Month: March 2023

The Digital Media Institute partnered with Southwood High School and Huntington High School for an afterschool program in Shreveport, Louisiana. In the program, students were taught the building blocks for modeling, texturing, and animating their own characters using Blender. Blender is a 3D computer graphics software tool that can be used to make animations, motion graphics, 3D models, and much more.

DMI was able to conduct this free afterschool program with a grant from the Montgomery Jim – Charles T Beaird Foundation. DMI developed a four-week curriculum that ran from February to March. Although the program has already concluded, DMI is hoping to expand the program to additional schools in Louisiana and Texas.

The next session for the afterschool program begins April 10, 2023.

Students attending the Digital Marketing and Design associate degree program at the Digital Media Institute began their paid internships with local printing company Paragon Press in Shreveport, Louisiana. The internships were organized by DMI instructor Mirla Enriquez and began March 6. The students will conclude their internship after two months of part-time work.

During their internship, students will work in several departments at Paragon Press including their Prepress, Mail, Digital Marketing, Bindery, and Customer Service departments. Some of the skills the students will learn include color profiling, use of digital imaging software, machine operations, analyzing user engagement metrics, and overview of job flow through the various stages of the printing process.

Other activities include developing and implementing digital marketing campaigns, identifying trends, SEO optimization, and using web analytics tools like Google Analytics. Students interning at Paragon Press are learning a variety of career-oriented skills that will help prepare them for entry into the workforce.

The Digital Media Institute hosted a Preview Day on March 18, 2023 for high school students to tour the campus and talk to faculty and DMI students. Touring students were shown the building, which includes our two classrooms, Flex Lab, studio, and breakroom.

All hands were on deck for Preview Day. Touring students met the support faculty, including DMI recruiters. Instructors Greg Nelson and Mirla Enriquez discussed their programs, while DMI students showcased their work and process. Adjunct Instructor Baron Capers explained the 3D printer and tech in the Flex Lab. Teaching Assistant Cameron Nichols, alongside a student, showed off the Motion Capture set-up in the 1500 sq. ft. green screen cyclorama studio.

The Digital Media Institute is looking forward to hosting more open house opportunities in the future. Thank you for stopping by!