Meet Nicole Darnall, our newest HerCampus Celebrity who is involved in so much on campus including D3TV, a member of Alpha Phi, junior communications major, campus tour guide, and on the executive team of Dance Marathon, it’s no wonder she landed this awesome internship this semester. She is currently in Chicago doing her Media Fellows internship with Kurtis Productions for the show “American Greed”. If that isn’t impressive enough she is also a campus ambassador for The Skimm, on a mission to get students out of the “DePauw bubble” with a quick and easy to read news sent to your email every Monday through Friday. Check out the details below of all the things Nicole is doing in Chicago!
HerCampus: Hello Nicole, congrats on being our new HerCampus Celebrity! Let’s start off with some fast facts about you? Where are you from originally?
Nicole Darnall: I am from Glen Ellyn, IL, which is genuinely my favorite place in the entire world. It’s a pretty large town overall, but it’s like growing up in a Norman Rockwell painting: parades & fireworks on the fourth of July, a giant town Christmas tree during the holidays, and football games every Saturday. Actually, I love my hometown so much that my high school senior superlative was “Most likely to stay in Glen Ellyn”!
HC: Sounds like a quant place to grow up in, I can relate I grew up in a small town too! So what are you involved with on campus?
ND: On campus, I am a media fellow and an active member of Alpha Phi! As far as clubs and organizations go, when I am on campus I spend way too much time at D3TV, I’ve been on the executive boards for both Be Great Today and DePauw Dance Marathon. And I’m a tour guide!
HC: You’re certainly busy! And you’re also a campus ambassador for The Skimm and doing an internship in Chicago this semester?! Wow very impressive I don’t know how you do it!
ND: Yeah! This semester I’m in Chicago completing my Media Fellow’s internship with a company called Kurtis Productions. They are most well known for crime (genre) shows. I work as a production intern directly under the show “American Greed” which focuses on Ponzi schemes. The company is owned by Bill Kurtis, who if you know big news anchors, he’s one of the best of the best. But if you’re not a news nerd like me, he was the voice over (with the really distinct voice) in Anchorman. The Skimm is a daily e-mail that is in your inbox first thing every morning (M-F) that summarizes the big, newsworthy events around the world. As someone who always embraced the “DePauw Bubble”, I’ve found that it’s actually very important to know what’s going on around the world. So, I went on to apply for the campus skimm’bassador position! Essentially, it’s my job to get the word out around campus so that more people know what The Skimm is! Speaking of which, you can sign up on our website. http://www.theskimm.com/?r=3J3DZ .
HC: Media Fellows sounds like a great program to get involved in especially with that awesome internship! What made you choose to take that specific internship?
ND: I chose this internship for a lot of reasons, but mainly it all came down to location and what I would be doing. I knew that I did NOT want to be making coffee runs, and Kurtis allows me a ton of hands-on experiences that are way more than typical intern work. And as far as location goes, by choosing Chicago, I’m able to be around for my little brother’s senior year, some of my best friends go to school in the city, and I’m only a four hour drive from campus.
HC: Chicago is such a great city and that really worked out for your benefit too being close to home! So you also mentioned you helped in the production of crime genre shows, what are your roles when you’re on the job?
ND: At this point, I’m working mostly in pre-production. So, I help set up and take down shoots, I find locations to do the shoots, I complete research about the episode topic, and a ton more. This internship is extremely hands-on which was a very important to me. I’m able to work alongside the assistant producers and production assistants to really see what goes into an episode and how it all comes together.
HC: That’s awesome you really are hands on and right in the know! Would you recommend getting involved in the Media Fellows program to incoming students?
ND: Media Fellows is a communications/media-based program, but the nice thing is that you’re welcome to study and major in any field you want to! As a part of the program, we take two seminars freshman year, and one senior year. And throughout our other two years, we attend speakers and lunches to help us develop an idea of where we want to go and what we want to do. Then, we are required to spend a semester off campus completing an internship (what I’m doing right now). I would absolutely recommend this program to both incoming students and anyone considering entering laterally. Without Media Fellows, I don’t think I would be the strong thinker that I am today and I KNOW I wouldn’t have taken the time to intern for a whole semester. Plus, the program has some pretty rockin’ connections.
HC: Sounds like so many great opportunities all rolled into one, now I wish I was a Media Fellow! Since you’re now a junior and have been a DePauw for a but what has been your most rewarding moment at DePauw so far?
ND: I think it was when I left school at the end of last semester for the summer. My dad decided to be super sentimental and drive past East College one more time for me, and it was at that moment I realized that I was halfway done with my DePauw career; it was off to an unbelievable start. DePauw has taught me so much, and given me so many opportunities, and it was in that moment that I realized just how blessed I am to be attending such an amazing school.
HC: You still have plenty of time left at DePauw don’t worry! What do you miss most about campus while you’re in Chicago?
ND: I miss just goofing around with my friends. And the Alpha Phi porch swings. Let me tell you, snap chat stories are not fun when you’re off campus. But, being in Chicago makes it all worth it. It might be cliche, but I just love the city. Taking the time to walk around and just enjoying the architecture and atmosphere is not a bad way to spend the day. Plus, the food. Yes, definitely the food. There’s no food like this in Greencastle.
HC: Yum I bet! Well glad you’re having a great time at your internship and come back to the castle soon! Keep doing you, you’re killing it!