SCA STUDENTS “MOTIVATED” TO EXCEL

Bold, daring, determined and caring – that’s Karen Gilliam’s motto for life. The beginning of the Professional Development Day was the dawn of pursuing a life of excellence.

Instead of coffee to get your morning going, Karen Gilliam awakened students by having them stand up and “Stamp it Out” to Donna Summer.

Ms Gilliam encouraged students to “Live a Life of Excellence” by explaining what that means, why it’s important and how they are going to get there. Eight is her magic number. She demonstrated her eight ideas for excellence. Then she moved on to her eight areas of your life to work on to excel in everything that you do. In Ms. Gilliam’s plan to pursue a life of excellence you must:

1. Write down your accomplishments daily.
2. Find a mentor, someone who lives to make sure your dreams come true.
3. Avoid critical and negative people, surround yourself with positive influencers.
4. Take pride in your appearance.
5. Take your failures in stride and move on.
6. Live your life with the end result in mind.
7. Accept the things in life that cannot be changed.
8. Write down your definition of success.

Each area of your life must be defined and they are:

1. Spiritual Life
2. Family Life
3. Professional Life
4. Personal Development
5. Financial Life
6. Health
7. Community Involvement
8. Social Life

To keep the students motivated and the spirit within them alive Karen had the students dance their disappointments away to “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige. Tomorrow morning they are going wake up and look at themselves in a whole new way, they are going to like what they see in the mirror.


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Debra A Hooper
Vice President/Director
School of Communication Arts
@ Digital Circus

4 P’s of MARKETING: PRODUCT, PLACEMENT, PRICING, & PROMOTION

Students decide their fate: Miserable or Marketable?

Laurie Muriel, Co-Director of the Professional Services Department spoke about being miserable or marketable at the quarterly Professional Development Day this week.

She shared with the students her philosophy of not waiting until your financial situation is critical, but to look ahead and plan the future with purpose. Discussion topics were about opportunities, missed opportunities and making your own opportunities. Career marketing with the “4 P’s of Marketing: Product, Placement, Pricing, and Promotion” was the highlight of the presentation.

The Product is YOU. Ms Muriel shared with students the importance of Career Marketing, “packaging” yourself and how it affects the hiring manger’s decision. Placement is about being in the right place at the right time, or creating your own opportunities. Pricing is not to underestimate or over estimate your worth. Promotion is about creating an “Elevator Pitch”. An “elevator pitch” is a brief introduction about who you are, what you do, resulting in an action such as setting up an appointment or handing out a business card. Students developed their own “elevator pitches” and delivered them to their peers on the big stage. It was great practice and a skill that will be needed by all students as they network and break into their respective careers.



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Debra A Hooper
Vice President/Director
School of Communication Arts
@ Digital Circus

SCA TALENT “ROCKED THE HOUSE” WITH 17 DAZZLING ACTS

School of Communication Arts held their first talent show, hosted by the student government, MODIV this week. The much publicized and highly anticipated event filled the School’s theatre with standing room only.

MODIV had welcomed and encouraged all areas of performance creativity. Most of the acts were musical talents, such as acoustic performances, vocalists, bands and solo artists representing all genres of music.

One unexpected yet relished performance was that of “The Fish Stix”, a group of Audio and Film instructors who joined forces to present a compelling opening act. Their kick off song was from The Beastie Boys, which got the audience energized and “dancing in the aisles”.

Prizes were awarded for first, second and third place winners, which were funded by MODIV’s many fund raisers. SCA’s most popular student band, “Hidden Movement”, took first place performing two original songs earning them the first place large cash prize. Second place belonged to Johnny Carroll, who played the keys and sang an Anthony Hamilton piece which earned him two 311/Ziggy Marley tickets. Le’Shawn Troy-Rogers took third place with an original song.


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Debra A Hooper
Vice President/Director
School of Communication Arts
@ Digital Circus

SCA In FULL BLOOM at SPRING GALLERY SHOW

An array of budding talent blossomed in the theater of SCA this week. There were flash designs, student films and maquettes OH MY! The Gallery Show proved to be “a sight to behold” with the use of vivid colors, exciting motion graphics, spectacular animations, entertaining student films and “wake you up” sounds designs.

Professor George LaChevallier entertained the audience with his quick wit and humorous stories while Professor Lena Corter handed out awards for categories from Electronic Media to Sound Design. The work shown at each gallery show continues to get better and better, which tells me that School of Communication Arts has the best talent in the country!


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Debra A Hooper
Vice President/Director
School of Communication Arts
@ Digital Circus

Happenings in May @ School of Communication Arts

May 6th, 5-8pm
Spring 2009 Gallery Exhibition

The Exhibition showcases juried creative works of current students in Animation, Film, Audio Production, Advertising Design, Web Design, Photography and Interior Design.


May 7th, 9am-3pm
Professional Development Day & First SCA Talent Show

School of Communication Arts is very excited to be holding their first Talent Show hosted by the student government, MODIV.

Motivational speaker, Karen Gilliam will speak at 10am. A workshop by Laurie Muriel will be held at 11am on “How to Get a Part-time Job in These Challenging Economic Times”. This is in preparation for the upcoming Part-time Job Fair.


May 11th, 10:30am
Local Rock Band Defines the Importance of Branding
Ariel Down is Setting the Rules for “Breaking In” with Their Ideas About Music Promotion

Experience a national touring independent rock band based out of Raleigh, NC.


May 14th, 2-4pm
SCA Part-Time Job Fair

Are you looking for a part time job? Local non-industry businesses will be on campus advertising open positions and doing on-site interviews.


May 27th, 10:30am
Multimedia Expert to Present: “How to Prepare your Career for the Unexpected”

Plan to be entertained. Greg Carter’s work is wild and vivid.

Mr. Carter has designed print media for Reebok and Sports Illustrated and multimedia for Discovery Channel. He has worked on projects for Warner Brothers and the American Lung Association.


All events are open to the public and there is no cost. Media are welcome and encouraged to participate.

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Debra A Hooper
Vice President/Director
School of Communication Arts
@ Digital Circus

Local Rock Band, ARIEL DOWN, Defines the Importance of Branding

SCA students will hear from members of Ariel Down … a national touring independent rock band based out of Raleigh, NC. They will spell out THEIR formula for success.

Members of Ariel Down will define the importance of branding whether it’s for yourself or a company. One of their goals is to help students educate themselves on how to be a business.

The band incorporated Autumn Rain Records, its own production company and record label in 2003. Each band member plays a critical function in the day-to-day operation and business of the band. Band members take on roles such as: marketing director, booking agent, public relations specialist, web designer, financial advisor and even tour bus driver.

The band prides themselves on their hard work, relentless attitude and high energy. Critics such as Benjamin Ray claim, “Ariel Down is one of the hardest working Indie bands in the country.”

“Shine” was released in February, 2009. The bands debut album, “Vision” was released in July 2006. Both records were recorded by John Plymale (Squirrel Nut Zippers, Meat Puppets) at Overdub Lane in Durham, NC and mastered by Greg Calbi (Springsteen, Dylan, Bowie) at Sterling Sound in NYC.

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Debra A Hooper
Vice President/Director
School of Communication Arts
@ Digital Circus