UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The annual Homecoming parade represents a time-tested tradition at Penn State, and a related tradition continues this year as communications students again will produce the livestream of the Oct. 21 event.
Students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications will produce the livestream of the parade that moves through the University Park campus and downtown State College, allowing alumni and friends from all over the world to watch as the students get real-life experience honing their broadcasting and production skills.
The parade begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 and a link to the livestream may be found at homecoming.psu.edu.
The production team includes students enrolled in COMM 383 Advanced Production, taught by Bill Hallman, a lecturer in telecommunications, as well as other students who applied for positions to help with the effort.
“We have a good team. Our announcers look fantastic, and everyone has been working hard,” said livestream director Caleb Roden, a senior telecommunications and media industries major. “We want to produce the best show possible for everyone who’s unable to get here in person.”
Roden, who has helped produce live sporting events for the Big Ten Network’s “Student U” broadcasts during his time at Penn State, said it’s too early to worry about what-ifs related to the parade. Plus, he understands the biggest potential challenge is uncontrollable — the weather.
“Maybe there will be some worrying 20 minutes before we go live, but we just have to do the best we can,” he said. “Overall, it’s an exciting opportunity and great experience. So, we want to make the most of it.”
This year’s four-camera webcast will originate from the Bank of America Career Services Building along Bigler Road with one camera on the building’s third-floor balcony and the production area set up on the lawn at the base of the building. Coverage will include live segments with on-air hosts and some pre-produced packages.
The livestream culminates weeks of behind-the-scenes work and preparation. All of that typically leads to a hectic final week and long hours the day of the parade.
“This year is a true collaborative effort from students across the Bellisario College. My students are taking the lead as producers of the livestream,” Hallman said. “We also have CommAgency student employees working in several crew positions, as well as broadcast journalism students in front of the camera.”
The Office of Physical Plant, the Office of Telecommunications and Networking Services, WPSU, and the Homecoming committee collaborated with the communications students to make the webcast a reality.
The 2022 Homecoming theme is “One Community, Forever a Home.” Alumnus David Taylor, a two-time wrestling world champion, two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American, will serve as grand marshal.