
Press Release
November 7, 2012
Art Club/Media Club members bring back ideas from Chicago trip
Students in Cowley College’s Art Club and Media Club had an opportunity
to tour Chicago and bring back new ideas during their trip to the Windy
City Oct. 31-Nov. 4.
Media Club students attended the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention
held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. They were joined by Media
Club advisors Meg Smith and Adam Borth.
“The purpose of the trip was to broaden the students exposure to media
in general and for them to see how everyone comes together, such as video,
print, broadcast and web,” Smith said.
At the convention, there were breakout sessions as well as hands-on workshops
and discussion groups. A slate of broadcast-oriented speakers were also
showcased, while critiques of each school’s newspaper were offered.
There was also a newspaper job fair.
Media Club students also took part in a Free Food Festival similar to
the one they conducted at the college and also were involved in a midnight
critique session.
In their down time, the students had an opportunity to tour the Willis
Tower (formerly named the Sears Tower) and Navy Pier.
“The trip energized them,” Smith said. “The students received
a lot of positive feedback and the trip served as a good bonding experience.”
Smith and Borth were joined by Media Club students Jessica Holdt, Jacklyn
Anderson, Wendy Brigido, Brittany Collins, Trevor Reichle, Anna Massie,
and Autumn Mumford, who had her thoughts on being a missionary journalist
validated after attending the convention.
“They had a Faith Room at the seminar that reaffirmed my thoughts on
wanting to do missionary journalism,” said Mumford, who serves as a photo
editor/ad manager/designer and writer for the Cowley Press. “The trip
was so fun. I was able to hone my skills to be a photo editor and we all fit
really well together.”
A total of 16 students joined Art Club advisors Mark Flickinger and Mike
Fell on the trip to Chicago. Kris Ripley, digital content provider for
the college, also made the trip.
Art Club students had an opportunity to visit several art galleries,
including the Ann Nathan Gallery, Perimeter Gallery, and Hilligoss Gallery.
They also toured the Art Institute of Chicago and The Field Museum.
“Students saw a broad cross section of examples from all kinds of media,” Flickinger
said. “I wanted them to come back with different ideas of things they
want to try.”
For Kristen Phipps this was her second time taking part in the Art Club’s
trip to Chicago. “Now I have more of an understanding of the artwork and appreciation
of the culture,” Phipps said. “Seeing the diverse work out there
will allow me to go farther and push the boundaries of the artwork people consider
normal.”
Flickinger said it was good for the students to see selling their artwork
is a real possibility.
“Seeing pictures on a wall for sale shows people still love beautiful
objects,” Flickinger said.
Ripley, who designs the majority of the college’s advertisements,
picked up some new ideas on the trip.
“I left feeling more inspired after seeing what kind of art is impacting
people,” Ripley said. “I tried to soak in all the marketing in
the city so I can stay fresh with my designs.”
Flickinger and Fell were joined by Art Club students Alex Bowker, Henry
Englemeyer, Abbey Ferris, Dessiree Harrison, Mark Hunt, John LaFitte,
Emily Loy, Kat Lowe, Samantha Nichols, Kristen Phipps, Amy Sternberger,
Luke Austin, Clarissa Owen, Abby Showalter, Meagan Blevins, and Kiefer
Waltman.
“It was great to immerse ourselves in their culture,” Kat Lowe
said.
The trip to Chicago is one Flickinger values having the opportunity to
share with the students. “It was an experience my students will
always remember,” Flickinger
said.