Accomplishing Comm Fest without Kasa: A student-faculty collaboration

Communication professor Naomi Kasa typically leads the effort of organizing for the Communication Film Festival and Awards Gala each spring. With her absence, professor Jonathan Moore along with professor Karen Nishie, program coordinator Krystal Komatsu, and a few other staff and students have taken on the responsibility of making the event happen.

The event, more commonly known to students as “Comm Fest,”  is a showcase of student work from throughout the year as well as an awards ceremony for various projects and categories.

“There’s nothing too different to expect, but that the event is something that Kasa would approve of and be proud of. The common goal that we all share is to make her genuinely proud,” Moore said.  

Kasa contributes a great deal to the communication department, especially when it comes to Comm Fest. Because of her hard work in the past, this year’s team has had an easier time bringing everything together, according to Moore. Their current goal is to present all of Kasa’s past efforts for this event, in the greatest way possible.  

“We love and miss Kasa, we all know how much she means to our department and always does a fantastic job at putting on the Comm Fest. We hope that whatever it becomes is something that will reflect and honor her,” Moore said.  

Though the planning could be seen as a stressful ordeal, Moore has not seen it that way. With the help of students and associates alike, Moore is confident in their abilities to get the job done. 

“I’m not stressed at all, as I know no one can replace Kasa,” Moore said. “I have the help of my other communication colleagues,” he said.  

Karen Nishie has also been a player in planning this year’s event, and she is excited at how everything may unfold.

“You can expect nothing too crazy or over the top. I think it’ll be just right and display everyone’s work in a tasteful manner,” Nishie said. 

Students partaking in the festival this year are excited as well and look forward to seeing the work being honored. 

“I always enjoy getting to see my peers’ work up on a big screen, and their talent and hard work honored,” said communication major Tabitha Blessum. 

The student body, as well as staff are very excited to see what the communications department has up their sleeves for this year’s VU Comm Fest. No matter what it is, it’s safe to say that Professor Kasa will still be extremely proud of this year’s Comm Fest.