Lucas Lovig, left, and Roger Suski, members of information technology's audiovisual live events team, work together to set up the video control center in advance of commencement ceremonies on Saturday inside Hilton Coliseum. Photos by Christopher Gannon.
Big smiles and tears of joy will be on display this week during Iowa State's commencement and convocation ceremonies. And there at the Iowa State Center capturing memories to last a lifetime will be information technology's (ITS) audiovisual live events team.
Watch the livestreams
Livestreams are an option for the five graduate, undergraduate and veterinary medicine ceremonies.
Roger Suski, information technology multimedia events supervisor, leads the team responsible for livestreaming and recording the three undergraduate ceremonies, Graduate and Veterinary Medicine college commencements, five college convocations and an engineering department celebration this week. In addition to putting the feed on the big board in Hilton Coliseum, the team includes the closed captioning of graduation ceremony speakers' remarks with the livestreams.
Suski and media production specialist Lucas Lovig are the events team that draws help from eight student workers to pull off the events each fall and spring. They test the equipment a few weeks before and put it in place at Hilton and Stephens Auditorium during finals week. Suski's team also works with the registrar's office when a teleprompter, PowerPoint presentation or other equipment is required for the events.
The live events team began providing coverage of spring and fall commencements in 2023 at the athletics department's request. It was a natural fit after the two worked together to livestream the spring 2021 events from Jack Trice Stadium during the pandemic.
"It is gratifying to be a part of supporting the most important mission of Iowa State, graduating outstanding students," Suski said.
Lucas Lovig works to calibrate a video camera with student employee Brenna Akason in advance of this weekend's commencement ceremonies.
Capturing the moment
At Hilton, Suski operates two robotic cameras and also serves as director in the control station coordinating and communicating with four other camera operators. One stationary camera and three studio-style cameras -- which allow operators to be mobile while filming -- also are used. Suski said it takes about 3,000 feet of cable running from the control point to the cameras in Hilton. In Stephens Auditorium, three robotic cameras cover the two commencement ceremonies and college convocations.
The cameras are in locations to capture the opening procession, speakers, students crossing the stage to receive their diplomas and the ISU Brass Ensemble performance. Suski asks some of the camera operators to relocate during an event to capture different moments and provide variety for the livestream.
"We also surf the crowd of graduates for interesting cap designs," Suski said. "When our camera operators find one, we can take the image to the big screen and the livestream."
One challenge is finding enough staff to cover all the events with ITS' student employees taking most of the camera operator shifts. Three student employees will graduate during the undergraduate ceremonies on Saturday.
"The Saturday of spring graduation is the most challenging," Suski said. "The day begins at 7 a.m., and we have to support the overlapping 9 a.m. ceremonies with the College of Design convocation at Stephens and the first undergrad ceremony at Hilton. The day will end at about 9 p.m."
Other events
The events team doesn’t just handle ISU commencements and convocations. It supports Ames and Ankeny high schools' graduation ceremonies at Hilton, ISU Fashion Show, Special Olympics opening ceremonies and the Iowa Board of Regents livestream when the group meets on campus.
