Randolph-Macon College student
Charles Kesner Jr. ’12 is camera shy—but that didn’t stop him from interning at a television station.
Tuning In
The Charles Town, West Virginia native spent January Term 2011 as a
Bassett intern at Hanover County’s TV99, a local-access channel. Kesner, a
German major with a minor in
education, created music videos, trailers, promotional videos and news packages.
“I also created a promotional video for Hanover High School special classes (nursing, dentistry, optometry and other programs),” he says. One of his duties, however, was a bit angst-producing. “
I made a brief appearance on ‘The Score,’ a sports show aired on the Hanover County Network Channel,” he says. “I don’t like being on the air, and my TV appearance reinforced that.”
To read more Student Experience stories, click here.
Kesner worked alongside R-MC alumnus
Trip Wells ’02, the producer at TV99. Wells, who has been at the station since 2003, hosts “The Score.” Wells himself was an intern at TV99 during Randolph-Macon's 2002 January term. “It’s been great to mentor Charles,” he says. “He has been a great asset to TV99. He’s helped us get numerous shows edited and on the air in a timely fashion, and he’s even been able to assist our high school interns with a few of their projects. I am happy to say that we’re so pleased with Charles’s work that we’ve offered him a part-time job for the spring.”
Study Abroad
Kesner will put his German-language skills to good use in fall 2011 when he travels to Marburg, Germany for a
semester abroad. He currently works as a German tutor in R-MC’s
Higgins Academic Center (HAC), something he thoroughly enjoys. The HAC serves as a repository, clearinghouse, and sponsor for resources and programming on professional teaching techniques, academic strategies, and other research-based educational resources. Support to students and faculty is available in all areas of Instruction, as well as in Writing across the Curriculum, Speaking across the Curriculum, and Instructional Technology. “I like helping others,” he says. “I’ve also worked with some of our German exchange students, helping them develop their English—and they have assisted me with my German!”
Getting Involved
Kesner is an active member of several organizations. He is the fundraising chair for Students of Virginia Education Association, the fundraising supervisor for R-MC’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the public relations secretary for the
German Club, and a member of the yearbook staff. He also works as a Campus Ambassador.
“Campus Ambassadors host prospective students,” he explains. “My responsibilities include taking students to class with me on Macon Days, mingling during
Open House and
Accepted Students events, and hosting overnight prospective students. Working as a Campus Ambassador is a great way to show off the college.”
Making Plans
After graduation, Kesner would like to teach high school German and become certified to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) or special education. “I would also love to do something with technology,” he says. “Because of my experience with TV99, I can see myself in a career in mass communications or graphic design.”
About the Bassett Internship Program:
The Bassett Internship Program is dedicated to providing a real-world backdrop for future academic learning, as well as preparation for life after graduation. With a history of placements in over 1,100 sites in more than 20 states, Washington, D.C., and 11 foreign countries, students get an opportunity to explore the world of work.
For more information about the breadth of programs and opportunities available at Randolph-Macon or to schedule a campus visit, contact our Admissions Office at (800) 888-1762 or at
admissions@rmc.edu.