College of Education News

On track to becoming a filmmaker

by

Since he was 16 years old, Luke Goldston has wanted to make films. Thanks to Missouri State University’s Bear POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Work, Education and Resilience) program, he has begun to achieve his filmmaking dreams.

Bear POWER began in 2018 at Missouri State as a way to offer college experiences to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Goldston, who is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, joined the program in fall 2022, majoring in digital film and television production. This December, he will graduate. Although his time at Missouri State is ending, his filmmaking will continue to take him far.

“What I’ve most enjoyed about MSU is being with friends and making films with them,” Goldston said. “It has been a magical experience to not only improve my craft but also bond more with my friends.” 

According to Bear POWER director Dr. April Phillips, the support Goldston received from his peers, staff and faculty has enabled him to succeed.  

“As a Bear POWER student, Luke has overcome challenges and persevered in his quest to learn more about media and film,” she said. “We’re very proud of him and his work.” 

An outstanding achievement 

While at MSU, Goldston created “Springfield Stroll,” a short, independent film. It debuted on Oct. 6 at Moxie Cinema. The indie genre film was a 26-minute anthology of three people walking through different parts of Springfield: downtown, the MSU campus and Sequiota Park.  

Goldston was the film’s cinematographer, editor and producer. It starred Thade Yates, Charles Sargent and Cade Johnson. 

For this project, Goldston chose to follow the rules of Dogme 95. This is a filmmaking movement aimed at taking films back to the basics by excluding traditional production values like special effects and other technological enhancements. Another Dogme 95 rule is films must be shot on location.  

“It was fun to work within the rules of Dogme 95 and see what resulted. The actors also called it an interesting challenge,” said Goldston, who interns at the Moxie.  

He notes having his film on screen for the first time was an exhilarating experience.  

“Ethereal is how I would describe it,” he said. “The actors and I were more and more excited as we got closer to the premier.”

During Goldston’s time on campus, one of his favorite faculty members is Bobby Lewis from the department of communication, media, journalism and film. 

“He gave me so much important advice when it came to filmmaking,” Goldston said. 

Looking ahead with optimism 

Upon graduation, he plans to continue directing films and work in the art world.  

“My future plans are to get a job at either a theater, Vintage Stock, Barnes & Noble or a film happening in Oklahoma City,” he said. “I want to eventually make bigger and more complex films.” 

Goldston dreams of bringing awareness to personal hardship and invoking compassion through his films. 

“I want to continue to tell stories about personal struggles and obstacles that many people deal with daily,” he said. 

Learn more about Bear POWER

Transforming futures: Bear POWER has its largest class in history

by

Bear POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Work, Education and Resilience) began in 2018 at Missouri State University as a way to offer college experiences to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

It launched with eight students and six completed the program. This year, the program had its largest class to date with 11 students.  

Personal and career excellence 

Bear POWER is a five-semester program that offers a challenging and accommodating environment for students to reach their personal and career potential. 

Program features include: 

  • An individualized program based on a student’s interests 
  • Independent living 
  • Resume development 
  • Internship experience 
  • Opportunities to improve social skills 

Students must take six credit hours of coursework with the option to audit or take for credit. Students must also enroll in an Academic Support Session each semester to focus on job readiness. Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average.  

Upon completion, they earn a certificate of completion from Missouri State. 

Easton Pierce from Lenexa, Kansas, joined Bear POWER in fall 2023 with cohort five. He is a hospitality leadership major and has found his place at MSU. 

“One thing I’ve learned from being in Bear POWER is that with support from the program, I can succeed in college,” Pierce said.  

“This program means a lot to me because it has allowed me to take fewer classes than the average college student while still taking them for credit.  I’m also able to participate in events and organizations like other students.” 

Support on and off campus 

April Phillips became the Bear POWER director in 2022. She has worked in the special education community for over 15 years.  

She is invested in and passionate about the opportunities the program offers students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“This type of program wasn’t an option for them a few years ago,” Phillips said. “Families didn’t know something like this would be possible for their children when they were young.” 

She explained the growth she has seen in her students.  

“They’re finding their path of fulfillment and learning how to advocate for themselves,” Phillips said. “They’re figuring out what success looks like to them, where they want to live, what they want to do and many other important life lessons.” 

She credits community support for the program’s development and success.  

“We celebrate the fact that every faculty member, staff member and student at MSU have welcomed our students,” Phillips said. “Our students can join any club or organization on campus they’re interested in. One of our students has even been in a sorority.” 

Phillips is also grateful for the community’s financial support. 

“Many community organizations and even private businesses continue to provide either direct financial assistance or scholarships for our students,” Phillips said.  

Learn more about Bear POWER