Five Klein College of Media and Communication students completed their children’s media capstone projects in MSP 4259, presenting ideas spanning across various media formats, such as television shows, podcasts, marketing campaigns and more. 

Sherri Hope Culver, professor of instruction at Klein and director of the Center for Media and Information Literacy, supervised the students through this culminating project to earn their Certificate in Children's Media. 

Their capstone projects needed to include at least two of the following elements: content creation, content analysis or entrepreneurship and management. The students also needed to prepare five deliverables: a project proposal, a full draft of the project, the final project, a formal presentation to peers and professors and a reflective paper on the experience. 

“I work with the students to make sure the projects align with their major, their career goals and best practices in children's media,” Culver said. “I want their capstone to be a project they would be proud to share with an industry professional or during a job interview.” 

Elena Erdley

Elena Erdley, a senior public relations major, created a comprehensive PR campaign celebrating Disney Junior’s 15th anniversary, “Disney Jr. 15 Years of Play.” Her project promotes the nostalgia of Disney Junior for parents with new in-person experiences designed for children, allowing the entire family to celebrate. 

She used branding, public relations and experiential design to bring her ideas to life. 

Erdley’s campaign included plans for an interactive traveling exhibit to different children’s museums, such as the Please Touch Museum or the Boston Children’s Museum, a full brand guide to define the campaign’s look and voice, a strategic campaign plan with brand and influencer partnerships and press releases, as well as potential merchandising collaborations. 

“Some of my learnings from this capstone are what it takes to build a full-scale PR campaign. I learned how to balance creativity with communication goals,” Erdley said. “I learned how to think beyond traditional media and imagine an immersive experience that brings a brand to life.” 

Ollie Gomez

Olivia “Ollie” Gomez, a senior media studies and production major, created a pitch for an animated television show titled “Note to Self!” 

Set at Rhythm Ridge Middle School, “Note to Self!” is an 11-episode, 20-minute animated comedy series for kids ages 10-12, blending music, heart and the unpredictable chaos of middle school. When protagonist Cadence discovers a ghost named Wolfgang, she and her new friend navigate middle school together and come to learn from each other. 

The show tackles topics like realistic friendships and social groups, fitting in and belonging, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving through peers, community and self-expression and identity through music. 

Gomez presented episode ideas that teach the audience about growth, patience, empathy, communication and embracing mistakes and messiness. 

“Learning is a process, and it’s supposed to be messy,” Gomez said. “It’s okay to make mistakes, but it’s important to go back and apologize.” 

Kyle Lapsley

Kyle Lapsley, a senior media studies and production major, created a pitch for a television show called “Marathon,” hosted by guest celebrities and students from Students Run Philly Style. The show would explore the benefits of running—stress relief, exploration of new places and quality time with others—while encouraging young kids and families to run together. 

Why running? Lapsley explained that, unlike many other forms of exercise, running has no cost or age barrier. His participation in Students Run Philly Style throughout his time in high school inspired him to create the 26-episode show, with young participants running a mile after each episode. When added together, kids would be completing a marathon by the end of the show’s run. 

 Lapsley presented other opportunities for kids’ engagement, such as athletic clothing merchandising and collaborations with apps like Strava, where participants could track runs and share them with the show, asking for tips or advice that the hosts could discuss from episode to episode. 

“Each of the students has taken at least one course with me before starting their capstone, so I have had the joy of watching each of them evolve and deepen their interest and knowledge in creating media for children,” Culver said. “They might not fully realize the depth of knowledge they have about kids at this point. Many people working in the field today have never had the opportunity to learn about the intersection of child development and children's media, so our students are well-prepared to venture into the field.” 

Delia Joyce

Delia Joyce, a senior media studies and production major, created a concept for The Kids Stage Philly, an interactive, kid-focused music festival for the whole family. The event line-up features a variety of kid-friendly artists, enhanced with tactile and sensory resources to keep kids engaged. 

Her festival includes media innovations such as an augmented reality educational experience and a video creation area with a virtual DJ named DJ Rhythm Rabbit. 

The sensory-friendly zones would use the power of media to create a space for kids needing lower stimulation by utilizing headphones, tablets, calming stories and meditations in collaboration with the Calm app. The zones include soothing nature visuals projected onto the wall and a digital museum-inspired exploration table focused on grounding kids and providing a mindful focus. 

Joyce’s augmented reality educational experience, in collaboration with WRTI, would allow children to point a device at a musical instrument that would open a video on how the instrument works. 

Finally, her video creation experience with DJ Rhythm Rabbit would allow kids to create their own music videos where they pick their song, choose their background, record themselves dancing or singing and then see their video edited with the lovable bunny DJ. 

Kadence Webb 

Kadence Webb, a junior media studies and production major, researched and produced a 21-minute podcast analyzing the intersection of children and Christmas movies titled “Children, Christmas & Cinema.” 

The podcast explores how Christmas movies influence children, why these films are beneficial and appealing for young audiences and which ones have created the most impact. She aimed to highlight the role holiday movies play in shaping childhood values and identity, with a target audience of parents with children ages four through 12. 

Webb drew from articles on Christmas movies for children, psychology and studies on child development. During the podcast, she presents her findings and shares her conclusions, interviewing a film expert, a former kindergarten teacher and a former school administrator turned radio manager. 

“Kids deserve moments of laughter and good times,” she shared. 

Webb also explained the psychology behind why children are drawn to Christmas movies by demonstrating how elements like music, visuals and marketing come together to develop these deeply formative experiences for children. 

Laura Zaylea, professor of instruction and a member of the certificate’s advisory committee, attended the presentations. 

“I loved seeing the Children's Media Certificate students present their final work,” she shared. “What impressed me most was seeing such a range—from a PR campaign to a kids-focused music event design to a research presentation and two original show pitches. I always appreciate it when students create a range of different types of projects. To me, this means that they have both focus and creative freedom, and I love that the Children's Media Certificate allows each student to explore their interests within children's media.” 

Culver shared Zaylea’s sentiments, noting that the variety of projects made the presentations truly special. 

“Their projects reflect that they appreciate the uniqueness of creating media for children and bringing talent and creativity to their particular interests,” Culver said. “Some students have an interest in production, some in music, others in research or in marketing, but each [student] is interested in connecting their academic learning to the entertainment and educational needs of children. I'm impressed with each of them.”