By Ella Weidenhammer ’27, staff writer
In the department of Design, Media and Technology (DMT), there are many different directions students may take.
Autumn Garges started out a little bit different than the department’s average digital media student. She began as an education major and Spanish minor. During her sophomore year, she decided to make the change to digital media while keeping her Spanish minor which turned out to be part of her proudest accomplishments while attending LVC.
“Changing my major and excelling in a program that was new territory was one of them, as well as the team championships our women’s track and cross-country teams were able to win during my senior year,” Garges said. “Contributing to those victories is such an amazing feeling.”
The senior captain played a major role in the success of the cross-country team, winning the program’s first Middle Atlantic Conference Championship as well as being the anchor for the women’s 4×800 team that brought home gold last spring.
“I was especially proud of one specific relay my junior year – we were head-to-head with Messiah in a 4×800 meter track relay,” Garges said. “I was the last teammate to get the baton side-by-side with Messiah, and I was able to hold off their runner and bring LVC the gold. That is a moment I will cherish forever. My sport has taught me so much about myself and my abilities. The mental aspect of running has shown me that my range of abilities is so much higher when I believe in myself.”
Being a part of the cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field teams, Garges has gathered a bunch of memories. Every year, Garges and the cross-country team took a road trip to Ohiopyle where the team rented a house to cook meals, do workouts, and play games with everyone. She is quick to say these trips were the best.
“Coach O’Brien, my cross country and track coach, has had the biggest impact on my experience.” Garges said. “Before I even arrived at LVC, he saw abilities in me that I didn’t even believe in myself. I will always appreciate the way he supported me and helped me progress in my sport in ways I never would have imagined.”
Garges helped to create content for the teams’ social media accounts as well as to create content for her own personal accounts. She’s even had the opportunity to collaborate with bigger brands.
“I have always loved taking photos and videos and using editing software to turn it into some form of storytelling.” Garges said. “When I realized I could turn that into a career, I experimented with many forms of content and turned that into a job.”
After graduation, Garges will intern at Turnstone Creative Marketing Agency in Bethlehem, while also continuing her freelance content creation.
“I would tell my teammates not to wish away their time,” she said. “I can think back to days when I really did not want to be running in negative temperatures, or I was so nervous to race, and I just couldn’t wait to graduate, but the time truly flies by so fast. By the time it’s almost over, I’m wishing I could do it all over again.”