Excitement for Film Production Grows with Seward Scholarship Awardees

This fall, the Department of Media and Communication announced that the 2022 Seward Scholarship was awarded to students Emma Healy and Allison Lyons. The scholarship honors former faculty member Jim Seward and his 41 years of college teaching, over half of which were spent at Fisher.

Healy is a junior from Newark, New York, majoring in media and communication with a minor in film and television studies. She co-created and wrote the pilot episode for an original series titled, Purgatory, which was filmed and premiered at The Little Theatre in Rochester. Healy has also filmed, directed, acted, and edited a variation of projects that include performing in the Theater Ensemble class production of Spaces: So Close Yet So Far.

Healy holds a position on the e-board for Cardinal Television, and is completing an internship this fall at DeBergerac Productions. Upon graduation in 2024, she hopes to move to New York City and pursue her career in film and television.

Lyons is a junior from Syracuse, New York, majoring in media and communication with a minor in film and television studies. A member of the Honors Program, Lyons is focusing her studies on the visual aspects of communication, including video production, design, and photography. She has been able to experience many different stages of video production throughout her coursework and co-directed Purgatory along with Healy.

In addition, Lyons is vice president of Cardinal Television and is also completing an internship with the University’s football program as the team photographer, recently accepting a position as staff photographer with the Fisher Athletics Department. Lyons is set to graduate in 2024 and plans to continue her career in filmmaking or sports photography.

The scholarship is open to full-time juniors or seniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Applicants must submit a cover letter, writing samples, and a portfolio of work to be considered.

This article was written by Grace Valenti ’24, an English major at St. John Fisher University. Completing a Certificate in Public and Professional Writing, Valenti also serves as the PR Writing intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications.