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The Online Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Siena Heights University
Siena Heights Graduate Enjoys Distinguished Career as Director of Photography
Darryl E. Smith casts a long shadow standing 6 feet, 8 inches tall. However, that shadow pales in comparison to the one he has cast as a director of photography in Hollywood.
The 1985 Siena Heights graduate has an impressive list of credits and clients, including MTV, Disney, Coca-Cola, CBS, the NFL Network and HBO. The owner of his own production company, Darryl E. Smith Productions, for the past 14 years, he said his path to success was a winding one. And his starting point was Siena Heights University.
Originally recruited to play basketball at Siena by former coach Ben Braun, Smith said Siena Heights was the only school that showed interest in him as a student—not just as a basketball player.
Siena Heights Student Gilius Blinstrubas ’17 Follows in his Family’s Entrepreneurial Footsteps
His grandfather started one.
His father started one.
So, it’s not that unusual that Gilius (pronounced GIL-us) Blinstrubas (far right) decided to start his own business. What is unusual is that Blinstrubas started not one—but two—businesses before beginning his junior year at Siena Heights University.
“It takes a special person to do it,” Blinstrubas said. “I really enjoy business. I spend a lot of time reading business books, articles and talking to people about business. It doesn’t feel like work.”
The grandson of Lithuanian immigrants who came to the U.S. during World War II, Blinstrubas’ grandfather started his own tool-and-die business, and his father a law firm. Their entrepreneurial example inspired him to start his first business in 2013 as a freshman at SHU.
Siena Heights University was one of 28 Michigan colleges and universities that earned Gold Level status in Veteran-Friendly School program created by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The program recognizes institutions of higher learning for their dedication to student veterans and dependents utilizing their G.I. Bill and other educational benefits.
SHU Again Recognized for Online Veterans Program
Siena Heights University was again recognized as 2015 Best Online Programs for Veterans by U.S. News and World Report. SHU is ranked the following in this year’s listing:
21st overall (tied),
Second in Michigan,
First among Michigan private institutions.
Last year, Siena Heights was ranked 47th in the same category. To qualify for the Best Online Programs for Veterans rankings, the 737 online degree programs featured first had to be among the top 75 percent of schools ranked in the 2015 Best Online Programs rankings.
Ripper Presents at Center for Scholastic Inquiry Conference
SHU Assistant Professor of Business Matthew Ripper had two papers accepted by and presented at the October 2015 international conference in Charleston, S.C., on behalf of the Center for Scholastic Inquiry. His two papers are entitled “Building an Authentic Workplace Community Through Social Media” and “Community Benefits Districts: Nonprofit Governance Using Social Capital and Cross-organizational Collaboration.”
