Freshman to be featured on AOL ‘reality’ show

UW–Madison freshman Sarah Whiteaker of Milwaukee is one of six first-year college students from across the United States who will be featured in America Online’s “Project Freshman,” a new documentary series that will be Web cast on AOL RED for teens starting Friday, Sept. 23. New episodes will air every Thursday. The primary audience is 13- to 18-year-olds.

The students were given digital video cameras and were trained in their use. They will film their own diaries about the opening months of campus life.

Whiteaker, who moved into her residence hall on Aug. 26, plans to major in communication arts or possibly English. She was involved with the film society at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee.

“The whole idea of getting to work with cameras and production interested me,” she says.

“Throughout high school I worked on several short movies, and I think participating in the show will help enhance any skills I have learned and help me to grow in this area. I think doing the show also will help me practice time management and keep focused on school,” she told AOL.

Asked by the show’s producers what she is looking forward to as she starts her first semester at UW–Madison, Whiteaker wrote: “I am really looking forward to the freedom to make my own choices and live my life my way, while learning to be responsible.” She said she was also looking forward to the new feeling of attending larger classes and lectures at the university.

“I am totally excited about my Japanese class. It will be whole new experience,” she says.

Sarah learned about “Project Freshman” on AOL and filled out an application. Once selected as a possible candidate, she had to make a short video about herself and her hometown and fill out a two-page questionnaire.

The show’s producers liked her candidness.

“I’ve always been a good student, but college – it’s different and it’s scary,” she says in her video clip, adding that her biggest fear is that she’ll lose her scholarship and have no way to pay for her education.

Asked what she thought of reality TV on the Web, Whiteaker told AOL she thinks it is the next big thing.

“One day people all across the world will be surrounding their computers, begging for the next episode on the Web,” she says with tongue in cheek. “No, really I think Web TV is a great way to get information and entertainment out to people who may otherwise not have access to the program.”

Also appearing on “Project Freshman” will be first-year students from Florida, Missouri, Notre Dame, Marshall and Dallas Baptist universities.