Graduation Day

More than 200 Columbus College of Art & Design students graced the stage of the historic Ohio Theatre to receive their diplomas on Saturday, May 14, 2011.

The 132^nd annual spring commencement, in downtown Columbus, included an address by commencement speaker and CCAD alumnus Mike Altman. (Download a  pdf copy of his address.)

The 2011 class valedictorian is Sean Blanton and the college awarded the following 10 students with the distinction of Outstanding Senior.

Ken Aschliman, Fine Arts

Sean Blanton, Photography

Jordan Edwards, Advertising & Graphic Design

Graham Erwin, Illustration

Justin Highlander, Interior Design

Taehee Lee, Media Studies

Carolyn Martin, Fashion Design

Chelsea Mummert, Animation

Phong Nguyen, Illustration

Ryan Slicer, Industrial Design

Check out photos from commencement and more on the CCAD Alumni facebook page.

Animation major Chelsea Mummert was named the 2011 Outstanding Senior for her department.

At the end of the academic year, a graduating senior from each major is named the Outstanding Senior for that department. Today in part five of our 10-part series, we interviewed senior Chelsea Mummert (CCAD 2011), who was named Outstanding Senior for the Animation department.

Q.) Describe a particular thing you learned at CCAD that didn’t make sense to you at first, but that you realized later “Oh, that’s what that meant!”
A.) I would say a lot of things I learned foundation year fits into this category. For example, the project where we had to put three black squares on a white page. I realize it was the simplest form of composition, balance and hierarchy, something that I consider for each scene of animation.

Q.) What’s the ultimate dream job?  Or goal? Basically, when will you be able to sit back and say ‘I’ve made it’?
A.) When I am working in a major animation studio like Pixar or Disney as a part of their core team!

Q.) Why is it important as an alum to continue giving back to your alma mater?
A.) I think it is important for students to hear from us because we come from the same background. When Mike Altman (who was recently tapped as spring 2011 commencement speaker) came to talk to us after landing a job at Pixar, it really made me feel like it was all possible.

Q.) Do you remember a single point that made you sit back and say, “This is why I am doing this?”
A.) When I can sit at my computer for hours at a time and it only feels like a few minutes has passed. Then there are moments when I look at my work and am amazed to think to myself, I made that! It just amazes me what can be accomplished with passion and dedication.

Q.) What smell, word, object, or whatever always reminds you of your time here as a student?
A.) I would say Hounddogs pizza reminds me of my time here because of all of the times I spent there with my closest friends through all hours of the night. It’s a place you don’t go to for the service but the pizza is amazing!

Q.) If you can describe what graduating feels like in one word (okay, one sentence), what would it be?
A.) It’s like the end of a very intense training program and the beginning of a very long and beautiful dream come true.

Q.) Finish the sentence. I hope future CCAD students …
A.) Take their time here seriously and get the most out of their experiences because now is the time to grow and experiment. I also hope that they are not afraid to challenge their teachers or push the “limits” of creativity.

Learn more about Chelsea on her website.

2010 graduates and families outside The Ohio Theatre

In honor of the 233 students who will receive diplomas at CCAD’s 132^nd annual spring commencement, we’ll be counting down the days to commencement by publishing interviews with our 10 Outstanding Seniors and we’ll be announcing the class valedictorian(s).

And while we don’t know who is at the top of the class just yet (final grades are yet to be submitted), we do know who has been named the outstanding seniors for 2011. They are: Jordan Edwards, Advertising & Graphic Design; Chelsea Mummert, Animation; Carolyn Martin, Fashion Design; Kenneth Aschliman, Fine Arts; Graham Erwin, Illustration; Phong Nguyen, Illustration; Ryan Slicer, Industrial Design; Justin Highlander, Interior Design; Taehee Lee, Media Studies; and Sean Blanton, Photography.

Also coming along for the commencement ride is alumnus Mike Altman (CCAD 2000), who will deliver the commencement address. Altman worked as a technical director in modeling and articulation on Pixar’s Academy Award winning Toy Story 3 and was also responsible for modeling and articulating all the 3D characters for Day & Night, the short at the beginning of the film, which was also nominated for an Academy Award. Learn more in our blog, Alumnus, Pixar Animator Slated to Deliver Commencement Address.

Check back Monday, May 2 as we introduce you to Illustration senior Graham Erwin. We’ll publish one a day (on school days) through Friday, May 13.