Westminster College junior broadcast communications majors, in collaboration with Titan Traverse staff, staged their version of reality TV's The Amazing Race as a class project.

Bradley Weaver, Westminster instructor of broadcast communications, explained, "Students were required to come to class the first day with completed applications for The Amazing Race. They were required to team up with someone in class, at Westminster, or off campus."

"The questions on the application were provocative, forcing them to think about their goals outside of college," Weaver said. "I used the application as a tool for self-reflection and to explore career paths."

Initial reactions from the students were mixed.

Melissa Maines of Clearfield said, "I've been watching the show since the first season, so I was really excited when Mr. Weaver told us about the assignment."

Nathan Dodd of Meadville shared his response: "My initial reaction was surprise. I was a little 'iffy' about it, since I've never auditioned for a reality show. I wasn't quite sure how to take it all."

At the other end of the spectrum was Aimee Gerber of New Castle: "My first reaction to this assignment was 'absolutely not,' but this application isn't like any other application. This one forced us to think about ourselves, about our character, what we're most afraid of, how we cope with conflict."

As the semester and the project progressed, attitudes changed.

Bill Sadler of Youngstown, Ohio, commented, "Putting the million-dollar prize aside, our project has a hidden message. This was to show us we have a wide variety of strengths, and we are qualified for any task given to us. We will be entering the 'race' of the job market soon and will be competing against many for one prize."

Doug Kunst of Bellevue said, "The Amazing Race was a clever way for us to reflect on who we are and where we have come from. For me, it was realizing how good a fit I am to broadcasting."

Nicole Piszczor of Broadview Heights, Ohio, related, "In the end, it made me realize more about who I am as a person and as a professional."

Shayna Marti of New Wilmington observed, "The application asked questions that really made you think about yourself and your partner. I realized that I really didn't know my partner that well, but I recently found out we make a pretty good team."

Also in the class were Amanda Conway of Erie, Alexander Hines of New Wilmington, Thomas Miller of New Castle, and Christina Roseto of McKees Rocks.

Weaver said, "One of my goals was for the students to discover ways to 'sell' themselves beyond the bullet points of a résumé, while exploring the kinds of questions employers might ask."

Each team was responsible for producing the three-minute application video The Amazing Race requires. The final exam period was an Amazing Race-themed event organized by Westminster's Titan Traverse staff. It included canoeing across Brittain Lake, climbing a rock wall, mountain biking, and solving clues to reach the finish line.

Weaver shared the final component of the class: "They sealed the applications and video tapes in envelopes, which I will mail in March 2009. I don't want them leaving school to be on reality TV before they have a degree."

Contact Weaver at (724) 946-7238 or e-mail weaverbl@westminster.edu for additional information.

BC 601 group