ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Alum Selected for Prestigious Fred Rogers Fellowship
Aidan Vogel ’25 on the set of an indie short film they directed after graduating called "Become the Monsters."
A passion for puppetry helped Aidan Vogel ’25 discover new ways to bring stories to life.Aidan Vogel ’25 wants to create children's television that does more than entertain. They want to tell stories that spark curiosity and make a positive impact on young audiences.
Now, the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Film and Television graduate is one step closer to that goal as one of eight participants nationwide selected for the , a prestigious fellowship designed to help emerging writers build careers in children's media.
For Vogel, the opportunity builds on years of working with children and a growing passion for writing stories that are playful, heartfelt, and educational.
“I want to make sure that the content that I make is not just good to watch, but also healthy to watch,” Vogel says.
Discovering a Passion at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
Vogel grew up outside St. Louis and moved to Chicago to attend ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, initially pursuing Musical Theatre. After one semester, they realized that writing and creating stories interested them more than performing.
They switched to Film and Television, drawn to the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the opportunity to shape stories from the beginning.
While exploring different aspects of production, Vogel began developing a distinctive writing style.
“The more that I wrote, the more that I realized that I gravitated toward more playful and whimsical things with a lot of heart,” Vogel says.
That realization helped Vogel recognize the connection between their creative interests and years of working with children, including teaching STEAM, art, and creative writing to Chicago youth.
At ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, Vogel gained experience collaborating across disciplines. Their senior capstone project, a dance film that received ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½’s Weisman Award, brought together student composers and choreographers.
Another project, "Roots," a musical puppet short, introduced Vogel to combining storytelling with educational content. Vogel contributed script revisions and performance direction to the film, which explores scientific concepts through puppetry.
The experience strengthened their interest in working with educators and researchers to create engaging stories.
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Connections Open Doors
As Vogel explored a career in children's television, they turned to ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½'s alumni network for guidance. Vogel connected with June (Ashana) Thiele ’09, a ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Theatre graduate who had written for the PBS series "Molly of Denali." Thiele shared insights about working in children's television and introduced Vogel to the Writers' Neighborhood fellowship.
During their initial fellowship interview, Vogel discovered that program director Brandea Turner MAM ’12 had also attended ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, earning a master's degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management.
“I've been bumping into other ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ alums throughout my time in the program,” Vogel says.
The fellowship began in September with an in-person gathering in Pittsburgh, followed by virtual workshops with industry professionals. Participants will return to Pittsburgh in November and continue receiving mentorship and career development opportunities.
For Vogel, the experience offers specialized knowledge about writing for different age groups, incorporating educational curricula, and understanding child development.
Building a Future in Children's Media
Vogel currently lives in Chicago, where they work as a nanny while developing their writing portfolio and continuing their work in puppetry. They hope to write for established children's television programs and eventually bring original concepts to the screen.
The fellowship is helping Vogel build relationships and gain confidence in pursuing opportunities.
“I'm really putting a lot of effort into not letting my perfectionism stop me from seizing opportunities and connections,” Vogel says.
Vogel encourages current ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ students to remain active in their creative pursuits after graduation. They credit their college experience with helping them develop the discipline to keep writing without the structure of classes or assignments.
For Vogel, that commitment means continuing to pursue stories that reflect their “silly but sincere” creative voice, while embracing the professional relationships that can help bring those stories to life.