Students go SMAD for internship

By Caroline Cournoyer, staff writer
Posted on September 13, 2007

SYColeman, will offer a $1,000 scholarship as well as a summer internship to Interactive Media SMAD students beginning in spring 2008.

SYColeman is an interactive communications company, based in Arlington, Va., that serves the Department of Defense as well as the commercial sector.

In order to qualify for the SYColeman Scholarship, students must be rising seniors enrolled in the Interactive Media concentration in SMAD. Aside from the requirements, the applicants will be judged on commitment to the field, academics and financial need, according to Interim Director of SMAD Steve Anderson.

“Commitment means a lot of things,” Anderson said.  “Some of it will be how well they have been doing in Interactive Media classes.  Some students basically get through and do the assignments. Others go out and learn new things or help other students, which shows initiative.”

Anderson said the scholarship was the School of Media Arts and Design’s idea but SYColeman was enthusiastic about the idea and needed no convincing. Anderson hopes the scholarship will benefit students not only financially, but professionally.

“Some student who has really worked hard will receive some money to defer the costs of their education,” he said. “That might make them worry less with how they’re going to pay for college and more for being the best IM student they can become.”

While the scholarship will alleviate some financial concerns for students, the summer internship is designed to help advance their careers in Interactive Media.

Students must be nominated by their professors in order to qualify for the internship.

Each year, beginning this spring, a list of candidates will be given to SYColeman, who will then conduct the final selection. As of now, there is no year requirement, but that could change Anderson said.

The internship currently will not be paid in salary, according to Anderson, but there will be daily compensation covering expenses such as travel and meals.

Regarding the duties, the interns will be assigned a mentor who will guide them through projects and typical tasks of SYColeman employees.

“Positions will generally require interns to work with the classical theory of design or graphic design.” Anderson said. “They may assist in creating the following: brochures, magazines, posters, briefings, 2d and 3d animations, interactive audio visual presentation, video presentations, and internet products such as Web pages from rough sketches, verbal descriptions and conceptualizations.”

There are currently 56 Interactive Media students in SMAD, but only one student will be selected for the scholarship and one for the internship, making competition fierce.

According to Anderson, JMU and SYColeman have always had a very good relationship. Twelve JMU graduates currently work at the company.