OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (April 11, 2025) — Three Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) film students traveled to Turin, Italy, to cover the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games through a collaboration with Scissortail Studios.
OCCC Digital Cinema Production (DCP) program students Abby Carmago, Julian De Leon, and Lanie Hansen partnered with Neil Newby, technical director at Scissortail Studios, and Bruce Maelzer, a high school film teacher with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), to capture global stories and create content for social media, media outlets, and future projects.
“An experience like this is incredible for our students and program,” said Sean Lynch, OCCC professor of digital cinema production. “It puts students’ technical and organizational skills to use in real-world settings and shows how what we teach can lead to a meaningful career.”
Scissortail Studios is a four-year high school film production course created by OKCPS to introduce young students to film and video production as a viable career path.
The Special Olympics, held March 8-15, brought together more than 1,500 athletes from over 100 countries in the Italian Alps, competing in eight winter sports: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, dancesport, figure skating, floorball, short track speed skating, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
“It was incredibly moving to see the global impact of organizations like Special Olympics,” Camargo said. “Networking with genuinely passionate people changed how I view storytelling. It’s about capturing authentic moments of humanity.”
For De Leon, a favorite memory happened off the mountain, as a fan at a soccer match. Experiencing the local culture firsthand made the trip even more unforgettable, he said.
“I know now that I want to tell stories that inspire others,” Hansen said. “What we experienced here, you can’t learn solely from a textbook. You have to live it.”
Of local notoriety, Tulsa athletes Amy Wollmershauser and Dianne Cunningham competed in snowshoeing. Wollmershauser took silver in the 200-meter race; Cunningham placed fifth in the 800-meter.
About Oklahoma City Community College
Since its inception in 1972, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has been the heartbeat of the Metro, dedicated to empowering learners and strengthening communities. Serving more than 18,000 students in credit-seeking courses and more than 5,000 students in non-credit-seeking programs, we are committed to producing leaders. “Student Success, Community Enrichment” is our mission, and we offer 87 degree and certificate programs plus more than 50 micro-credentials that provide a foundation for further education or immediate career readiness. We remain dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, high-quality education that equips students to achieve personal and professional goals. OCCC is more than an institution; we are a community catalyst, fostering growth and success in our city, our workforce, and the lives of our students. Discover your potential at OCCC, where your future is our purpose.
Media Contact:
Sarah Barrow
Executive Director of Communication
405-834-5406
sarah.barrow@occc.edu
