Southfield

Specs Howard expands Hall of Fame in 40th year

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

SOUTHFIELD — Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Specs Howard School of Media Arts is inducting five alumni into its Hall of Fame, and is asking the public to pick one of the lucky inductees.

“We have so many successful graduates out there doing some very high-profile jobs, very successful jobs,” said Lisa Zahodne, president and chief operating officer of Specs Howard.

The decision to take it to the people for one of the inductees was based on the changing times.

“We’re really evolving and changing,” Zahodne said, noting the change of the school’s name to reflect its expansion of programs to include graphic design and digital media arts, and the creation of a satellite film campus in Farmington Hills. “Having a popular vote is giving people a say — (between) their peers — of who they feel should be (in the Hall of Fame). You see that a lot in media today, you see it on ‘American Idol’ and things like that. I think people enjoy being able to participate in some way.”

Five years ago, in honor of the school’s 35th anniversary, 35 alumni were inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining two others who were bestowed the honor in the early years of the school. From now on, the school will begin a process of inducting alumni every year.

“We have so many great people, and you don’t want to leave anyone out, and that’s why we want to try to make it an annual thing, because we have so many great grads out there,” she said. “We want to build a sense of a Specs Howard community and alumni.”

Criteria for selecting Hall of Fame inductees takes the individual’s success into consideration.

“We look at what have they done, how long have they been out — we tried to induct people who paid their dues, been in the business awhile and made a mark in the community, not necessarily the Detroit area, but in the media industry,” Zahodne said. “Their street cred and their reputation and things they’ve accomplished and things we felt were above and beyond the normal career in broadcast or media.”

Wayne Joseph of FOX Sports was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1977 after graduating from Specs Howard in 1971.

“It’s an honor anytime to be recognized by your peers when you’ve made some sort of an accomplishment in your chosen field,” Joseph said. “I continue to be honored by the fact that I’m anything in any Hall of Fame. It’s a wonderful honor.”

Joseph said he keeps in touch with those at the school, and is grateful for the educational background it provided him.

“I believe that the school serves an enormous purpose for people who are just starting out in the industry,” he said. “Nothing replaces getting in the ring and getting your nose bloody. They arm people with an excellent education and one that is absolutely transferable, absolutely practical for what they’re going to do. The reputations, the connections the place has built itself up over the years, makes it a tremendous (asset).”

Any graduate may be nominated for the four spots in the Hall of Fame, to be judged by a panel.

The nominees for the popular vote include Sean Baligian, Pat Batcheller, Mike Bradley, Nick Craig, Craig Fahle, Sara Fouracre, Billy The Kidd (Green), Jay Hudson, Allyson Martinek, Bill McAllister, Tracey McCaskill, Rachel Nevada, Tony Ortiz, Jeff Riger, Fay Samona, Bill Stevens, O’Neil Stevens, Pat Sweeting, Scott Vertical and Renee Vitale.

Voting began Sept. 1 at www.specshowardvote.com. The deadline to submit nominations and vote is Sept. 30. Inductees will be announced this fall. For more information about the school, visit www.specshoward.com.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1108.