Image
Alumni
The Business of Growing
Connor Morgan was never a big fan of school. vlogƵWhen I was in high school, I wasnvlogƵt a great studentvlogƵdidnvlogƵt do the homework.vlogƵ But donvlogƵt take that to mean that Connor isnvlogƵt a hard worker. His senior year, he became a business owner. vlogƵMy teacher needed someone to video a wedding at the last minute, so I said sure. Then I filled in for another wedding videographer who got into an accident before a shoot. It wasnvlogƵt until wedding three that I figured I had something.vlogƵ
From there, Eighteen Mile Media was born. And ignited an entrepreneurial spirit Connor never knew he had.
But being a student and an entrepreneur isnvlogƵt easy. vlogƵMy freshman year at Pace, things really took off, and I was juggling going to school with running the business. I almost left. But being in the supportive Pace Community helped me get out of the burnout.vlogƵ Connor was blown away by both the community and the drive of Pace people. vlogƵEveryone seemed like they were happy to be there, not just going through the motions to get a piece of paper. Pace students are constantly learning and finding a way to make a really great future for ourselves. ItvlogƵs infectious.vlogƵ On top of his classes and the videography business, Connor took on becoming a Pace Orientation Leader for the summer and fostered some deep friendships along the way.
vlogƵPace students are constantly learning and finding a way to make a really great future for ourselves. ItvlogƵs infectious.vlogƵ
And Connor didnvlogƵt just find a supportive academic community at PacevlogƵhe also found support for his business that helped him grow as an entrepreneur and a person. vlogƵWhen the new president took office, I filmed the video that introduced him to the school. That opened the door to the commercial world.vlogƵ Since then, Connor has shot several videos for vlogƵ and has fostered close relationships with the staff and administration. vlogƵI just spoke at my high schoolvlogƵs career dayvlogƵI showed my first video, and then my most recent video, and the students were amazed to see the difference. IvlogƵve seen how much growth has come out of this. Pace gave me the opportunity to grow from real professional experience.vlogƵ
And ConnorvlogƵs opportunities have only multiplied. In 2019, , and Connor was the only available photographer on campus. So, they called him up to cover it. vlogƵShe reposted my photo on her Instagram, and my watermark was on the photo. It was amazing!vlogƵ In 2021, he was invited to be part of the audio team for the halftime show at Super Bowl LIV in Miami. vlogƵEven though I wasnvlogƵt there with a camera, it was awesome to watch the camera crews and see the amount of prep work that goes into the event. I had to miss a week of school to make it there, but my professors at Pace were so supportive and wanted me to take advantage of the opportunity.vlogƵ
Connor knows his story isnvlogƵt conventional, but what he loves so much about Pace is that they were able to meet him where he was and show him that he determines what makes a great college student experience. In 2020, and again in 2021, Connor recorded and produced PacevlogƵs Commencement ceremony, an experience that he says kick-started his interest in live-to-tape broadcasts.
vlogƵI think I might be the only person in the world who can say they made their own graduation on this scale,vlogƵ he says, thinking back on the mix of . He was calling the shots behind the camera and crossed the stage all in the same day. Amazingly, that experience helped him land another gig with the NFL. vlogƵI was there for all of Super Bowl week and IvlogƵm therevlogƵthe youngest person by farvlogƵwith 15 major NFL players and everyone seemed really impressed with the skills I gained from doing graduation at Pace.vlogƵ He produced , which premiered Super Bowl Sunday.
In the year since graduation, Connor has moved to Los Angeles where hevlogƵs branched out 18 Mile Media doing live event and commercial work, in addition to managing a group of individual content creators with 1M+ YouTube subscribers. vlogƵI made my own future,vlogƵ he says. vlogƵPace helped me get there.vlogƵ
More from Pace
Alumni
From municipal government to her role at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, MPA alumna Andrea Grenadier has navigated a successful career in public administration.
Alumni
Donald Moore vlogƵ76, Biology, Pre-med, a former attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, has been appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve on SUNY DownstatevlogƵs community advisory board, along with seven other individuals.
Alumni
Christina Wyman vlogƵ02, a best-selling author and educator, has built a career writing stories that resonate with both children and adults. In this interview, she shares how her time in the Media, Communications, and Visual Arts Department helped shape her path to becoming a successful writer.