What Students Say

“The Lyons Lab showed me anything is possible as long as you’re serious and determined to create anything you desire. Also it showed me that there are people who support my ideas and creations.” -Jay Berry ’25

“Exploring the arts in this setting was fun and intellectually stimulating, pushing us to solve a lot of problems creatively. Annie Kloppenberg provided constant support and belief. She gave us the opportunity to work with industry professionals, bringing them in as mentors and collaborators. The benefit of those mentors is hard to put into words. They were just as committed as the students involved and brought tremendous advice and structure throughout. I am grateful for the relationships forged during this process.” -Josh Kaplan ’25

“The Lyons lab taught me so much about translating the arts into real life. Working on IN TANDEM was the first time I felt like I found the thing I want to do forever. I loved everything about planning the show, and I was trying to figure out how to translate it to a real career. [Project Mentors] took the time to listen to what I liked about my work and suggest career paths that may suit me. I would say my career goals have completely changed. I now know what I actually want to do and how to get there. I have never had so much direction in life.” -Lee Trombly ’26

“Producing a show is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s a process that requires attention to even the smallest of details. This project would not have been possible without the help of the Lyons Lab. It helped me gain experiences that will have a lasting effect on my perception of artistic performance. IN TANDEM would still be a dream without the Lyons Lab. With the help of Annie and the Lyon’s Lab’s resources and support, we were able to turn that dream into a goal by being guided to make a detailed plan.” -Jack Richard ’25

“It showed me that there’s a wide community of engaged and motivated artists at Colby, and that there are so many opportunities to collaborate. I would describe the lab as a melting pot of creativity and self-driven individuals and one the brightest highlights of my Colby experience” -Rafi Aronson ’27

“Being a Cinema Studies minor I love film and in the classroom, I have learned so much about its history and function. Having this opportunity to produce an actual film at a high standard of work left no doubt in my mind this is something I need to and will pursue in my life. The most important piece I learned in this process was how critical working as a team is to ensure everything runs smoothly. This starts with our team of students but especially with our mentors and the Lyons Lab who helped make this possible, I can not thank them enough for this life-changing experience.” -Andrew Iferenta ’24