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Career Pathway Newsletter: 

 

Arts and Communication

A Career in the Arts
 
If you enjoy expressing yourself through design, literature or language, then a career in Arts and Communication may be for you. There are many well-paying careers that fall under this broad umbrella. 

Explore the many pathways in Arts and Communication to find out what interests you most. The possibilities are endless. 
Wooster High School & the Arts
The Wooster High School Drama Club has a strong participation of 32 members, all committed to putting together strong performances throughout the year. Todd Patterson who started as the Drama Club Advisor in 1994 and ran the club until 2005, took a five-year hiatus but returned in 2010 to continue the work he loves. His daughter Emily has taken over as the head advisor and he is the director's assistant. 

As directors, they literally have their hands in every decision that is made regarding the production. "Being an actor means memorizing lines, developing a character and performing on stage", he said. "Being a director means that you are in charge of doing everything else - from conducting auditions and then casting,  problem-solving, & choosing a show that will feature the talent of your performers and will give them the best chance of success".

Two students who are active in Drama Club and are planning to pursue a career in the arts are Adam Kirk and Hope Kennedy. They both have found their passion and purpose in performing. In fact, Emily Patterson has influenced them both by providing support as well as giving them direction which has helped improve their personal talents and strengthen their ambitions.

Adam has narrowed his college search down to several colleges such as Baldwin Wallace, Point Park, Otterbein, Wright State and Kent State. He has chosen to apply to these schools because of their successful musical theatre program. 

Hope, who is still a junior, has a little more time to decide where she wants to go, but she's wanting to apply to the University of Michigan, Miami University, the University of Cincinnati and Carnegie Mellon. She is looking to earn a musical theatre degree as well. 

Both Adam and Hope dream of performing on Broadway. Wooster has, in fact, had students go on to work professionally in New York and Los Angeles. Many are teaching and working in local theatre, making an impact and doing what they love. "Make your passion your paycheck," says Patterson. "Discover what you are really passionate about, learn all that can about that endeavor and find a way to get someone to pay you for doing it". 

There are many jobs behind the scenes if you're not interested in performing, such as lighting, sound, props, set construction, make-up, costumes, etc. Without these very important roles, the show literally won't go on.
Career Tech Success Stories
 
The Interactive Media Program

The Interactive Media program at the Wayne County Schools Career Center is an introduction to technology and affords students the opportunity to explore careers within the field as potential videographers, audio/video specialists, web content designers, animators & character artists, photographers, and graphic designers, just to name a few. 

While in the Interactive Media program, students will learn:
  • Introduction to Information Technology
  • Video Production and Animation
  • Design Techniques
  • Introduction to Photography & Three Point Lighting
  • Video & Sounds
  • Creating & Editing Digital Graphics
  • Website Design & Development
  • Use of professional industry software & equipment
"While enrolled in this program, students will be able to grow and develop their craft, through a work based learning project," said Jennifer Rue, program instructor. "They learn first hand the importance of verbal and written contract negotiations, time management, logistics, and leadership. Upon completion of the project, students were invited to attend the Student Success Summit where they practiced their presentation skills, kicking off the forum with the video". 
 
This year the Interactive Media program was selected to represent WCSCC at the Ohio School Board Association Student Achievement Fair held in Columbus, Ohio.  Instructor Rue, and student Alec Pursy shared their stories about being involved with the work based learning project from start to finish. Alex shared tips and techniques that he learned while creating a vendor/client project. "Today Alex will tell you, that working on this project taught him valuable tools that will carry over into his career as he pursues a career in the Interactive Media field upon graduation"
 
Last year an elite team of Video Production students in the program were selected by "Battelle for Kids" to create a 3-5 minute documentary video for the Young Entrepreneurship Consortium (YEC) showcasing the features, benefits, and impact the YEC and the Straight A Grant has had on counties throughout the state. 
 
Students who are enrolled in the Interactive Media program can earn college credit, participate in job placement and earn certifications. 
Graphic Design & Photography
The Graphic Design & Photography program allows students to use their creativity and artistic skills in a professional career. "We work with a variety of different digital design programs that give the students the opportunity to become prepared for real world design projects or to prepare the students for college in the following areas," said Mike Morabito, the program instructor.

Students can also earn six college credits towards a degree from our local colleges who offer graphic design.
  • Multimedia and Animations
  • Art Directors
  • Fashion Designers
  • Photographer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Digital Illustration
"Graphic Designers create visual concepts by hand or using computer software to communicate ideas that inspire, inform or captivate consumers", said Morabito. "They help to make an organization recognizable by selecting the color, images, or logo designs that represent a particular idea or identity to be used in advertising and promotions". While enrolled in the program, students will build a portfolio of their work to prepare them for a transition into college or their chosen profession.  
 
Each year the graphic design students collaborate with the interactive media students for the design and layout of the school yearbook. Students will create designs using digital software to layout the yearbook and practice their photography skills. 
 
Graphic Design students also help design corporate logos, labels, flyers, posters, and various advertising material for local businesses. "One such label was accepted by Smuckers for one of their Pillsbury products designed by one of our recent seniors, Tyler Eley," said Morabito. 
 
Wooster Products


Kayla Green is a recent graduate of the Graphic Design program at WCSCC. Kayla works at Wooster Products as Marketing Support in their Creative Department. She has been employed there almost 1 year and really enjoys what she's doing on a daily basis. 

Her main responsibilities while in this role are to keep up with all of the ad work she's been assigned and ensure that they are sent out on time. "I have to make sure they are the right size and are of top quality before they are sent out," she said. "The most rewarding part of my job is when someone tells my boss what a great ad we have and knowing that my ads are being noticed, which makes me feel very proud of the work I've done". 
 
Kayla has always been creative and knew she wanted to pursue something in the arts that would allow her to grow in that area. When looking into the graphic arts program at the WCSCC, she thought she would give it a shot and see if she liked it. Almost immediately she was hooked and knew this is what she wanted to do long term. "Not only am I doing what I love by making ads and taking pictures of our company products, but I get to work with amazing people to". 
 
In order to find her dream job, Kayla interned her senior year at Wooster Products. While enrolled in the graphic design program, she not only learned about Photoshop but also how to use that program along with Microsoft Word. 
 
Kayla believes that being open to change is important to her continued success.
 


Arts and Communication Career Pathways

Select a link below to learn more about the career pathway in that field.

Career Exploration Activities

WVIZ TV: Career Connections: Theater Operations
Watch this video to learn more about what the Senior Vice President of Theater Operations does.
ThinkTV / CET TV: Career Connections: Senior Trends Analyst at LPK HD
Watch this video to learn more about Senior Trends Analyst/Trend Forecasting Job Description
Watch this video to learn more about Radio and Reporting.
Watch this video to learn more about the job of a Museum Curator. 
WOUB TV: Career Connections: Sound Engineer
Watch this video to learn more about the job of a Sound Engineer

Ohio Means Jobs Activities

  • Click here to access the full list of related occupations in Arts and Entertainment.
  • Click here to access the full list of related occupations in Media and Communication 
  • A total of 731 job openings were posted online on July 14, 2016, through August 13, 2016, in the Arts and  Entertainment industry sector. Click here for a snapshot. 
  • A total of -------- job openings were posted from October 14, 2016 through November 13, 2016, in the Media and Communication industry sector. Click here for a snapshot.

 

Job Outlook Information

 

If you are interested in a career in Arts and Communication, here are future employment projections for the State of Ohio.

 

Higher Education Institutions

Select and click on the image below for more information on higher education in the arts and communications
Our mailing address is:
Career Connections
741 Winkler Dr.
Wooster, Ohio 44691


 
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Tri-County Educational Service Center · 741 Winkler Drive · Wooster, OH 44691 · USA

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