STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: CREATIVE ARTS Amanda Duisenberg BY: CIANDRA KOUKLIS
WJU has long been known for creating students who are “Exceptionally Employable.” But in the case of Jessup Senior Amanda Duisenberg, sometimes that’s accomplished before graduation is even on the horizon. Currently a Creative Arts and Music major, Amanda fell in love with
theater early in life thanks to her father’s involvement with community theater. When she was three, she recalls watching him in his lead role in Annie Get Your Gun and immediately knowing she wanted to be involved in theater. Amanda got her chance when she was six to be part of a production with her father’s community group. From there Amanda’s passion for
theater only grew. Over the years, she continued to act and sing in community theater as well as Woodcreek High School productions. In her teen years
as a Girl Scout, Amanda started a project that would continue to this day and impact dozens if not hundreds of other children. Amanda used what she had learned through the theater arts to start a program for Quail Glen Elementary School, which she attended in her youth. “I was a high school junior at the time and had no budget so, I just did what I could. We decided to do The Wizard of Oz and it ended up being awesome!” Amanda’s elementary program has been
going strong for almost six years now. Since that first year she has been invited to direct community theater productions as well. “I just directed Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Rocklin Community Theatre,” Amanda added. “Amanda has been an incredible asset to
Quail Glen Elementary School,” said Colleen Devine, fifth grade teacher and Drama Club Advisor at the school.
“She is absolutely
magical at what she does. She takes a group of inexperienced nine and ten year olds and turns them into a musical show piece. Many of the students come to her with virtually
WORLD & CULTURE
no background in theater and in a matter weeks, she takes them to the level of musical performer. Her love and passion for her craft is evident in the number of students who then go on to join community theater productions in the Roseville and Rocklin area.”
Amanda loves working with children and instilling a love of theater in them. She expressed how incredible it is to see the transformation
in these children throughout the process. “Many start out very shy and unsure of themselves, but rapidly grow in confidence and talent. It’s the best feeling on the face of the earth,” she said. When Amanda was ready to attend college, she began to consider
the possibility of attending closer to home to be able to continue her work at Quail Glen. Once she learned more about Jessup’s Creative Arts and Music Programs, she decided to double major. WJU Creative Arts Department has
helped equip Amanda to be a better director. Coming from public schools, Amanda expresses how much she appreciates the faith aspects of her Jessup education stating, “I’m able to incorporate my faith into every character I play.”
For more information on earning a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts at William Jessup University visit
Jessup.edu/Arts.
JESSUP MAGAZINE 19
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