Issue 16
Westwood 100 Pays Tribute to Graduates?
Westwood 100-Volume 1, a book showcasing 100 of our graduates' personal and unique first-person stories, will be released in February. The book highlights vignettes from top graduates telling how they overcame obstacles and, in many cases, beat the odds in their pursuit of an education.
The stories in Westwood 100 represent our diverse student population and provide candid insights into the types of challenges you might have faced when making the decision about furthering your education. This includes family obligations, financial difficulties and the fears associated with starting such a big undertaking. In addition, the grads pass on advice and bits of wisdom to you and future Westwood students.
"We're honored to be able to share the personal journeys of 100 Westwood graduates who are among more than 24,000 alumni nationwide," said David Borofsky, Westwood provost and chief academic officer.
In addition to the book, the graduate success stories will be presented in various formats, including personal videos to be featured on a new interactive microsite (launches mid-February) and the campus lobby video. A TV campaign featuring several of the graduates is available for viewing. Each campus will receive copies of the book for display and use in various departments, including the learning commons.
"My greatest hope is that Westwood 100 serves as an inspiration for current students to complete what they've started," said Borofsky, "and as they graduate and embark on careers, sharing their own stories will motivate future Westwood students.
Ear to the Ground
Graffiti Art Turns Legit at Black Book Sessions Gathering
Graffiti art has morphed from an urban blight and potential criminal offense into a 21st century art form Ð as long as it shows up in the right places! In fact, today's graffiti artists are now commissioned to bring their art to life on buildings, art galleries and even on branded items such as t-shirts, water bottles and backpacks.
To celebrate this art genre, Black Book Sessions, a nonprofit organization created to empower and inspire emerging artists, was created. "Talented artists exist everywhere," said Eric "Mural" Martinez, Black Book Sessions founder and graffiti artist. "One of the ways we promote this is to sponsor events featuring popular graffiti artists and contests for aspiring artists."
On January 22, more than 1,000 people showed up at Westwood's Anaheim Campus, which hosted the ninth Black Book Sessions art event. The event brought graffiti artists and local youth together for a day of presentations and art demonstrations by well-known graffiti, comic book and computer artists, including O.G. Abel, Jeff Sotto and MAXX 242, among others.
"We plan events that feature popular artists who share personal stories about their experiences in the graffiti world and how graffiti artists today can do incredible things for their communities," said Anthony Cruz, Black Book Sessions event director.
One of the day's highlights was the judged contest of 110 artists ranging in ages from nine to 25. Awards were given to the top three artists in each age category.
"We continue to be awed by the talent out there," said Cruz. "By holding events like this, we can show young artists that if they excel in this art form, they can make true professions out of it, and there is nothing like getting paid to do what you love to do!"
View some state-of-the-art graffiti art and for a list of the winners. And check out YouTube for a short video clip.
Graduate Profile
Marcus Berry, 2005 Graphic Design and Multimedia Graduate
Westwood graduate Marcus Berry laughs when he describes the worst place he ever worked. It was a barbeque restaurant where he chopped wood, loaded heavy boxes of meat into the freezer and worked in the pit. "We weren't allowed to sit, and our break was 30 minutes for an eight-hour shift. Every night I went home smelling like smoke and barbeque sauce!" he reminisces.
Before Berry started at Westwood, he was working two part-time jobs and trying to figure out what career path he wanted to take. His path ultimately led him to a degree in graphic design and multimedia, which landed him in his current job as a graphic designer for the Chicago Public Library.
Berry assigns high marks to Westwood faculty for being so down to earth and approachable, saying you couldn't get that kind of attention at your average university. "The instructors are at Westwood to help you. They want you to succeed just as much as you do" he says.
His graphic design education taught Berry to believe in himself and to know that for every problem, there's always a solution. "When it comes to design, you have to give the customers/bosses what they want, even if it's not what you like. And the most important thing is to stay current with trends and software in the industry!
Job Tip
This year, resolve to create some easy-to-achieve goals, such as honing your "elevator pitch." Summarize the value you could add to a potential employer and turn it into a concise pitch on what you do better than anybody else.
Campus Briefs
Spotlight on Atlanta Northlake Campus
[Note: Each of the 17 Westwood College campuses has its own distinctive "vibe" and personality. As room permits in reporting other campus activities, we'll feature different Westwood campuses to give students a glimpse into what makes each unique.]
If you step onto the Atlanta Northlake (ATL) Campus during the fall, you'll find something you don't normally see at a career-focused college — a homecoming week that culminates with a coronation and ball! Each fall, ATL celebrates homecoming with a king, a queen and its own flag football team.
"We want to support and engage our students to the highest degree possible," said Tira Clay, campus president. "We encourage students to be active in campus clubs, and we make sure our faculty and staff have an open-door policy." The campus also participates in basketball, softball and cheerleading leagues with other private colleges and universities.
Student pride for ATL is reflected in the décor. In addition to student artwork and assignments decorating the walls, the campus is festooned with student-designed flags representing each of the schools. They were also involved in decorating the lounges, one of which sports "graffiti" walls and "super mod" furnishings.
On the Net
Website Offers Practical Advice to Students
Check out academictips.org for a collection of study tips and tricks to help manage your life while you're a student. It offers advice from note taking to test taking to time management.
Keep Tabs on Westwood through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn
Keep up with Westwood through our various social media links. Check out the latest Westwood advertising campaign or watch the new graduate success stories on YouTube. Find out what's on your classmates' minds on Facebook and catch up on recent announcements on Twitter. And don't forget to network and broaden your horizons by joining LinkedIn.
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