MTV's next VJ could be finalist from Salisbury

Madison Nock has one motto: Go for it. 

The 20-year-old Salisbury University student is one of 12 finalists vying to be MTVU's next video jockey. Competition finalists were announced by the network via Facebook video on Oct. 10. On Oct. 23, the winner will be chosen and Nock is crossing her fingers it's her. 

"I really want to be in the entertainment industry," she said. "That’s been a dream of mine for awhile now.”

MTVU is a sister station to MTV. According to its Facebook page, the station is targeted at college students, reaching more than 750 campuses. The channel also reaches more than 700 college communities, delivered right to the household cable box.

All told, the channel has a reach of about nine million students, according to its Facebook page. 

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Nock, originally from Pasadena, Maryland, is a second semester sophomore majoring in communication arts with a focus in media production. This semester marks the end of her first year at SU after she transferred from West Virginia Wesleyan College. 

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This is the first time Nock is able to put all her energy into pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Previously, it was on the back burner to sports, she said, but the student's sports career came to an end after her fifth concussion. 

Nock played lacrosse, field hockey and basketball growing up and went on to play Division II lacrosse at West Virginia Wesleyan College. When she decided to transfer to SU, the student continued to play lacrosse on the university's club lacrosse team. 

After her fifth concussion diagnosis, Nock knew her full focus could be on her creative passions: entertainment, singing and theater. 

She first heard about MTVU's VJ competition from a campus-wide bulletin email. Nock decided to give it a shot and got all dressed up for the audition in September, she remembers.

Auditions were held outside the Guerrieri Academic Commons on SU's campus. Participants were asked to say a few simple phrases on camera, including details like name, school and major. Other items including introducing MTVU or a specific song. 

Nock remembers choosing to introduce singer songwriter Khalid's "Young Dumb & Broke."  

"Hi, this is "Young Dumb & Broke" by Khalid and you're watching MTVU," Nock recited, remembering her audition lines. 

After auditioning, the waiting began, and just this week was when Nock was surprised with finding out she was a finalist.

"It was a really, really good experience to be able to do this and be a finalist," she said. "Really humbling and made me really feel like I can actually do this if I keep trying doing things like this.”

Now, she's eagerly waiting the announcement of the winner.

The winner of the VJ competition receives up to three projects paying $500 each, she said. These hosting jobs can vary. Nock described it as a mini internship, having the opportunity to work with MTVU and the SU community.   

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But whether or not Nock is the winner, the college student thinks she gave it her all.

“I definitely think I was myself. I was very bubbly, I was energetic in the audition. And I felt really upbeat," she said. 

Working with MTVU could open doors for Nock. While she's unsure where her career path might lead, she said her dream job would be working on a Carnival Cruise Line ship as a playlist production performer. 

The college student goes on a cruise yearly and becomes inspired watching the ship's performers.

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Along with college classes and pursuing her dreams in the entertainment career, Nock spends her time working as a server at Bull On the Beach on 94th Street in Ocean City. She recently adopted a dog rescued from Hurricane Harvey, which gets her out walking around campus or visiting the dog park. 

“I love going on walks with her," Nock said. 

As for Nock's advice to any college student who may get the opportunity to compete for an MTVU VJ position, she has one simple response. 

“Do it, go for it. Don’t be nervous," Nock said, right in line with her personal mantra. 

On Twitter: @The_MegRyan