 

“I am looking to learn new things at JCCC, find my way around and still have a good time,” he said. “Since I was 12, I’ve been interested in filmmaking. I participated in high school classes where I produced music videos, broadcast stories, short narratives and documentaries. I did both taped film sessions as well as live broadcasts. I’m anxious to continue this at JCCC.” 

Langhart said the learning environment that attracts him most would be one that allows students to get involved with collaborative projects. 

“My favorite thing to do with video production is editing,” he said. “Shooting is fun, but when you get to go in and edit you really get to see the story or video come together.“ 

With the jump start he’s receiving at JCCC, lights, camera and action are just around the corner for this college freshman.