David and Nancy Kagel
The Jared Kagel Scholarship was established to honor Jared, SIU and the dedicated faculty and staff in the Department of Mass Communication/Radio Television and the students who continue the award winning Alt News Program.
Jared graduated from SIU in 2005, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio-Television from the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts. While at SIU he worked at ALT News in many areas including Executive Producer from August 2005 to December 2005. Jared produced award winning half hour news magazine style shows that aired monthly on PBS affiliate WSIU/WUSI. Including:
• 1st Place Magazine Show, 2005 NATAS Mid America Emmy Awards
• Silver Hugo Award, 2005 Chicago International Film Festival
• 3rd Place Magazine Program, 2005 College Television Awards
• 2nd Place Magazine Program, 2006 College Television Awards
• 1 st Place Student Production, 2006 NAT AS Mid America Emmy A wards
• Nominee: Best Children’s Programming, 2006 NATAS Mid America Emmy Awards
After graduation Jared was a video editor with State Farm Insurance as the post production editor in the Creative Services Department. Jared was responsible for the production of internal videos; short and long form, ranging from executive introductions to educational and training videos for DVD, web streaming, SD and HD. He was able to use the experience and knowledge he gained at AIt News to excel at his job.
Jared’s journey was not an easy path. After Jared’s first year at SIU, 2002, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. After a year of treatment, Jared’s desire was to return to SIU and finish his degree. Jared found an outpouring of support from the faculty, staff and students in Mass Communications, graduating in December of 2005.
Jared was always a “good kid”, reserved, one who was leading the crowd, not following it. He was always very independent and seemed to be on his own path at a very early age. Jared enjoyed the humor of Andy Kaufman and had his own deadpan sense of humor and found it entertaining to see a friend’s reaction to his wit. SIU was the only college Jared applied to, “because they had the best Mass Communication program in the state”, and he wanted to make movies. When Jared returned to school after his treatment, he did it with a determination and drive to be a “normal” student. Jared believed living in the past, recounting what he had been through was counter-productive. Jared lived
for each day and focused on what he wanted to accomplish. When Jared was asked about his success at school and work, he was quick to quip back, “It wasn’t luck”. SIU provided Jared the education, experience and friendships he needed to be successful, and for that Jared’s family and friends are grateful.
Jared Kagel, October 23, 1982-July 25, 2014.