LA Examiner

Category: Students

  • High Schooler Michael Deng Wins State-Wide and National Competitions by Tackling Critical Healthcare Problems With Innovative Solutions

    High Schooler Michael Deng Wins State-Wide and National Competitions by Tackling Critical Healthcare Problems With Innovative Solutions

    Michael Deng’s relationship to public health has been defined by his call to serve others in his community. While taking care of a senior for two years, working at a special needs ministry, and riding along with Emergency Medical Technicians, Michael noticed issues with healthcare that deeply affected the quality of care for patients. Even after Michael finished volunteering with these organizations, the sterile and pale environment of the senior home, the continued stigmatization of neurodiverse individuals, and the small moments of dehumanization that patients experienced in the back of the ambulance all stayed with him. 

    At the same time that Michael was building expertise in the public healthcare space, he was excelling as a musician. As a viola player with the California All-State High School Symphony Orchestra and co-principal of the California Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra, Michael learned how the unifying power of the arts can connect, inspire, and uplift audiences. He brings his commitment to working with others and implementing different perspectives to his influential work in entrepreneurship-focused competitions. 

    At the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) competition, Michael worked with a team of peers to construct a multifaceted plan that would help solve the healthcare labor shortage for Kaiser Permanente after the pandemic, improving the quality of care for thousands of patients by incentivizing young students to enter into the healthcare industry. Impressed by his team’s innovation and creativity, the judges awarded him with the first place prize in the California state competition. His competitive success continued with the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC), where Michael’s team proposed creating a magnetic braille tablet that allowed blind and deaf children to connect with normally sighted/hearing children and an educational platform that eliminated stereotyping between cultures. Notably, his team placed first in the United States and tenth globally. 

    His empathy for vulnerable communities extends past his unique ability to succeed in his musical and competitive endeavors. At his high school, Michael co-founded and leads the Pre-Med Club as its president, where he spreads awareness of diseases and healthcare concerns to his classmates. He is currently pursuing his American Red Cross cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor certification in hopes that he can teach his club members CPR. 

    Michael will continue to leverage both artistic expression and direct healthcare interventions to build stronger, more equitable communities in the future. He is in the middle of developing a nonprofit that expands resource accessibility for low-income elementary schools to present at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2025 and plans on studying a public-health related topic in college. As a future pediatrician or surgeon, Michael is looking forward to dedicating his career to revolutionizing the healthcare systems with his musical and entrepreneurial prowess.

    Written in partnership with Tom White

  • The L.A. Film School Named a Top U.S. Film School for Fifth Consecutive Year

    The L.A. Film School Named a Top U.S. Film School for Fifth Consecutive Year

    Image credit: Unsplash

    The Los Angeles Film School has once again been ranked among the nation’s top film schools, securing a place in TheWrap magazine’s 2024 Top 50 Film Schools list. Known for its robust curriculum that merges technical skills with artistic exploration, the L.A. Film School is celebrated for preparing the next generation of filmmakers and entertainment professionals, offering an immersive education that uniquely balances hands-on experience with theoretical knowledge.

    TheWrap, an American digital news platform that covers entertainment, media, and technology, focuses most content on Hollywood but also the broader entertainment industry. They offer in-depth reporting on industry trends, box office analysis, awards season coverage, and exclusive interviews with entertainment leaders. In addition to their Top 50 Film Schools list, they host events, including TheGrill conference, which features discussions on entertainment and tech innovation.

    TheWrap’s annual Top 50 Film Schools list is based on a detailed evaluation of key factors, such as student demographics, class sizes, networking opportunities, and insights from industry experts, all of which contribute to identifying the leading institutions in film and entertainment education. This year marks the fifth consecutive year the L.A. Film School has made the list, underscoring the school’s reputation as one of the premier creative learning hubs in the country.

    In 2024, the L.A. Film School celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of excellence in entertainment education. With 50 of its alumni contributing to projects that collectively received an impressive 299 Emmy nominations, the school’s impact on the industry is clear, as its training consistently propels students towards successful careers. From celebrated award-winning films to groundbreaking projects in animation, music production, and digital media, L.A. Film School alumni have left a lasting impression on the entertainment world. This impression speaks volumes of the school’s commitment to cultivating talent, creativity, and the technical skills required to excel in an evolving industry.

    Located in the historic RCA Building on Sunset Boulevard, the L.A. Film School takes pride in its Hollywood location, which, according to TheWrap, “blurs the lines between education and real-world experience.” Students benefit immensely from access to industry-standard facilities, including professional studios and editing labs. The school’s supportive network of faculty and accomplished alumni– many of whom have received Grammy and Oscar nominations– further enhances the learning experience, providing invaluable mentorship and firsthand insights into careers in film, music, gaming, and other entertainment sectors.

    “Being recognized, once again, by TheWrap reaffirms our commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, animators, music producers, and the many entertainment industry professionals who share the stories we see and hear,” said Tammy Elliot, president of the school. “This accolade celebrates our faculty’s dedication, our students’ hard work, and our alumni’s impressive accomplishments across the industry.”

    The L.A. Film School offers 18 different undergraduate degrees, both on campus and online, covering fields like Animation, Audio Production, Digital Filmmaking, Film Production, and Music Production. Each program is designed to equip students with industry-relevant skills and experience, ensuring they are well-prepared to step into competitive roles across the entertainment industry. 

    The L.A. Film School emphasizes real-world preparation by offering students access to exclusive industry events, guest lectures, and internship opportunities that encourage hands-on learning. This exposure to current industry trends and professional networks enhances students’ education experience and keeps them up-to-speed with everything recent in film and entertainment.

    By combining top-of-the-line facilities with experienced faculty who have earned accolades across film, music, and digital media, the L.A. Film School encourages a supportive and innovative learning environment. Students graduate not only with technical expertise but also with a valuable network of industry contacts and mentors, opening the doors for successful careers in their chosen fields.