INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WORKING FOR VISCOM STUDENTS

For the first time in O'More College of Design history, the Visual Communications department had 10 students working in their internship program this summer. "Our internship program is an essential part of our overall program," said Jeff Fuqua, Chair of the Visual Communications department. "We place our students in an area of the industry that matches their interest whether it be in advertising, publication design or whatever they choose. We want them to get hands-on experience, build contacts and receive the advantage working in the industry provides."

Students worked for a variety of companies in the Middle Tennessee area including McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations, Courtney Davis Inc., Southern Exposure Magazine, Idea Art, Funny Pages Productions and Double Diamond Design. Outside the area, one student landed an internship in New York City with the Food Network and another worked for Hurd Publishing in Martha's Vineyard.

"Our intern hosts represent some of the top companies in the design industry," said Fuqua. "We are grateful they are willing to invest in the future of the industry by accepting our students. Some of our students have ended up being offered full-time jobs at the end of their internship which is something we are very proud."

Students complete the 180 hour non-pay internship between their junior and senior year. If you are interesting in being an intern host for the summer of '08, please contact Jeff Fuqua at jfuqua@omorecollege.edu.

O'MORE COLLEGE AWARDS $400,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO SKILLSUSA WINNERS

O'More College of Design recently awarded $400,000 to 13 students from across the State of Tennessee who competed in the SkillsUSA competition held at the Chattanooga Convention this year. First place winners received $40,000 followed by $30,000 for second and $20,000 for third.

Among the recipients for Advertising Design was first-place winner Jordan Veirs from Centennial High School, second-place winner Kieffer McBride of Beech High School, and third-place winner Mike Von Wahlde of Independence High School. Winners in the Graphics Communications division are Carla Scarbrough of Siegal High School, who won first place, followed by Jeff Beddingfield of Byington-Solway Vocational Center in second place, and Bremen Hickey of Smyrna High School in third place. In the Web Page Design category, first place went to Don Humphreys and Tyler Sherlin from Cleveland High School, second went to Josh Shaw and Josh Goode of Polk County High School, and third was given to Sam Davidson and Luke Kerkhove of Wilson Central High School. Jordan Conley won first place in 3-D Visualization from William Blount Vocational School.

"O’More is making a commitment to draw the best in-state talent to our Visual Communications program, and we believe that the SkillsUSA winners are the cream of the crop," said Chris Lee, dean of enrollment at O'More College. "This is our first year to make these awards, and we plan on doing this again in the years to come. We look forward to seeing many of the winners on our campus in the coming years."

SkillsUSA is a national non-profit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.