One of JPCatholic’s biggest announcements this year was the addition of a Fashion Design emphasis within our BFA in Visual Arts, along with a new minor in Costume Design. The Fashion Design emphasis will be available for students entering JPCatholic in Fall 2025, and courses are already being offered for the Costume Design minor.

The Fashion Design emphasis will provide an in-depth examination of fashion analysis coupled with practical design work. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, students will develop their creative talent with courses in digital design, fabric, sewing, fashion drawing, color theory, production, retail andwholesale, and more. Students can expect the curriculum to constantly evolve to adapt to the ever-changing marketplace dynamics andtechnology advances.

“Within Catholic higher education, JPCatholic is well established as the leader in the creative arts, and we are excited to grow fashion and costume design within our dynamic community of creators,” said Joe Connolly, Chief Academic Officer. “Our campus culture allows fashion design students the freedom to experiment and nurture their creativity. Our vibrant theater culture and our commercially distributed feature films will provide a very natural and collaborative environment for costume designers in particular to implement their craft.”

The program will be spearheaded by Prof. Elena Chirkova, who started teaching at JPCatholic earlier this year with courses on Fashion Analysis and Sewing. Chirkova has over 25 years of experience in the fashion, modeling, and TV industries, with substantial time spent working with models in Eastern Europe and with well-known European designers. She became a professional model at age 14, which led to work as a runway, print, TV, and commercial model. These experiences, combined with her Master’s in Education and Bachelor’s in Fashion, led to the foundation of Dance in Style in 1998, a design company specializing in ballroom dancewear. In 2007, the company successfully relocated from Russia to the U.S. and expanded to skate wear and gymnastics outfits. Chirkova’s creations have appeared in Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars.

“I am thrilled to be setting out with JPCatholic in the launch of this new program,” said Chirkova. “Fashion and costume design are such beautiful crafts; they serve as a unique expression of the human person, and play an important part in telling a cohesive story. The environment here is prime for the addition of these programs, and I cannot wait to help JPCatholic students grow as designers and build a successful career.”

The emphasis will seek to form innovative fashion design professionals with a deep understanding of the breadth of fashion markets as well as the ability to blend their creativity with evolving technology innovation. It will prepare graduates for meaningful careers in fashion, such as digital design, product development, retail management, merchandising, personal styling, and costume design for film, theater, and other entertainers.

Did you know? Some of these lectures are available to watch for FREE at jpcatholic.edu/online

On August 29, during Graduation Week showcase events, two student businesses pitched to a panel of entrepreneurs in our inaugural Business Pitch Competition. The experience gives students in our LaunchPad program the opportunity to earn funding, helping advance their business to the next stage of growth.

Hosted by Prof. Joe Connolly, the event featured a panel of judges including Joline Mann, Director at The Real Mole Doctor and Founder of Purposer; Ted Bendrick, President and Owner of TVX Video; and Gabriel Geagea ‘13, Director of Business Development at TAN Books and Adjunct Professor of Sales & Project Management at JPCatholic. The panel determined how to allocate a bucket of funding provided by the University.

Each business was given 15 minutes to present their company, sizing up the problem and opportunity, outlining the value their product or service delivers; how they stand out from their competition; and specific ways the company could use funds to advance their goals. The panel then responded with questions, followed by a period of deliberation.

DIGITAL MUSIC

Musician Spotlight:

Raphael Whalen ‘24

Raphael Whalen was one of the first students to benefit from JPCatholic’s new emphasis in Digital Music. He came to JPCatholic as a Theology & Philosophy student, but shifted more of his focus to music as Dr. Robert Giracello ramped up the course offerings in composing, songwriting, musicianship, and more. His debut album Origin, featuring ten tracks of cinematic pop, will be released this November.

How have you been able to grow as a musician at JPCatholic?
Looking back three years after arriving here, I've grown so much in personal cultivation and musicianship, in no small part due to Dr. Robert Giracello. His teaching style, his deep and intensive knowledge of music and culture, and his dedication to his students has lent to my development as both a creative and a musician, but perhaps foremost as somebody trained to appreciate and receive art. Additionally, the student body here is an ever-deepening talent pool, which first, gives rise to more projects than I’ve been able to say “yes” to (from films, to podcasts, to singer-songwriter productions); and second, spawns the opportunity to collaborate with incredibly talented people who stretch my own abilities.

What is your creative process when it comes to writing and composing music?
My creative process most commonly begins with sitting down at a piano and playing familiar patterns until I find something fresh. Fleshing out the idea comes next: the process of twisting the melodic fragment or lyrical germ into something of substance. I finally throw that into my digital audio workstation, record vocals and whatever analog sounds I need, and then move into post-production. The true struggle lies in figuring out what a song is really saying. For example, I wrote “Poseidon” years ago with only a mind to its aesthetic value, and only until it entered the greater context of Origin did it glean real purpose. Ultimately, intentionality is the hardest part here, and figuring out what this album was about is one of the things that took me the longest time.

Tell us about your upcoming album.
Origin has been on the front burner for several months now, but many of these songs and hooks have been on the shelf for anywhere between one and five years. Thematically, it’s a deeply Catholic album, following the narrative of a man who ultimately discovers that doing his duty, no matter what, is his ultimate purpose in this life—a Pilgrim’s Progress arc, if you will. His journey goes through some dark places, but over the course of side B, he begins to recognize and embrace the cross. By the end, while he's by no means perfect, he's at least merited the hope of a peaceful life. Style-wise, it's cinematic pop at the intersection of Jon Bellion, AJR, and Panic! At The Disco; with subtler flavors of Billy Joel, Hans Zimmer, and the Legend of Zelda soundtracks. If you spin orchestral soundtracks for passive listening, and put on alternative fusion-pop like Jon Bellion for active listening, this record is for you!

Music Showcase:

Listen to student and alumni work, including Raphael’s, at jpcatholic.edu/showcase

This fall, the eleven students in Prof. Megan Eccles’ Novel Writing III course had their work reviewed by Anjanette Barr, a literary agent with Dunham Literary.

JPCatholic’s Novel Writing sequence represents a capstone experience for students in the Creative Writing emphasis, guiding the development, writing, and editing of a full-length novel over a nine-month period. In Novel Writing III, students spent 10 weeks editing and refining their completed novels. At the end of the Summer Quarter, each student had 10 pages of their novel read by Barr, who met one-on-one with the student on Zoom to offer professional feedback.

“A distinguishing part of our Creative Writing program is this focus on commercial writing, on having work ready to sell when you graduate,” said Prof. Eccles. “So you’re not just writing a bunch of short stories. You’re producing something substantial that you’re really passionate about writing, and at the same time it’s a publish-ready product that has the potential to develop into a career.”

Founded by Jennie Dunham in 2000, Dunham Literary has represented award-winning authors such as Phillip Hoose, Nick Bruel, and NYT best-selling author Tod Goldberg—a friend of Prof. Eccles who gave a guest lecture at JPCatholic last year.

“Pelican’s Plume” Journal Wins Awards From Catholic Media Association

The Catholic Media Association released their 2024 collegiate awards in “The Catholic Journalist,” and recognized two JPCatholic students for their work on the University’s student journal “Pelican’s Plume” (Fall 2023 issue).

Delaney Rayner ‘24 received First Place for Excellence in Layout and Design. The award reads: “‘The Pelican’s Plume’ boasts a visually appealing layout, with colors chosen to complement each submission, enhancing the reading experience without causing distraction. The interview and essays are thoughtfully laid out to highlight key elements and facilitate easy reading. Excellent work!”

Evan Mock ‘24 received First Place for Best Single Photo, the cover image titled “Reside.” The award reads: “A beautifully composed image, with effective movement and excellent colors and exposure.”

“Pelican’s Plume” is an annual student journal from John Paul the Great Catholic University, produced through the Literary Arts Journal Production practicum. In this course, students operate as a professional masthead, generate written and visual work for the journal, solicit submissions from the larger community of students and alumni, and hone their editing and proofreading skills as they oversee the issue’s production. Eduardo Jáuregui Martinez and Angela Whalen Crowell were the Co-Editors-in-Chief of the Fall 2023 issue.

“It is wonderful to see the work and talent of numerous people come together so well in a piece like this,” said Mock. “This photo of mine in particular speaks to me of family, and God's ever present hand in the order and serenity of creation.”

“I loved putting the design skills I’ve acquired over the years into action,” said Rayner. “I’m proud of all the hours of work and dedication from my practicum classmates; it was rewarding to see our labor of love come to fruition and finally getting to hold the journal in my hands after seeing it on screen for so long.”

Hard copies are available to purchase in-person on campus.

Prof. Eccles’ Novel Sing the Night Acquired by 8^th Note Press

Written by Prof. Megan Eccles, Sing the Night is a YA fantasy novel pitched as Phantom of the Opera meets The Count of Monte Cristo with a music-based magic system. The book and its sequel were purchased by 8^th Note Press, the publishing house for TikTok parent company ByteDance. The company plans to release 10-15 books per year, and Eccles’ novel will be released in fall 2025.

On August 28, JPCatholic premiered No Reception at the Ritz Theater in Escondido. The family comedy is the second project in JPCatholic’s Feature Film Program, an initiative the University launched in 2021 to integrate feature film productions into the curriculum.

“This program provides the opportunity that every film student is seeking; a chance to collaborate with amazing artists on full-length feature films,” said Prof. George Simon, who spearheaded the curriculum. “Our students brought creativity and passion to set everyday and provided an amazing witness to their faith by their joy, professionalism, and love for one another.”

No Reception originated from students Mark Westin ‘23 and Natalia Roberts ‘23; Westin pitched their story concept at the first Feature Film Pitch Night in October 2021. While O, Brawling Love! was selected to be the inaugural project, No Reception was later greenlit in January of 2023 as the second venture. Directed by Prof. Christopher Riley, production took place over several weeks in summer 2023 in Escondido and surrounding area; over 40 JPCatholic students were involved in the production both on and off set.

The comedy centers on germaphobe Cody Mullen (Alex Campbell), a San Francisco businessman who grew up in the foster care system. Upon the death of his estranged father and the potential for a huge inheritance, he embarks on the journey home to his family’s vast mountain property. When his car breaks down in the wilderness, he is caught up in a feud between two eccentric hermits who give him a new outlook on family.

“No Reception is ridiculous fun,” said Riley. “And it's meaty. It's about things that really matter within our families. I've taken to calling it a family revenge comedy. The production represents a wildly ambitious collaboration between students, faculty, and other industry professionals. Making a feature film is a massively complex project and our students rose to the challenge in every department.”

Through the Feature Film Program, the University produces and distributes a feature film on a regular cycle, with the various stages of production built into the curriculum as electives. Students brought No Reception to the screen through courses such as story development, pre-production, set building, and editing, with seniors taking on significant leadership roles such as director of photography, assistant director, and production designer.

“Working on No Reception was a great opportunity to test my skills in a big setting, and challenge myself to grow as a cinematographer,” said Angelika Sowa ‘23, director of photography. “This experience not only prepared me to work on professional sets but also helped me learn the complexity and art of leadership and project management, which I’m able to apply in every aspect of my life and career.”

Timothy Battle ‘24 was one of JPCatholic’s acting students cast in the film. “Working with Professor Riley was a wonderful experience, and I was able to get a sense of what it’s like working on a project with such a big scope,” he said. “I’m incredibly proud of my classmates who made this film possible.”

Beyond giving students hands-on experience and IMDb credits, the program is also designed with distribution in mind, aligning with the University’s mission to impact audiences through wholesome entertainment. O, Brawling Love! is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and No Reception is expected to be widely distributed in 2025.

JPCatholic is already involved in pre-production on a third film, Pickle for Pickleball. With a story from Anna Engel ‘24, the sports comedy will shoot in June 2025. A proof of concept trailer was filmed this summer and screened before the premiere of No Reception.

This February, JPCatholic announced a formal partnership with Akimbo Studio, a motion design studio founded by alumnus Nate Sjogren ‘11. Based in Boise, ID, the studio has created motion graphics for clients such as Rocket League, TikTok, Vans, Ascension Press, Scott Hahn, The Bible Project, and Word on Fire.

Last year Akimbo launched an in-house Catholic animation counterpart Numa Creative, an initiative to bring the truth and beauty of Catholicism to life through animation. “This department is the fruit of the faith-filled talent from Akimbo's relationship with JPCatholic,” said Sjogren.

Akimbo created an animated prologue for JPCatholic’s feature No Reception

Sjogren also teaches motion design at JPCatholic, and over the years has used his classroom as a recruiting ground for talented students to work for his company. The new partnership formalizes the relationship, offering JPCatholic students first opportunity to apply for new openings.

“This partnership has been many years in the making,” he said. “We are proud to boast that currently over half of our full-time contractors and employees are JPCatholic alumni, all of whom I found in my Motion Graphics courses over the years. The raw talent and amazing people that are the result of this partnership is a gift that keeps on giving!”

Mia Schaller graduated from JPCatholic’s Illustration program in 2022, and her Akimbo internship senior year transitioned into full-time work after graduation. “I’ve been pushed far past where I thought the line of my creativity ended and I have learned so much,” she said. “Working here has been a huge blessing.”

Through Numa Creative, JPCatholic alumni Andrew Inoue, Philip Storniolo, and Josh Martin created illustrations and motion design for Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist, a documentary released in theaters this June. As it so happens, that film also involved alumni Haley Rossi and Ryan Cain, whose cinematography contributed to the film.

Other Akimbo collaborations have even included partnering with JPCatholic’s Feature Film Program; Inoue and Martin both worked with producer James Jacobus to create an animated prologue for No Reception.

To learn more, visit akimbo.tv and numacreative.co

Illustrations from Josh Martin for Jesus Thirsts

Last August, Josh Martin premiered “Elephant Tracks” at JPCatholic’s Senior Project Screening. The 2D animated short film was the product of almost three years of development and production, with Josh leading a team of nearly 30 students and alumni to bring his vision to life. Since premiering, the film has been making its festival run and has received over a dozen festival selections, nominees, and awards in categories such as: Best Animation, Best Student Film, and Best Original Score, raising the bar for JPCatholic’s animation senior projects.

What is Elephant Tracks about, and what sparked the inspiration for this story?
At its core, Elephant Tracks is the story of a mother-son relationship. It’s about a man named Wesley, overcome with guilt and grief, who begins a journey of healing and forgiveness with the help of his childhood stuffed animal come to life. I think those relationships are so important and some of the most tricky to navigate as humans, so I wanted to tell the story of one.

Tell us about the production process. What are the biggest values you took away from your senior project experience?
The process of working and directing such a large group of people was a new experience for me at first, but it was very formative. There is so much talent on our team, and I am so proud of every person that contributed. Having all of these talented students at JPCatholic wanting to work on projects like mine was so valuable. Everyone put in so many hours and so much hard work and the project most definitely wouldn't be what it is without them. I’m especially grateful to Lindsay Newman who came on board to help me refine the story.

What are you doing now, one year after graduation?
Right after graduation I started working with Akimbo Studio. I am working on projects such as Real+True, Bible Project, and Jesus Thirsts doing illustration work. I love using my gifts to give back to God and give glory to him. In addition to that, I am developing a new animated short film I am excited to share more details about soon!

Heidi Ranschaert '24
The Lamppost
Watercolor, gouache & ink
@heidi_ranschaert

Madeline Barcelona '24
Musings
Digital Painting
@peach.heart.art

Sophia Klein '24
The Endurance(book cover redesign project)
Mixed Media
@Sophia_klein_art

Kiki Vorderbruggen '24
Little Scotsman
Digital Painting
@k.i.k.i_l.y.n.n_art

THEOLOGY

Fr. Simon Esshaki:
TikTok Evangelist

With over 600k followers across TikTok and Instagram, Fr. Simon is spreading the Gospel far beyond his home parish

Instagram: @father_simon | TikTok: @father.simon

Instagram: @father_simon
TikTok: @father.simon

Like many other Chaldean Catholic seminarians, Simon Esshaki came to JPCatholic to complete his undergraduate degree (in New Evangelization) followed by an MA in Biblical Theology. Upon graduation in 2015, he was ordained and assigned to St. Michael’s Chaldean Catholic Church in El Cajon. Now, alongside his parish work, his studies to become a canon lawyer through CUA, and the courses he teaches at JPCatholic, he is a popular personality on TikTok and Instagram, sharing the truths of the Faith with an online audience.

How did your education at JPCatholic help prepare you for your current vocation as a priest, and your role as an onlinecreator?
I was blessed to have the opportunity to go to JPCatholic during my seminary years, and it was the perfect environment for me to grow in my faith, as well as learn about Catholic teachings in an authentic way. In addition to the philosophical and theological training was the education I received in media and in the new evangelization. When I joined the seminary and ended up going to JPCatholic as part of my formation program, I never imagined that I would receive many tools to be able to spread the message of the gospel in a way that the people of this culture understand. My education was not just reading books and listening to lectures; it was about how to communicate the message of Christ to a world that is in dire need of it.

When did you start posting content on TikTok, and why do you think your videos resonated with so many people?
When the first lockdown of the pandemic happened in 2020, I realized that, since people are not coming to church, we need to find a way to reach them. I would post on Instagram and YouTube, but I wanted to try everything possible in order to reach as many people as possible, especially the young. One day my teenage cousin told me she saw a video of a Protestant Christian posting Christian content on TikTok, and about the fact that there was a lot of Christian content on the app. This was a shock to me, as I thought the app was only for teenage kids and music videos. I was hesitant at first because, at the time, I can’t remember seeing any other priests posting on the app. I decided to give it a try, and since there was not much of a Catholic presence on the app, and barely any Catholic priests posting, my content was very appealing to people. I would post short videos showing the beauty of the Gospel and I also answered a lot of people’s questions, clarifying some doubts and confusions they had about the Bible and the Catholic faith. I also started doing food reviews and other types of videos which showed to people that I was a normal person and made them more attracted to my content.

What advice would you give to current and future JPCatholic students who strive to use media in service of a New Evangelization?
Be yourself. Be faithful to Jesus and the teachings of the Church, and do it with love and respect. You are the bridge by which Jesus wants to reach people. It will not just be by stating facts and winning arguments, but by winning souls for Jesus. People need the mercy and compassion of Jesus, and if he is calling you to use media to evangelize, you have a duty and responsibility to convey that message to them in a language they would understand, guided by the Holy Spirit, as the first Apostles preached with such zeal and confidence, not in themselves, but in the grace of God which was guiding them.

Deus Creator

A documentary short on the vocation of creatives

Maya Hajdu ‘24 produced and directed this documentary as her senior project, highlighting the spiritual importance and profundity of being creative, as it mirrors Our Ultimate Creator. The project features interviews with Delaney Rayner ‘24 on her passions for photography, graphic design, and making spaces beautiful.

New Study Abroad in Rome

This fall we sent six students to Rome for a full quarter abroad, partnering with St. Thomas More College of Liberal Arts! Students are immersing themselves in the history and culture of the Eternal City, while taking courses like Art and Architecture in Rome, Poetics, and Philosophy of the Human Person.

Study Abroad with NET Ireland

Three students flew to Ireland in August to begin our third year of partnering with NET Ministries for study abroad. Students earn practicum credit for participating in evangelistic outreach including parish retreats, street evangelization, and coffee shop ministry.

Filming a Documentary in Hawaii

This January, Elizabeth (DeWitt) Krog ’24 led a team of students to Hawaii to produce her senior project, a cultural documentary called Ke Aloha. Their student crew spent four days on the beautiful islands of Oahu and Kauai, exploring the lives of Hawaii’s hula masters. We got to enjoy the film premiere at our Senior Project Screening in August!

Los Angeles Quarter

Our L.A. Quarter is hosting eight Pelicans this fall, facilitating internships at Alcon, Family Theater Productions, AMGI, RPM Talent Agency, The Greenhouse, and the Lila Rose Podcast. The program also helps students connect to our alumni network in L.A., and in October Prof. Scoggins hosted another unofficial Alumni Reunion!

Study Abroad in France

Coming in 2025!

Next spring, students will have the opportunity to spend 10 weeks in Normandy, doing mission work with local Catholic parishes through the AcadémieSt. Joan of Arc!

Sundance Film Festival

Since 2018, JPCatholic has offered an elective credit experience traveling to Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. Students and faculty stay network with other filmmakers and attend a wide variety of film screenings at the largest independent film fest in the nation. A unique highlight of the trip is the Windrider Summit, which features panels bringing together Christian universities and filmmakers to discuss how to effectively incorporate Christian values into film. This January, Prof. Nathan Scoggins and Production Manager Kaitlyn Krikorian accompanied eight students to the festival, where they enjoyed films such as Thelma and Dìdi.

Congrats to the Class of 2024!

New Student Orientation

In September, we welcomed 100 new freshmen and transfer students to campus for Orientation. Combined with students who began in Winter, Spring, and Summer, a total of 119 students joined the University this year. The new cohort comes from 25 different states, plus five countries abroad.