Claudia 'CeCe' Martinez

Dreaming big has never been a problem for Claudia Martinez and being a student at Columbia College has only aided in her efforts to continue those dreams.  Claudia, who also goes by CeCe, is now in her senior year in the television department studying Writing and Producing.  She is a dedicated and a dillegent student, who realizes that being successful does not come without hard work.  Last year she was the Production Designer for the Student Production Award from the Television Academy, the producers of the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards Freq Out with Frequency TV and has proudly reclaimed that title again this year.

Claudia has been fortunate to experience some incredible internships but one of her most memorable experiences she says would have to be this past summer.  Not to say that each internship that she has had hasn’t been incredibly valuable; interning at WCIU, helping with editing, pre production and researching is very impressive.  But this particular opportunity was almost one that never was.  The hit show on NBC called “The Voice” was casting here in Chicago for one of their open auditions.  They also needed production assistants, this was CeCe’s calling.  She went to the site and applied, she was essentially told "thanks, but no thanks."  A little disappointed but not discouraged, Martinez thought if it wasn’t this, it would be something else.  A few days later she ended up getting an email asking her to be a part of the Chicago team.  She did such a fantastic job that they asked CeCe to join them in New York, Orlando and Los Angeles. What is even more impressive, is that Claudia was personally requested to be a personal assistant to the judges while they were in LA.  Talk about a flattering gesture.  She said the best part about this experience and perhaps the reason why they became such a fan of hers was because she knew exactly what she was doing and was proactive.  All the hard work in class and hands on experience that she learned here at Columbia paid off and she was able to use this knowledge in the real world.  CeCe helped with everything from registration tables and managing the holding room to striking and lighting. 

During all this CeCe said she felt part of a team and gained a new sense of confidence.  She now knows what the expectations of the real world are and the level of intensity things are at once she graduates in Spring 2012. She is Claudia Martinez and she is a go getter!