NORMAL – High school students and their families will have a new way to learn about Illinois State University later this year through an episode of “The College Tour.”
The show’s crew and host Alex Boylan visited ISU this week to chat with students about the episode, which is expected to be available to stream on Amazon Prime in November. Boylan also held a press conference to answer questions from the media about the show.
Alex Boylan, left, host of The College Tour television series, speaks with Brian Beam, executive director of marketing and communications at Illinois State University, as Boylan begins his research for next season’s tour on Wednesday at the UIS.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
The episodes feature students talking about their experience at school, often talking about the things that make the school unique. The ISU episode will include ten students, including students involved in sports and the Gamma Phi Circus, Boylan said.
Students were able to submit two-minute videos for casting earlier this year, says the university.
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“If you’re leaning into a casting video, it’s an instinct (feeling), a good sign that the audience is going to lean,” Boylan said.
The show launched in late 2020, with the first episode on Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Since then, Boylan has visited over 50 schools for the show. ISU will be covered in the first episode of season six.
The production process is a collaboration between the show and the school, Boylan said. This includes two months of pre-production planning to determine what should be highlighted.
Alex Boylan, host of the television series The College Tour, explains how he finds students to talk to during a press conference Wednesday at Illinois State University. Boylan has begun research for next season’s visit to ISU.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was featured in the first season. The show’s website includes a testimonial from UIUC’s senior marketing and media executive, Matt Wszolek, who said he appreciated the collaborative nature of the project.
Boylan has been a television host and producer since stepping into the field after winning season two of “The Amazing Race” in 2002. He was inspired to create “The College Tour” after his niece visited Los Angeles to see colleges. . She wanted to visit other schools in other states, but it was too expensive for her family.
The episode will likely be available to view through college and other means ahead of its Amazon Prime debut, Boylan said. He’s proud that no one has to pay to watch; people can even stream it on Amazon without a Prime subscription.
“We want all high school students around the world to be able to access this content,” he said.
Episodes can also be viewed on the show’s website, The College Tour phone app, YouTube, and on smart TVs and Roku devices. Individual clips are also available, which helps the show work for both parents and high school students who might be looking to watch shorter videos on their phones, Boylan said.
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“You can sit down and watch a half-hour episode or its modules,” he said.
“The College Tour” is different from other shows he’s worked on, in part because it grew out of personal experience, Boylan said. Having the chance to work with students for each episode is also new, but he finds being around them invigorating and inspiring, he said.
“Better yet, you’re working with students,” Boylan said.
Photos: Illinois National Guard opens cybersecurity range to public
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Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Richard Neely, center, cuts a ribbon at a new server room with members of the 183rd Joint Cyber Range at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport in Springfield on Saturday. The Cyber Range and all of its networks are isolated from the Internet to avoid inadvertently spreading malware or other viruses to the global network during exercises.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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A patch worn by members of the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Cyber Centurions highlights the formality of the new domain of cybersecurity in the armed forces at the 183rd Air Wing in Springfield on Saturday. The air wing is home to the Illinois Guard’s new Joint Cyber Range.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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Lt. Loni Crowder, left, of the 183rd Air Wing in Springfield, introduces guest educators, heads of state and military personnel to the wing’s new Cyber Range at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport in Springfield Saturday. The Cyber Range allows military computer warfare specialists to work with state or corporate computer technicians as they train to combat cyber threats to the nation’s infrastructure. Computer stations allow red and blue teams to compete for control of computer networks.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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On Saturday, members of the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Cyber Centurions visit the Cyber Range at the 183rd Air Wing in Springfield. Many National Guard cyber specialists are weekend warriors who put their computer skills to use in the fight against cyber threats to the nation’s infrastructure.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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A screensaver on a computer station at the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Cyber Range highlights its connection to the U.S. Air Force at the new 183rd Air Wing facility in Springfield on Saturday.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Richard Neely tells guests on Saturday how the Cyber Range was installed at the 183rd Air Wing in Springfield.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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Lt. Chris Muenter explains the design and cooperative structure of the Cyber Range to guests of the 183rd Air Wing in Springfield on Saturday. Muenter was one of the specialists who brought the Cyber Range together.
DAVID PROEBER, THE TROUSER
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Military and civilian guests attended the opening of the Illinois National Guard’s Joint Cyber Range at the 183rd Air Wing in Springfield on Saturday.
DAVID PROEBER
Contact Connor Wood at (309) 820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood
