Michael Op't Hof

radford_home_features_mike

Winchester, VA
Senior
Major
: Production Technology in the School of Communication in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences
Campus Involvement:
Member of Broadcasting Club and Snowboarding Club

At a young age, Michael Op't Hof discovered his interest in radio and film.

“When I was kid I used to have a toy that had a microphone and a tape player, and it would transmit to an AM frequency within my house,” said Op'tHof. “I loved that thing. Being on the radio was a dream of mine.”

By the time he got to high school, film had caught his attention.

“I had a little USB flip camera, and I started making films with my friends,” he said. “I eventually put it to use to bring visuals to my high school DECA club. I completed a few projects that placed in the top five at the national conference. It made me feel like my video skills could be put to good use.”

As a junior in high school he first learned about Radford University through a college fair in his hometown. He was excited to learn that Radford offered a media studies major and decided to visit campus.

“Once I visited Radford I couldn't turn down the beautiful campus and vibrant atmosphere,” he said. “I also wanted more concentrated classrooms. I believe you learn much more effectively in that environment. It felt like home immediately. It seemed to be a very progressive school full of students and professors with a passion for education.”

After accepting an offer for admission to Radford University, Op’t Hof began looking for ways to continue pursuing his interests.

“I learned about WVRU, the campus radio station, through a club fair,” he said. “The guys at the table were really cool and handing out free CDs. Music is such a big aspect of my life, so the opportunity to share my knowledge and taste with the campus community is so rewarding. That also goes to show that Club Fair is one of the most important events at Radford.” 

Oft’Hof currently hosts’ radio shows for WVRU Mondays at 11 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 10 p.m.

After graduation, Op’t Hof plans to move to Richmond to work for a production company. From there he hopes to gain enough experience to work his way up to the film making industry.

“Ultimately, I want to make media that has a voice and resonates with people,” he said. “I don't want to just create eye candy, but I want to create media with purpose. I think everyone wants to have a voice, and I think film is my way of effectively doing that.”