First Night Worcester launches new education collaborative

Mentorship program brings Worcester students together

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Howard McGinn, Executive Director
(508) 799-4909 or howard@firstnightworcester.org.

WORCESTER, MA – [February 26, 2016] – Leveraging its relationships with Becker College and South High Community School, First Night Worcester announces a new outreach program benefitting inner-city youth.  The partnership creates an educational collaborative teaming Becker College student mentors with South High mentees to explore educational and career opportunities in the growing field of Interactive Media Design.

The video game industry is exploding, with global sales reaching an estimated $111 billion in 2015.  This rapid growth has created a high demand for well-trained Interactive Media Designers.  Modern video games, however, have transitioned beyond entertainment into a wide array of other intersecting industries, leading to career opportunities in health care, education, training software, and more.

Becker College has been called “a destination for game designers” by U.S. News and World Report. For the past six years, it has been consistently ranked by The Princeton Review as a top undergraduate school to study game design and was ranked ninth in the world in 2015.  Its game design and game development/ programming majors are among the most innovative and best in the nation.

The Interactive Media Design Mentorship Program is a seven-week project focusing on Game Development & Programming (which focuses on the technical aspects of game development) and Game Design (which focuses on the scheme of the project).  Student participants will join a Becker College project already in process or create a new one.  Completed projects will be exhibited at First Night ’17, First Night Worcester’s annual New Year’s Eve festival.

“Our students are incredibly fortunate to have access to such a prestigious educational program,” said Sandy Kelly, internship coordinator for South High.  “Through a highly competitive application process, ten talented students have been hand-selected to participate.”  South High students have been matched to Becker College mentors and will be introduced to each other at a “meet and greet” to take place in late February.  The mentorship program will begin on March 3rd and will run for seven weeks.  For questions, contact Howard McGinn, executive director of First Night Worcester at (508) 799-4909 or howard@firstnightworcester.org.

About First Night Worcester

Founded in 1981, First Night Worcester is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing access to the Arts. Best known for its New Year’s Eve Arts Festival, the nonprofit work of First Night Worcester continues throughout the year with educational programs and community outreach initiatives.  Taken together, the programs of First Night Worcester create a true spirit of community by providing shared cultural experiences, accessible and affordable to all.

About Becker College

Becker College is ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the best 380 colleges in the U.S. With a 95 percent placement rate for its graduates for employment or further study, Becker serves more than 2,100 students from across the country and around the world. Becker offers a wide range of quality degree programs that prepare graduates for the challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities of the 21st century.

About South High

South High Community School is 1 of 7 public high schools located in the city of Worcester and supports approximately 1,300 students.  The staff is committed to inspiring students to achieve the highest standards of intellectual and personal development by providing a stimulating and comprehensive education.  The school offers 21 Advanced Placement classes and career pathways such as; Diesel, Auto, Early Childhood, Food Service Management, and Marketing in Nonprofit Organizations, as well as courses in TV Broadcasting, Art, ROTC, and Band.

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February 26th 2016 by FNW
Categories: News |