By Nicole Haas

Adelphia Communications Corp. has presented the communication department of Buffalo State College with $5,000 for its efforts in creating two commercials for the company last semester.

Nine students participated as part of an independent study class led by Paul DeWald, assistant professor of broadcasting and Ron Smith, chair of the department.

Students were broken up into two groups that focused on two different services offered by the company:
• Adelphia’s High Speed Internet service
• Adelphia’s digital cable services

Adelphia employees assisted the students in creating the commercials by offering ideas and support when needed.

“It was a chance to work with students and do something positive in the community,” said Adelphia’s marketing coordinator Laurie Lis. “It was a good real-life experience for students.”
The commercials aired on Adelphia Channel 13 in early December2004, just in time for Christmas.

“It was a great experience because it was an actual commercial that was going to be on TV,” said television broadcast major Flower Pitargue, who worked on the project.

Adelphia was pleased with the enthusiasm and creativity put forth by the students. The company hopes that the $5,000 donation will go toward maintaining and improving the production studio and editing suites at the college, according to Adelphia’s director of marketing, Steve Edelman.

Nicole Haas can be reached at haasnm15@buffalostate.edu

From top left: Professor Paul DeWald, Brian Jopp, Clare MacClellan, Alyssa Wahler, Jacquelyn Colligan, Lexy Bishop, Tim Shaddock, Crystal Sanders, Jill George, Flower Pitargue and department chair Ron Smith.
Adelphia representatives, Tom Haywood, Sharon Hanson, Steve Edelman and Laurie Lis.