Film production student and art alum build community in Fargo-Moorhead

Minnesota State Moorhead alum, Amanda Frost, and current Moorhead student Alessa Herrera Grant are attempting to answer the question, “Why Fargo-Moorhead?”.

After graduating from Moorhead in 2021, Amanda is now the coordinator of , an initiative to keep graduates in the Fargo-Moorhead area by strengthening connections to the community.

Alessa, a second-year film production student, began interning with CampusFM this past summer.

Alessa was drawn to the program because she gets to plan, film, and produce her own content for CampusFM’s Instagram account. She says, “I knew that I would be able to get experience in production from this.”  

BFA in Film Production 

During the 12-week period, Alessa and other student interns learn about social media and content creation through guest speakers, as well as Amanda and other instructors' lessons.

The following week, the students are tasked with creating content that focuses on that weeks’ lesson. 

CampusFM is one of many programs under the company Folkways. Their main goal is to create a sense of belonging for those in the F-M community.

Amanda says, “There is something for everybody in F-M, the cost of living is great here, and there are many job and networking opportunities available in the area, which is great for students.”

Both Amanda and Alessa are Fargo-Moorhead natives. 

Alessa says, “I felt stuck at first, but after joining CampusFM ,I realized that the F-M area is pretty cool. There are so many different events to attend and places to see that CampusFM introduced me to.”

In addition, Alessa and Amanda both agree that their time at Minnesota State Moorhead shapes how they approach their work with CampusFM.

“The skills I learned at Minnesota State Moorhead—composition, branding, and community-building—translate directly into my daily work,” says Amanda.

Alessa’s time at Moorhead is showing her how to create and be in a community. 

“Moorhead helped me when starting CampusFM, because I was able to branch out and build a new network with my fellow interns and the people on our social media channels. The knowledge I’ve gained from this internship has been unbeatable.” 

Amanda hopes that university students and community members recognize the positive potential of Folkways’ programs and the Fargo-Moorhead community.

Since beginning her work with Folkways, Amanda has been able to see that the impact of their programs goes beyond professional growth; it’s always about connection.

“I’ve been a part of many projects where I get to see the impact on our community and it has been surreal,” says Amanda.

Today, CampusFM stands as a bridge between students and the community.

Moorhead students and alumni like Alessa and Amanda are proving that education goes far beyond the classroom. By combining their Dragon experiences with real-world opportunities, they’re helping shape the Fargo-Moorhead community.