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On track to becoming a filmmaker

December 5, 2024 by Morgan E. Tinin

A person walking into a cave.

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

Filed Under: COE Students Tagged With: April Phillips, Bear POWER, student spotlight

Transforming futures: Bear POWER has its largest class in history

October 9, 2024 by Morgan E. Tinin

Orange fall leaves

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 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: April Phillips, Bear POWER

Bear POWER welcomes its second cohort, receives grant

February 26, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Bear POWER students and staff take a picture with Missouri State University President Clif Smart.

Bear POWER takes up a large space in its director’s heart. Rachel Heinz has been part of the nearly three-year-old program, designed for students with intellectual disabilities, since day one. 

It’s a special connection to Bear POWER, however, that makes her work feel so good. Her own son has Down syndrome and autism. 

He’s the reason why she initially became involved in the program.  

“I wanted to see an inclusive college program like this in our community,” Heinz says. “Initially, I started as a volunteer.” 

She describes working with a team of Missouri State faculty and staff, as well as others in the community, including her own mother.  

“It unfolded into a career path I was not expecting,” Heinz says. “Now, it’s my dream job.” 

It’s easy to be passionate about the program, she adds, when Bear POWER’s positive impact is so obvious in its students and others on campus.

“Bear POWER is opening doors to new possibilities for many students and their families,” Heinz says. 

Bear POWER students and others gather around a table inside a campus classroom.

Intern Support 

Heinz has watched Bear POWER grow mightier by the day. A recent grant by State Farm is aiding its development.  

“It will support the Bear POWER program’s internship component,” Heinz says.

More specifically, the program will soon subcontract an employee who will support Bear POWER students in their internships and collect data to improve the program.  

Bear POWER’s first cohort of students began their internships last fall.  

“We’re really excited. The internships are something we’re building on each semester,” Heinz says. “We’re partnering with a lot of departments on campus.” 

Heinz said several students are currently working at Missouri State’s citizenship and service-learning office and the child development center. Others have internships at businesses like Springfield Little Theater, Twin Oaks Country Club and Golf Course, and Bass Pro Shops.  

“It’s good for our students, because they’re getting hands-on experience in their area of interest while attending college classes,” Heinz explains. Bear POWER students also live on campus.  

The program’s second cohort began earlier this month.  

“Everybody’s doing really well,” Heinz says. 

Ambassadors for Growth 

Heinz believes Bear POWER Ambassadors are part of what’s led to so much success in the program. 

The ambassadors are traditional MSU students who provide at least two hours of direct support each week to Bear POWER students.  

What might that support look like? It’s helping Bear POWER students fill in their planners and improve their social skills. The ambassadors also often take them to lunch.  

“We have over 40 ambassadors, and that number is growing each semester,” Heinz says. “We plan to start a waiting list, because we have many students who are interested.”

A lot of those students are female, Heinz says, so the program has visited classrooms, as well as fraternities, to find more male volunteers. Graduate students can volunteer, too.  

Heinz says many Bear POWER Ambassadors have expressed the program is one of their favorite things they have been involved in at Missouri State. One of them is junior Julianna Vogt.  

“Bear POWER students inspire me every single day with their positive attitudes,” Vogt says. “I have learned so much from them.” 

A Bear POWER student and ambassador.

Trailblazing Bears 

Heinz says there are 270 schools that have a similar program to Bear POWER. That number may seem like a lot, but it’s only 6% of colleges and universities across the country.  

“We need to encourage other universities to start programs for students with intellectual disabilities,” Heinz says. “Students needs choices. Every university and program will look different, and they need to make the right choice for themselves and their family.” 

Bear POWER students have come from as far as Arkansas and Kansas, though families from all over the country have shown interest. Bear POWER is seemingly a trailblazer in offering students with disabilities the chance to be part of higher education. 

“We’re the fourth program like this in Missouri, and there are more programs that will launch in the next couple of years,” Heinz says. “We’ve been able to share information and resources through a regional alliance we co-founded.” 

The alliance is known as Midwest Inclusive Post Secondary Alliance, or MIPSA.  

“The collaboration with existing and new programs is very exciting,” Heinz says. 

Equal Education 

As for Heinz’s son, he loves Missouri State. He attends countless basketball games and knows the fight song at heart.  

“He listens to it all the time at home,” Heinz laughs. 

Whether he’ll be a Bear someday is up to him, Heinz says. She hopes by the time he graduates high school, he and students like him will have more options.  

Heinz says students like her son deserve education past high school as much as everyone else.  

“If students with intellectual disabilities want to pursue a higher education, they should have the chance to do that.” 

Rachel Heinz holds her son.

Filed Under: COE Staff Tagged With: ambassadors, Bear POWER, education, Rachel Heinz

Bear POWER and College of Education Host MIPSA Conference

October 29, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

Are you a current or prospective teacher wanting to learn more about working with students who have a disability? The Midwest Inclusive Post Secondary Alliance (MIPSA) Conference will be held on Nov. 4 at Missouri State University.  

Several Missouri State faculty and staff members will present:  

  • Dr. David Hough, dean of the College of Education 
  • Dr. Chris Craig, deputy provost 
  • Wes Pratt, chief diversity officer 
  • Stacy Rice, senior instructional designer in the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning 
  • Kim Roam, clinical instructor in the childhood education and family studies department
  • Rachel Heinz, director of Bear POWER 

Edie Cusack, a guest speaker from the College of Charleston, will be leading a two-hour faculty training. 

About the conference 

The MIPSA Conference will provide resources and training for faculty. Topics will include working with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the classroom on a college campus. 

Bear POWER is hosting the conference and program director, Heinz, will be presenting. 

“I hope that faculty can take away tools and resources for working with students who have a disability,” Heinz said. “Faculty will learn about supporting inclusion using universal design approaches that will benefit all learners in the classroom.” 

Filed Under: COE Students Tagged With: Bear POWER, event

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