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There’s a tradition among students who perform as �鶹��ý����’s mascot, Rocky the Red Hawk: it’s a secret until they cross the graduation stage wearing bright yellow talons to make the “big reveal.” But for one member of Team Rocky that unveiling will be happening on multiple streaming platforms when he unmasks on the television series The College Tour.

“This is the coolest kind of reveal for Rocky that you could do,” says Sean Risch ’22, who graduated in January with a degree in Theatre Studies. He represents �鶹��ý���� along with 18 other students and alumni in the University’s hour-long episode that begins running in April on , IMDbTV and additional channels. “Being Rocky was a personal thing and sharing that with America is just … awesome.”

Ahead of the national rollout, �鶹��ý���� is offering a sneak peek of the program – and Rocky – introducing the cast and taking viewers behind the making of The College Tour at a premiere on Thursday, March 24. The watch party will include a reception beginning at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the School of Communication and Media and an in-person and live-streamed program (on the University’s ) at 7 p.m. in the School of Communication and Media’s Presentation Hall.

Behind the scenes: Watch what it’s like to be part of The College Tour as a crew films �鶹��ý���� students and President Jonathan Koppell.

A crew from The College Tour visited campus last October, taping 20 different segments that cover all things �鶹��ý����, including campus life, academics, internships, research and service opportunities. “The crew let me be my complete, authentic self,” recalls Nikki-James Soto. “I like to try new things and meet new people, but I didn’t know what I was walking into.”

Soto is a senior with a double major in Psychology and Elementary Education and, as part of �鶹��ý����’s 4+1 program, will earn her Master of Arts in Teaching next year. Putting herself in front of a camera wasn’t part of her college plans.

“I want to be a teacher. I want to work with kids. I never thought that I’d get a chance to do any sort of production,” Soto says. “But I had such a fun time and was able to have friends be a part of it too. This is something we’re going to have a memory of forever.”

Produced by Emmy-nominated and award-winning TV producers, The College Tour helps prospective students around the country travel virtually across America for an inside look at colleges and universities. �鶹��ý����’s episode is part of Season 4 on Amazon’s streaming service, IMDb TV, on The College Tour’s app (Android, iOS) and website; Roku, Apple TV, LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony, Philips Smart TV, Amazon FireTV, Android TV and �鶹��ý����’s .

PHOTO GALLERY: Meet Some of the Stars of The College Tour

Watch the livestream of the episode’s premiere on March 24 on .

Register to attend the watch party .

Story by Staff Writer Marilyn Joyce Lehren. Photos by University Photographer Mike Peters. Videos by Videographer Christo Apostolou.