On this episode of “Simplifying Life Through Technology,” Mark and Andrew from SoundVision sit down with Tony Lellie, the Digital Marketing instructor at Mitchell Community College’s Collaborative College for Technology & Leadership in Statesville.
Ever wondered how a practical education approach can shape the future of students? Welcome to an exciting episode where Tony Lellie, a seasoned Digital Marketing Instructor at Mitchell Community College, shares the intriguing behind-the-scenes of his Client Capstone Project. Tony walks us through how students collaborate with local businesses on real, tangible projects, applying their learned skills in a practical setting, an approach that has been enhancing their learning journey and setting them up for their future careers.
From fashion to graphic design, our chat with Tony reveals how his students have made significant contributions to the business community. He shares instances of students working on projects that have not only sharpened their technical prowess but also honed their soft skills, prepping them for life post-school. This riveting conversation also brings out Tony's retirement plans and his love for the band Toto. We conclude by exploring the importance of community involvement and appreciating our students' participation with SoundVision. So, buckle up for a captivating conversation that promises to leave you inspired and enlightened!
We Discuss:
What the Client Capstone Project at CCTL is
How Tony started the Client Capstone Project
Previous projects completed in Lellie's class
What SoundVision's group received as their Capstone project score
What student's take away from the Capstone project
Tony's plans for retirement
Congrats to Mr. Lellie on retiring!!!
For more information on Mitchell Community College’s CCTL Program:
Hey, it's Andrew. Welcome to Simplifying Life Through Technology. Alongside myself and our Chief Executive Officer, mark Tapetro, we have the Digital Marketing Instructor from Mitchell Community College's CCTL program, tony Lally. Tony's here to talk about the client capstone project, sound Vision, recently completed with Mitchell Community College. Welcome, tony, we're happy to have you here.
Speaker 2:
We certainly are. This is a unique one, isn't it, andrew? It is So, tony. what is the client?
Speaker 3:
capstone project at Mitchell Well probably about 10 years ago, a friend of mine got together and we were just talking about ways I can improve my class, what the project is. I invite clients, i invite business partners from the community to come into my classroom and work with my students. So my students are divided into design teams And I teach graphic design in the context of Adobe applications.
Speaker 2:
So you actually started this, You and another teacher partner, is that right?
Speaker 3:
No, it's just a friend of mine who has a small business. Okay, and we were just talking about ideas from my classroom and he said, hey, did you ever think about bringing some people in your classroom and let your students work with?
Speaker 2:
the business owners. I think this is genius. Now I know, andrew, you did more working with Tony and the students directly than I did, but the practical application of kids working in the real world with a real company, as opposed to more of a theoretical thing on learning from a book in my world, is an absolute genius move. Congratulations to you on that.
Speaker 1:
Thank you.
Speaker 2:
And I just wanted to come up with the idea. Was it actually your friend who owned the business was looking for help for his business or her business, or you were talking about just figuring out things for the classroom, like you were just saying?
Speaker 3:
I was just kind of spitballing ideas of things that I wanted to get my kids involved in, because end of the year you know how to further capture my kids' attention to give them some real world experience. And he had a small business and he thought you know, people like him could come in and actually work with the students And I thought it was a great idea.
Speaker 2:
I thought it was a while ago. Do you remember what they actually did for your first friend's business? You remember what the first project was? No, i've. It's been too long ago.
Speaker 3:
It's been a long time.
Speaker 2:
Fair enough.
Speaker 3:
So many different times And I've been involved with so many. It's really helped me learn to network in the community. I've worked with the chambers of commerce. I allow the parents of the students to also work if they have businesses. Again, that's the idea of we're trying to get them to be working for someone besides me. Like children, they get used to the dad, they get used to the teacher. When they're working for a new person, a stranger, you know, it ups the ante on them and it gets their attention.
Speaker 2:
So what do the students expect to get out of this? Or how do they feel when you tell them, hey, we're gonna kind of step into the real world and work with a real company. What kind of reaction do you get from them?
Speaker 3:
Well, beauty thing about that is I start talking about this project at the beginning of the year And so when we're working with the applications, i will use examples that have been done in the past. Usually kids in school. they wanna ask you why am I learning this? What's?
Speaker 1:
the point.
Speaker 3:
You get some of them. What's the point? Well, this is the point. You know that, and they use the applications in other classrooms with other teachers, but they know this is coming from day one.
Speaker 2:
I was absolutely floored when we went up there full disclosure I thought that we were gonna be dealing with college kids. I didn't realize that the folks that worked with us Kingston, zinaya and Allison who you're gonna hear from in a minute are high school freshmen And to get this kind of experience at that age, they really have no idea how valuable this is. I know you do, but the fact that you're doing this for them is a huge step up and a huge thing to put, whether that's on a resume or just in the back of their heads experience Again, i applaud you for it. I'm curious if there's any projects that have stood out over the years, anything special that you remember or anything kind of super cool that anyone did creativity, whatever.
Speaker 3:
One time this student did a mockup for this lady. She sold clothing. They put her clothes like on a mannequin and several of these different styles And she actually uses them in her business. That's the thing that's amazing. They have complete copyright of everything that's done there and they send copies to me and the kid will see their stuff in an actual ad And they all see that and it's a really great experience. You see them just kind of light up, the light bulbs go off and it's very, very rewarding.
Speaker 2:
I can only imagine and that sort of self perpetuates the whole process, in that you can show hey, here's the new batch of kids coming in, and you can show what's happened in the past, but someone's actually in an ad. This is what we did in this class and this is really in the real world. Again, super, super cool. How many years have you taught this?
Speaker 3:
I've been teaching this particular curriculum for, let's see, i've been at Mitchell at this early college since 2005. So we started this project probably, i wanna say, closer to 2010. So we've been doing this for 10 plus years with the clients.
Speaker 2:
What did the kids receive on the project they did for us?
Speaker 3:
They actually got an A. They got all the points.
Speaker 2:
They got all the points. Yeah, they sure did.
Speaker 3:
Both through their communication and the quality of the product. They're evaluated on how well they did on the project and the feedback that I get from the clients, something that's almost as valuable of experience when they go through this is. I've had and I've used this example in the class, but I've had clients actually come in and when they give feedback because the clients give the feedback to the entire class, right, and so all of the clients see the projects and they have a chance to give feedback on the projects everybody but when the clients will give feedback on how their groups did and I've had some come in and say you know, this was a real world situation. I would have fired you because Wow, really, yeah, and you see their eyes And sometimes that's the most significant feedback that they get throughout the whole year. And I've had kids come back and say that thing that they remember about that year was when they came in and they got fired by the clients. You know. So it's the real, real.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, yeah, it's the real deal And that's a significant emotional event that goes beyond a grade. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:
I absolutely know what you mean. I'm really floored with the idea in general And then kind of the specific experience which I've already mentioned, that the kids get and the feedback is incredibly integral to the whole process. I'm sure you know that And my guess is that behind the scenes you're telling them like if they didn't do a good job, don't like placate them, like actually tell them that they didn't do a good job, because that's how they learn.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 3:
You know it's more important than the grade, that growth you know, to being able to start out or maybe they're just wallflowers during the project And then the next year they understand when they are working with adults or they understand how important those soft skills are look them in the eye, shake their hands, dress appropriately, you know, speak loudly so they can hear that stuff.
Speaker 2:
They don't only teach much. Oh my gosh, that is so important. You mentioned a little bit ago the communication, and I would say everything you just said is so critically important for success, especially for young people that typically nowadays don't even meet face to face. Everything's done online. Now I heard there was one project that it was kind of all zoom and whatnot And you didn't get that interaction, interpersonal reaction Correct And the communication is incredibly important. We talk about it all the time here, all the time Being proactive rather than reactive and over communicating so that someone knows what's going on. I know that we were very impressed with that communication as well. You're retiring, is that right? I am Congratulations. So what is your plan for retirement?
Speaker 3:
Well, my wife and I are going to move back to my hometown And which is, which is Weirton, West Virginia. Weirton, West Virginia.
Speaker 2:
Okay.
Speaker 3:
It's up near Pittsburgh, not too far from. Pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Okay, so my parents, my father Augie and mother Nancy my dad is 88. My mother is 85. And so they're both in good health. I've got to pick up a golf game because my dad's pretty good. Wow, that's amazing, But that's the primary goal is to spend these years up there with them. You know I've did my time with the school system and I absolutely love what I do.
Speaker 3:
I just turned 60 in February, so you know I've gotten my time and it's just time to do something else.
Speaker 2:
Before we get out, we always like to ask a fun question, Andrew who is your favorite band or artist?
Speaker 3:
Okay, well, i like 80s bands. Oh, there we go, i think my favorite band is probably Toto.
Speaker 2:
Just saw Toto for the second time. Oh, so I'm live in Savannah. About two months ago, wow, toto, and Journey or touring. Oh my, yeah, absolutely love Toto, absolutely Oh yeah, they're phenomenal in concert. Absolutely love them.
Speaker 3:
Everything they do. It's not just their big hits. I mean everything. Musicians, they're really good.
Speaker 2:
So I don't know if you know, but I'll give you a little. Andrew, yes, Here's a little Toto tip.
Speaker 1:
Toto tip Toto tip.
Speaker 2:
Did you know that they were actually a house band or a studio session band first, and they have played for basically everybody and the biggest person they played for is Michael Jackson and they were the band on Thriller. Really, yes, they are the backup band in Thriller I did not know that, yes, they are Wow. So, very, very cool. That's a good one. That's a very good one. Tony, thank you very much for that. You're welcome. So, andrew, we're about out of time. Yes, i think so. All right, you ready to take us out?
Speaker 1:
This was great. Thank you so much, Tony, for being here with us today.
Speaker 3:
Well, i'm really thankful for you all willingness to participate with the students, because we really can't do it without the real world, people that are actually willing to give your time and effort into some teenagers.
Speaker 1:
Well, it was great, it was awesome, great experience, thank you. Thanks again. Thank you for joining us. You can learn more about SoundVision at soundvisionlakenormandcom. You can follow us on Twitter at soundvisionlkn. Find us on Instagram and Facebook at soundvisionllc.