Tower-Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019 | TOWER 29 T ony Dusko ’02 can tell you how to get to Sesame Street . While teaching fifth grade at Shiloh Hills Elementary School, Dusko united his background in art with his academic training and invented short animations to make learning fun for his students, and teach vital life lessons (i.e. accepting others). An employee at Sesame Street viewed one of Dusko’s cartoons on his YouTube channel ( www.notebookbabies.com ) and wanted it for the show. The rest was history. Today, Dusko frequently creates content for Sesame Street . If you have young children who watch the iconic programming, you’ve seen his work. The animations are time consuming and grueling – it can take up to four hours to produce one second of screen time. As a fulltime teacher and father of two, Dusko doesn’t have much free time. He works nights and summers, often finding inspiration in his students. “Sometimes I’m stuck on a decision and the kids love to vote on it,” he laughed. “Humor is important too, that’s what kids respond to. It has to be funny.” He recently took a year off from teaching to focus on an animation project for Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary, but plans to return to fulltime teaching soon. ANTHONY ( TONY) DUSKO ’02 fine arts D rs. Hawkinson, Hilton, Beougher, and Pichini ’74 met with Dr. Randy Grove and Adelle Schade M’06 to learn about the Conrad Weiser Science Research Institute. The CWSRI focuses on improving collaborative environments for students with university and industry pioneers. Students are provided with a focused and challenging research experience and exposed to professional skill sets within the scientific arena through a seminar series, career pathway presentations and mentored independent research experiences. Students learn advanced laboratory techniques, are mentored by scientist and industry experts, and prepare for science competitions and publications. Left to Right: Dr. Guido Pichini ’74, KU trustee; Dr. Randy Grove, superintendent; Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, KU president; Adelle Schade M’06, teacher; Dr. Warren Hilton, VP for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs; Dr. David Beougher, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.