www.ringling.edu [ 1 ]

Parents’ Newsletter DEC.

2014

[ 2 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 3 ]

Table of Contents5. Happy Holidays Parents and Family Members!Tammy S. Walsh, Ed.D.

6. Where We Are and a Look ForwardJeffrey Bellantoni

8. New InitiativesBy Michael Moore, Vice President for Advancement

10. Autumn ConnectionsBy Susan Borozan

11. Ringling College of Art and Design Announces “Collaboratory Commitment” Guaranteeing Every Student Client-Based Professional Work Experience Before Graduation

15. Finals, Finale, Fa La La La LaHerman and Gloria Jew- Parents association Excecutive Board

17. Greetings Ringling College Parents and FamiliesJekeyma Robinson

18. A Parent’s PerspectiveMichele Mank - Parents’ Association Leader

20. Trustee Scholars Russell Mank, Graphic Arts (p.21) Brenna Thummler, Illustration (p.22)

23. Housing: Hello Parents!JJ Mitchell

24. Staying Healthy All Semester and Over the Holidays: CDC Travel Notices and On-campus Resources.Ringling College Student Life Health and Wellness Team

27. From the desk of the RegistrarJustin Selph

Student Life OfficeRingling College of Art and Design2700 North Tamiami TrailSarasota, FL 34234-5895(941)359-7505

Composed and Designed by Mirald Cake

28. Rounding out the Semester in the Academic Resource CenterVirginia B. DeMers

29. Ergonomic and Accessibility Features Extended in the Kimbrough LibraryAl Zavar

31. International Education Week Amy Pettengill Director of International Student Affairs

33. A Student LeaderMeghan Kay-Yun Cole, Advertising Design Class of 2015

35. HFood for the SeasonChartwells Dining Team

37. Half Full: Midterm From One Recruiter’s ViewSidney Clifton

39. Helping Your Student Achieve Career Goals During Winter BreakAlejandra Lance-Calderón

40. Alumni Presentaion: Tom Bancroft, Character Design/ Art Direction/ Animation/ AuthorCynthia Flanagan

45. madeby Gallery Happeningsmadeby team

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Greetings Parents and Family Members!

It is hard to believe that this semester is quickly coming to an end! As you can see from the various articles, we have been very busy and there are some wonderfully exciting things happening at Ringling College! Enjoy reading about:

• Academic Affairs Initiatives• $3 Million Dollar Gift in Support of a New

Visual Arts Center• New Academic Majors/Graduate Programs• Alumni Gatherings• The Collaboratory Commitment• Messages from the Parents Association

Executive Board Members• Student Leadership Programming• Featured Trustee Scholars• Housing• Health and Wellness• Registration Services• Academic Resource Center• Ergonomic and Accessibility Features in

Kimbrough Library• Reflections from the Student Government

President

A special thank-you goes out to the wonderful Parent Leaders that helped with our recent Family Weekend and Preview Day! You all were wonderful! I know I talked with a number of you during Family Weekend about your interest in becoming more active with the Parents’ Association. Please let me twalsh@ringling.edu or Herman Jew jew@att.net know if you are interested in helping us at prospective student events, National Portfolio Days, Alumni Receptions, Accepted Students’ Days, New Student and Parent Orientation and other College related activities. You do not need to be based

in Sarasota or even Florida as many of our events are held in numerous other states. As you know, it is enjoyable and helpful to talk with other parents about Ringling College. Your role and voice are so important to us!

Enjoy this holiday season with your family! Hopefully, your student will be able to make it home for the Winter break. They have earned a well-deserved rest, and I know that it will be comforting and energizing for them to be home for awhile if they can. May you have a special and safe holiday season!

Happy 2015 New Year as well!

Best Regards,

Tammy S. Walsh, Ed.DVice President for Student Life and Dean of Students

Happy Holidays Parents and Family Members!Tammy S. Walsh, Ed.D

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Ringling is a college in transformation! I am eager to share many exciting updates from Academic Affairs with you. The College recently received a $3-Million Gift from Dr. Richard and Barbara Basch for a new Visual Arts Center, expected to be completed by January 2017. The new Basch Visual Arts Center will include the College’s first glass hot shop, and will also contain studios and facilities for wood, clay, metal, and new technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting. This new materials studies facility will not only help boost our fine arts program, but also support all of our students who want access.

The new library project is closing in on the fundraising goal, and a new film soundstage and post-production studio was just announced. The professional Soundstage and post-production complex will be located on land comprising almost a complete city block, is tied to the College’s academic needs, and is expected to attract a broad range of commercial productions.

The College already offers access to its Center for Career Services for life, and just announced the “Collaboratory Commitment”, guaranteeing every student entering in Fall 2015 and beyond client-based professional work experience opportunity before graduation. Additionally, as you know, every student entering the college receives a notebook computer with the software they will need.

We continue to grow our amazing faculty body. Currently 64% percent of the College’s 150 faculty are full-time instructing students from 47 states and 59 countries. We have just launched new faculty searches in Computer Animation, Game Art, Film, Photography and Imaging, Art History, and Motion Design. A search is also underway for a new

faculty member to lead our English as a Second Language courses, critical to support our growing international student population. And we have begun an extremely important search for the next academic leader of our Interior Design department.

We are also searching for several key administrative positions, including Director of Libraries, Director of Continuing Education and Special Programs, and Director of Communications/Marketing.

New BA programs in Design Studies and Studio Arts, and new BFA programs in Media Arts (Content Development), Creative Writing, Product Design, Fashion Design, and Service Design are being developed and expected to launch within two to three years. We are also beginning the process of planning for new graduate (Masters) programs.

Finally, as if all of this wasn’t enough, we are quickly developing more Entrepreneurship courses for current and future students, as well as Creative Coding electives, that should be in place in time for current students to take advantage of as well. I also encourage all of you to visit our news feed at whyringling.com/blog to stay up to date. And if you or your student use social media, please “tag” us when appropriate at #whyringling.

Jeffrey Bellantoni Vice President for Academic Affairsjbellant@ringling.edu

Where We Are and a Look ForwardJeffrey Bellantoni

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New InitiativesBy Michael Moore, Vice Presidentfor Advancement

Local couple provides gift for new Visual Arts Center

As noted in Jeff Bellantoni’s update, a new Visual Arts Center, including the College’s first glass hot shop and a sculpture / ceramics studio, will be added to the campus, thanks to a $3 million gift from Board of Trustee member Dr. Richard Basch and his wife Barbara Basch, who is a Sarasota Museum of Art/SMOA Board Member.

Richard and Barbara have an incredible passion for the arts, specifically the art of glass. The facility to be named for Richard and Barbara is planned to open by December 31, 2016. The focus of the facility will be fine arts, including the study of sculpture, glass, wood, and clay, and will include exhibition and gallery space as well as the possibility of studios for studies in fiber, jewelry, and metal. The glass facilities will have the capability of both hot glass casting and cold working.

Students have already experienced Richard and Barbara’s generosity. In 2008 the College established the Basch Gallery in the Ringling College Academic Center. Each year the couple exhibits a portion of their collection to the public that is available for students to experience and learn. This past year they sponsored a fine arts elective on glassmaking, which was very well received by students.

The new Visual Arts Center will have a tremendous impact on teaching and learning at the College and will impact the lives and careers of countless students. The facility will provide an environment for our students to explore the unique physical qualities of glass, clay, metal and wood through the creation of sculptural and functional objects.

Once building plans are underway, we will share an update in a future issue of the Parent’s Newsletter.

Parents can make an additional impact

A Parent Association member recently shared that his company was sending out reminders informing him and other employees that their year-end gift application and submittal deadline was fast approaching. We thought it would be a good time to remind you.… ‘Tis the season … No, it’s not tax season, but many of us are making our plans for year-end giving, which oftentimes can impact the bottom line at tax time.*

Are you a parent who:• Works at a company or owns a business

where annual philanthropic dollars must be given to a worthy cause by December 31?Think of Ringling College!

• Works for a company that has a matching gift program?

Think of Ringling College!Your gift can double and sometimes triple with your company’s match.

• Knows a benefactor who is undecided on where to disburse unallocated funds?Think of Ringling College!

• Knows an individual or foundation that wants see continued growth of art and design education via an estate plan?Think of Ringling College!

You know that a Ringling College education is transformational. You can have an additional impact on your student’s experience and enrich the lives of all Ringling College students by participating in year-end annual giving.Please make a year-end gift to Ringling College. ‘Tis the season!Give now [link to www.ringling.edu/annualgiving]

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Borozan at sborozan@ringling.edu or 941-309-5455.

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Autumn ConnectionsBy Susan Borozan

Fall Alumni Gatherings Continue

What a Fall Semester in Alumni Relations! In October, we not only held a gathering of local alumni on campus to learn about the new library, but we also gathered alumni in New York during Comic Con. It was great to see so many parents also at these events. The synergy of alumni, current students and their parents along with prospect students is natural, and leads to vital connections, both personal and professional. We absolutely welcome your participation and sharing of your Ringling experience, and we will soon be posting a regional event calendar. Do join us!

Our next gathering is scheduled for Friday, December 5, at the Bass Museum of Art during Art Basel/Miami Beach. With alumni and friends coming in from around the country for this international art show, we’re pleased to host our first reception in the heart of the action. We hope to see you at our next alumni gathering, too! RSVP now. (Link to invitation: http://www.ringlingdigital.com/2014eblast/invite/miami_eblast.html )

Bass Museum of Art

Ringling College of Art and Design Announces “Collaboratory Commitment” Guaranteeing Every Student Client-Based Professional Work Experience Before GraduationSARASOTA, Fla. – (November 3, 2014) – Ringling College of Art and Design president Dr. Larry R. Thompson today announced the “Collaboratory Commitment,” an exceptional new initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness of future Ringling graduates. The “Collaboratory Commitment” guarantees that every student enrolling in the College beginning in the fall of 2015 will have the opportunity to participate in a professional work experience with real clients, real deliverables and deadlines before graduation. This type of client work is often completed through the Collaboratory at Ringling College, a partnership between Ringling College and The Patterson Foundation. The “Collaboratory Commitment” was announced in a talk before several hundred prospective students and their parents at Preview Day activities on the Ringling College campus on Saturday, November 1st.

“Students embarking on a job search without the benefit of professional experience are at a real disadvantage in today’s competitive job market,” stated Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson. “Employers are looking to hire graduates who have professional work experience, references, and a proven ability to communicate, collaborate, and use creativity to solve organizational challenges. These attributes help an employer determine if a prospective new hire will fit into the company culture, adapt well to change, and offer value to his or her team from day one on the job.” “There is an expectation that, in addition to demonstrated competence in the discipline in which the new graduates were trained, that they will also be ‘practice ready’ professionals,” said Dr. Thompson. “However, recent graduates find themselves in a

Catch 22 situation: They have challenges getting a job because they lack experience; at the same time they need to have a job to get that experience. The Collaboratory Commitment solves that problem for Ringling College of Art and Design students BEFORE they graduate!” Thompson continued to discuss how in today’s environment, the emphasis of the media seems to focus on the difficulty college graduates have in obtaining employment. This raises the question as to whether college is worth it. The Collaboratory Commitment is one way Ringling College is addressing this issue head on, helping students get more than skills and education, but also experience.

According to the May 2014 Gallup Purdue Index there are crucial elements that overwhelmingly

The Collaboratory Commitment gives Ringling College students a competitive edge by guaranteeing the kind of client-based experience employers demand

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influence graduates’ success in their careers and life/well-being. One key finding was that college graduates who engaged in experiential and deep learning activities during their college experience doubled their odds of being engaged at work.

Ringling College students will have numerous options to choose from to gain this “real-world,” “real-time” project experience with clients. Students/graduates can feature those projects on their résumés and in their portfolios. Options will include faculty-supervised Collaboratory class projects and charrettes (intensive 1-3 day sessions that bring clients and students together to work on solutions to a client’s design challenge); the Design Center, focusing on design projects for local non-profit organizations or the College itself; the College’s ARTNetwork (All Ringling Television

Network) producing television and multimedia broadcast programs; the film and entertainment industry-focused Studio Lab where students work side-by-side with world renowned film and entertainment professionals; as well as joint class assignments and special projects.

Other professional opportunities such as full- and part-time employment, internships, freelance, and service learning engagements will also be made available to students through the Center for Career Services, the Office of Student Life, and other administrative departments.

The new commitment is named for The Collaboratory, the recently established program responsible for managing experiential learning programs for Ringling College students that are

customer-focused, design-based solutions for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. The Patterson Foundation of Sarasota, Florida is funding the early phases of The Collaboratory operation and makes this new experiential learning commitment possible. The Collaboratory is also responsible for coordinating the Collaboratory Commitment to ensure that every student who wants such an opportunity will be able to get one before they graduate.

“Ringling College provides comprehensive professional development resources that compliment our classroom instruction. Our extensive programming includes providing our students with a variety of client-based, professional experiences ensuring that each Ringling College student is guaranteed the opportunity to work

in at least one professional setting prior to graduation,” explained Associate Vice President for Collaborative Enterprises, Cynthia Gravino.

Working in real-world, real-time settings with real clients, The Collaboratory’s faculty-led interdisciplinary student teams mimic the diversity of skills and job functions in professional settings. They are tasked with branding, positioning, user experience, service innovation, interior and product design challenges that can greatly impact an organization’s future growth and success.

Ringling College of Art and Design establishes a culture of professionalism for students before the first year class arrives on campus. Within a few weeks of receiving their acceptance letters, the College’s Center for Career Services sends

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Finals, Finale, Fa La La La LaHerman and Gloria Jew- Parents’ Association Excecutive Board Leaders

Greetings fellow parents, guardians, and grandparents! It was fantastic to see some of you again during Family Weekend. The extended family presence of grandparents to siblings was stellar and robust. According to Dr. Tammy Walsh, this was the largest gathering of parents ever! The October weather was beautiful, unlike the muggy and humid days of move-in in August. The first year parents were able to capture a vignette of what your daughter/son has accomplished with their new-found College experience. Some new skills are surfacing such as time management and iterative thinking. Their personality evokes independence and self-confidence with focused rigor about the work they are creating. We hope your artist/designer is able to balance some time away from their academics and to enjoy some quality time with you. For some of us with upper-class students at Ringling, this is our fourth Family Weekend and this ritual is good.

The beginning of the weekend highlighted a message of newness of academic development from Dr. Larry Thompson. He shared upcoming majors of study including future graduate programs. Improvements to the campus grounds included the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Ferguson Studio which now houses the staff of Career Services. There is continued fundraising for Ringling’s new state of the art library building. For the community of Sarasota, the new Sarasota Museum of Art has reached its fund-raising goals. With this development will be another hub for Ringling College activities. An informative panel discussion of recruiters included atLarge Inc. and Bento Box who shared what attributes they seek in a Ringling student for internships and full time employment. It was noted that over 75 recruiters came to the College last year. This gave parents a sample of

the process developed by the Center for Career Services of the guidance offered to your artist / designer of how to prepare their work for future work opportunities.

Following this event, breakout Art and Design workshops gave families a visual experience relating to your daughter/son’s academic study. Our daughter shared with us a graphic design letterpress project in progress. The Edward and Carol Cheek Center for Letterpress and Book Arts is a beautifully equipped studio, filled with original presses, metal plates and letters. These are fantastic resources of authenticity that teach our students how to hone their visual skills.

A number of weeks ago, the mid-term reviews were just completed in all the disciplines. Our daughter and her classmates in Computer Animation had their first major all-faculty pin-up of their thesis film. This was a major threshold. What ensues is another push to the final, further development from the studio critiques of faculty. In animation, it takes hundreds of frames to make one minute of movements, plus narrative, plus environment, plus sound, plus lyrics. The complex layering culminates in an epic piece of emotive visual artistry. We have watched how our daughter has developed this lexicon of a visual language. In the seven semesters, one begins to see the results of an education at Ringling that is focused on the artists’ voice and fueled with the skill of the “articulated risk”, a term our daughter shared with us. She quotes from Roger von Oech “Everyone has a risk muscle, you keep it in shape by trying new things. If you don’t, it atrophies. Make it a point of using it at least once a day.” Her sketchbooks are filled with gestures of figures in motion. This is a necessity of observation in order to animate well the emotions

all incoming freshmen a packet to get them started on their career plans. Every student gets a 4-year planning calendar to map out his or her entire Ringling experience, semester by semester. “The Center for Career Services encourages early use our office to situate job, internship, and the foundational career techniques firmly within the academic processes for empowered success,” said Center for Career Services Director Charles Kovacs. “And, unlike many colleges and universities, Ringling College Career Services are available to our graduates for life!”

Ringling College students who have participated in Collaboratory projects find the experience life changing. As Ringling College Senior Keith Nielsen, majoring in the Business of Art & Design, detailed in his experience working with a major American toy manufacturer, “I was able to get a great understanding of the company, its culture and its target demographic. In my most recent project I was selected as project manager and using my business education in concert with my traditional art background, collaborated with seven other students to create an engaging pitch within a 4-hour deadline. We made the deadline and provided the client with not only research and strategic recommendations but also clear deliverables. Working with real clients while still being a student is priceless; it’s low-risk but has the high pressure and countless outcomes possible in a real job setting. These experiences have resulted in me understanding several industries, how they work and provided me with insight into my own future.”

According to Graphic Design student Carly Lohr, “Being in the Collaboratory has been a great experience for me and I liked that there were so many upperclassmen because I learned how to work together in a team. Our client was the Sarasota Police Department and we created the new ‘Blue + You’ branding for the department. The client was so involved with us and even occasionally added their ideas while we brainstormed. I am so glad I took this class because it really changed my perspective about what the process is like to come up with something that is really going to happen.”

“At Ringling College we are ‘Shattering the Myth of the Starving Artist®’ and our new Collaboratory

Commitment will help prove to the business world the immense talent of artists and designers. Our students’ ability to tackle diverse business challenges – working right alongside client company professionals – is testament that we are educating tomorrow’s creative leaders today,” concluded Dr. Thompson.

For more information about The Collaboratory Commitment please visit www.ringling.edu/collaboratory.

About Ringling College of Art and DesignRingling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offering the Bachelor’s degree in 11 disciplines: Advertising Design, Business of Art & Design, Computer Animation, Film, Fine Arts, Game Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Motion Design, and Photography & Imaging. It is recognized as being among the best and most innovative visual arts colleges in the United States as well as a leader in the use of technology in the arts. For more information, please visit www.ringling.edu.

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you want to evoke…and the computer, it’s only a tool and augments another skill. This period of creative productivity is challenging. With the finale looming, encourage your young artist/designer to develop a game plan for completing their work. It is frenetic productivity that demands intellectual, physical and emotional stamina. Remind them the resources at Ringling will support their needs, from the staff at the Health Center to counselors, deans, advisors and teachers. As all the creative dots are being connected from studio to studio on campus, this is a harbinger to the finale.

The Thanksgiving holiday is imminent and your daughter/son like ours will most likely remain at Ringling since the finals are the week following. The creativity of the Common’s culinary experts will be in full gear. As we have witnessed with our daughter and her classmates, there will be much recreations of the bounty of experimental cook-off recipes.

If quotidian is a word to use, December 10th, is the threshold your daughter/son will transform to slugs for a few days. This respite is well earned. Each will re-emerge and be refreshed to share with you what they have amassed creatively and intellectually. Re-engaging with the familiar will be highly coveted, with friends and with family. The break ahead and holiday celebrations are definitely for recharging and reconnecting. For our daughter and many seniors, they will resume that job search and reach

out again with their network. As parents we can continue to seek out those internships and career prospects from our professional network and share with the Career Center.

We want to thank the Parent Leaders who have shared their time and experience with all of you along with Parent Ambassadors who assisted in representing Ringling in your towns and cities. In addition, we have met parents who have asked how they can help either at the College or from your locale and we will be following up with them. Feel free to drop a note with your name, email, phone number to our contact info below and we will communicate back with you. Remember to check the Parent Portal for updates as well as review the shared experiences from past Newsletters. The Dr. T Time video blogs are always good to revisit for an added dimension.

Fist pump….. Fa la la la la (ask your daughter/son about this if you haven’t seen this recent release…nor is this tied to a holiday song).Happy festivities embracing and expressing your traditions! We look forward to sharing the upcoming New Year with you.

Herman Jew, herman.jew@att.net Gloria Lim, yimglorialim@yahoo.com Members, PA Executive Board

Greetings Ringling College Parents and FamiliesJekeyma Robinson

It seems as though we have just finished New Student Orientation, but the first semester is almost over. Every year and every class has a different “personality,” and we have definitely been pleasantly surprised by the excitement, engagement and energy we have seen in our students this semester. During the Fall Semester, we have seen a significant growth in the student organizations on campus, activities being offered and student. This shows the direct reflection from you the parents, who are offering support and encouraging your student to get involved, so thank you for that!

One major area that distinguishes Ringling College from other peer institutions: our strong Student Life program, which would not be possible without our Student Leaders. Recognizing this, we are currently working on revamping our current leadership program that will provide training and skills applicable to campus life, and relevant for long-term careers. This program - available during the 2015/2016 academic year - will allow any interested students to participate in a variety of levels, with certificates of completion for the program. Once completed, students can add this certificate to their resume. We are helping to develop leadership skills while emphasizing our appreciation and recognition of student leaders through our revamped Student Appreciation Luncheon in the Spring Semester. Students

who play a key role in campus organization and Student Life positions will receive a special invite to this event.

As this semester is ending, the Office of Student Life has already started working on programs and activities for the Spring Semester. Students can

look forward to some of their favorite events, including ice-skating, the Valentine’s Day Dance, Food Bingo, movie nights, theme park and bonfire trips, community service projects and many more. Katie Cuff, in the Office of Student Activities, has also organized a Spring Break trip for students staying on campus during this time to

Disney World. Please make sure your daughter/son has picked up their academic planner from the Office of Student Life, so they can stay updated on these and other events. If your daughter/son is having trouble finding something to do on campus, please send them my way, there are so many opportunities for them to get involved.

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to working with you again in the Spring!

Sincerely,Jekeyma RobinsonAssociate Dean of Studentsjrobinso@ringling.edu

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A Parent’s PerspectiveMichele Mank - Parents’ Association Leader

Greetings to fellow parents and families! As we all look forward to having our students home for the winter break, I am looking ahead with mixed emotions and reflecting on the previous three and a half years. My son Russell will graduate in May 2015 from the Graphic & Interactive Communications program. I have had the privilege of watching Russell negotiate his way through this experience from being a wide eyed, enthusiastic freshman to an optimistic, polished young adult ready to enter a professional career. His journey at Ringling has been an amazing experience. I am both sad to see his time winding down yet excited to see the direction his life and career will take. I am confident that Ringling has well prepared him for whatever lies ahead.

As a parent, I too have had a Ringling journey: a journey that may be much like that of any college parent, yet as unique as Ringling itself. Russell had originally committed to a major state university that naturally offered unlimited resources and opportunities for academics, careers, student leadership, clubs and activities, research, and international study. He would have the opportunity to be both well educated and well rounded. He then reversed his decision and in August 2011 he packed the family van, waved good-bye without looking back, and headed to Ringling College of Art & Design. Our family was thrilled for him as he embarked on his dream!

I had no doubt he would receive an exceptional arts education. Yet, I had some questions and concerns. I secretly wondered if this small, arts dedicated curriculum would be able to offer the breath of experiences necessary to develop those critical, intangible career and life skills that are often acquired outside of the classroom. Would he have clubs to join, activities to enjoy, leadership opportunities, access to travel and electives to

explore new interests? Would he learn to interact and work with a variety of people and situations? (Would he grow be a fabulous artist without “real world and life skills”?) What I discovered was this - I had nothing to fear! He received all of that and more at Ringling. In fact, the intimate culture at Ringling provides even greater opportunities for involvement and development of life skills. The professional staff knows the students and often works side by side with them on campus, community and professional projects. This in itself is invaluable.

I have met many involved students these past few years. I can say with confidence that Ringling students graduate with not only the exceptional artistic skills that one would expect, but with so many critical professional skills necessary in today’s world. They learn to work within a multi-discipline team to complete a project; to look at a problem from a variety of perspectives to find creative solutions; to use time management to meet deadlines; to accept critical advice and to appreciate the work of others; to be humble in success: to be persistent; to be generous with their talents and be an involved their community. Yes, Ringling does offer that breath of critical experiences I was concerned about in 2011!

Parents, if I can offer any advice, please encourage your students to be bold and occasionally get out of the labs and studios to discover campus life. There is so much to be gained from that investment. Then, sit back and enjoy watching your student thrive!

The Ringling experience has been a once in a lifetime family journey, and I am certain it will launch my son into an adventurous future.Michele Mankmmank03@aol.com

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Trustee ScholarsTrustee Scholarships are awarded to outstanding rising Seniors at Ringling College. Candidates for these awards are nominated by faculty and Student Life staff, and are selected by the Board of Trustees. Awards are based on academic and artistic achievement, leadership, and contributions to Ringling College and the community. These funds are paid directly to the student during the fall of their Senior year at Ringling College.

Below are two of this years’ Trustee Scholars’ presentations during the fall recognition banquet. We will feature additional presentations in future issues.

The unique insights and stories of these students will allow parents to grasp the depth of the Ringling College of Art and Design experience in these young professionals lives. Their insights will verify the depth of experiences, history, and unique stories of some of our talented students.

Illustration by Brenna Thummler>

Russell Mank, Graphic Arts: Student Life Trustee Scholar story

Welcome and good evening everyone! I would like to start off by saying thank you to the Board of Trustees for graciously awarding me the honor of Student Life Trustee Scholar.

The award of Student Life Trustee Scholar is different from the other awards, not many students come to art schools like Ringling thinking, “ I’m going to be the best I can be…at student life!” That’s what makes Ringling distinct: the school recognizes the importance student life has in not only creating great artists, but also well-rounded individuals. My parents taught me that very early on when they decided to send me to art school from kindergarten through high school. They believe that an appreciation for the arts goes a long way to making a great well-rounded student.

Before I came to Ringling, I had no idea what it was like to live on a college campus, I had never even heard of the term student life. I remember the first time I met a Resident Assistant. They act as mentors for the students and live with them in their residence hall. While moving in for Ringling Precollege in 2010, this guy walked into my room. He introduced himself as Curtis and told me he was going to be my Resident Assistant for the summer.

That would later become a big moment for me because it was those four weeks at Precollege where I began to become who I am today. At precollege I started to feel more independent, confident, and comfortable with who I am, and the RAs were a big part of that. After that summer, I knew that no matter where I ended up, I wanted to become an RA.In my time here at Ringling I did in fact become an RA but I also became involved all across campus. Campus Activities gave me my first job and soon after I was asked to manage all of the audio/visual

equipment for the events. Volunteerism gave me the opportunity to volunteer for Preview day, Accepted Student Day, and Avant Garde so I could share my story with others. And of course, Residence Life allowed me to do what my RAs did for me: make students feel welcomed and at home.This past summer, I had the opportunity through student life to attend the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design’s Student Affairs Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Fellow student Patricia Pete and I not only rocked the city of Chicago, we had great time interacting with staff and students from schools such as Pratt, Maryland Institute College of Art, School of Art Institute of Chicago, and Rhode Island School of Design. What has made my time here at Ringling so amazing are the people who helped get me here and those who I have met during these past three years. I would like to thank my family, mom, dad, and my sister Meredith who are here tonight, for support, whether through visits, advice or care packages. I would like to thank the amazing friends I have met here, especially Eric Wagner over there, my roommate freshman year who was just as excited to be here as I was. These guys amaze me everyday with their talent and their friendship and I know no matter where we go, we got each others backs. And of course to the staff and faculty of Ringling, both present and former. Their dedication to the students is un-paralled and they are the biggest reason that I become involved in Student Life. When I started out here at Ringling, my goal was to honor the legacy of those who inspired me so much in Precollege by being the best student, both in the labs and around campus. So again I would like to thank the trustees for giving me this award, because in doing so it proves to myself that I am successful in my goal.

Thank you.

[ 22 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 23 ]

Brenna Thummler, Illustration:

When someone asks when it was I decided to become an artist, I find it difficult to answer. I think the idea has been there all along – that I was born with the soul of an illustrator and started drawing a couple days later. My childhood portfolio mostly consisted of portraits of myself as a mermaid or princess, and I still remember a kindergarten classmate challenging one of my art assignments. “It’s supposed to be a self portrait,” she said. “You aren’t a princess.” I looked her right in the eye and said, “It doesn’t matter. I can be a princess if I want to.”

I spent my early years with a similar mindset, thriving in a world of imagination. I made my own paper dolls, built wooden dollhouses and furniture, filled dozens of sketchbooks, created my own board games, and fell in love with art. When it came time to select a career path, however, I didn’t even consider illustration. Careers were supposed to be boring and business-like, right? But when the opportunity arose for me to participate in a high school vocational art program, I decided to go ahead and give it a try, as I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I entered this vocational program with the intent of becoming a graphic designer. But one of our first assignments was to create a master copy of a Chris Van Allsburg illustration. After that, I knew illustration was my calling, and I anticipated doing something I love for the rest of my life. And so I enrolled in art school. Ringling has been a truly incredible experience. Many will comment that we’re lucky to “just draw pretty pictures all day long”, but these people are muggles. I’ve worked harder than I ever thought possible. The strict deadlines, late nights, competitive atmosphere, and rigorous curriculum have been beyond stressful, but have also made me stronger and wiser.

Over the past three and a half years, I have drawn a gazillion faces. I have ruined my favorite pants with oil paint and have studied the color of light. I tried sushi and flan for the first time (loved the sushi, but the flan – not so much.) I procured another closet’s worth of shoes and purses, led an a cappella group, and presented a portrait to a former president’s daughter. I felt both tremendous

joy and crippling depression. I was hospitalized for blood clots in my lungs and nearly lost my life. I lost friends. I gained friends. I had the experience of a lifetime when, after an interview and portfolio review in New York City, I was awarded the title of Zankel Scholar by the Society of Illustrators. For those who don’t know, the Zankel Scholarship is one of the most prestigious in the discipline, and is awarded to a single illustration junior in the United States. It’s even more wonderful that I’m the fourth Ringling student to receive this honor.

All these moments, whether small or life-changing, have played a role in my growth as a person and an illustrator. It’s my belief that each new day is the result of all the little moments – the absence of any moment would have changed where I am today. So I’m thankful for everything I’ve experienced, both good and bad - thankful for the people who have been a part of those experiences: my wonderful and wacky friends, my supportive family, Ringling’s enthusiastic faculty and staff, and of course the Board of Trustees who have awarded me the prestigious honor of Trustee Scholar.

I’ve made connections and inherited stories that will inspire my career as an artist. It is now my dream to become a children’s book illustrator and writer. Ringling has provided not only the skills and professionalism, but the moments that will inspire my illustrations for the rest of my life.

Housing: Hello Parents!JJ Mitchell - Coordinator ofHousing Operations

Things have been busy and exciting in Residence Life, as we look to wrap the Fall Semester up in just a few short weeks. This year, the Resident Student Association (RSA) was among the many organizations and departments welcoming you all here for Family Weekend. A new initiative that they had this year was to offer family members the opportunity to order a “Finals Week Care Package” for the Fall and Spring Semesters. These care packages are a small boxes filled with snacks for students to eat and drink while working on their final projects. The snacks center around three themes: “Chocoholic”, “Health Nut”, and “Snack Attack”. While the deadline has passed for this semester, family members can still order these Care Packages for the Spring Finals Week. More information can be found on the “Get Involved” section of the Residence Life web page. Speaking of Finals Week, Residence Life will continue the tradition of offering “Study Breaks” to students at the end of the semester. We want to encourage our students to be healthy, take a step back from their work, grab some snacks, and chat with friends before continuing the grind that is Finals Week. Students The Student Life Pancake Study Break will be November 30th at 10pm in the Hammond Commons. Coffee Breaks will be hosted in the Residence Life Office on December 1st and 3rd at 10pm, while a Snack Break will be hosted in the Academic Center at 9:30pm on December 2nd and in the Goldstein Lobby at 9:30pm on December 4th at 9:30pm. With this semester wrapping up, we have already begun preparation for the upcoming Room Selection/Lottery for the 2015/2016 academic year.

Information will be distributed directly to students via email, Facebook, and on our Residence Life website starting in January. We will also be doing “Open Houses” for students to see what the different spaces on campus look like, and information sessions to individually address any questions there may be about the selection process. About 60% of the student body chooses to live on campus, finding that there are many positive benefits, including increased academic success. We have dedicated student and professional staff members who are members of the community. By the end of the semester, we will have hosted about 100 small and large events for the students living on campus. The health, safety, and success of our students are important to us. We recognize that while some of our students are satisfied with their living conditions off-campus, there are many that are interested in coming back. Due to this growing interest, we will be introducing a special opportunity for students who are currently commuting in regard this the Room Selection/Lottery Process. We are calling this our “Come Back Home” initiative, because living on campus is more than just a bedroom or apartment; it’s a community. More information regarding this opportunity will be made available in January. On behalf of all of us in Residence Life, I’d like to wish you all Happy Holidays! Thanks much, JJ MitchellCoordinator of Residence LifeHousing Operationsjmitche1@ringling.edu

[ 24 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 25 ]

Staying Healthy All Semester and Over the Holidays: CDC Travel Notices and On-campus Resources.Ringling College Student Life Health and Wellness Team

The end of the Fall semester presents some interesting challenges for students. Not only are they dealing with the recent stress of midterms, but also October and November usually marks the beginning of flu season that will run through April. College students also have some unique obstacles which make staying healthy more difficult, including sharing living and academic space, interaction with numerous people, traveling home during holidays, and a rigorous educational program which can cause some stress and sleepless nights.

We are proud of our high quality medical and counseling services provided in our on-campus Health Center. Our Health Center aims to provide a holistic health experience for students in an accessible location. Through our partnership with Sarasota Memorial Health we are able to offer a range of services at no additional cost to students both on campus and when meeting with a provider after hours at Sarasota Memorial’s Urgent Care facility at 5360 University Parkway regardless of insurance. When helpful we can assist students in setting up a wide range of additional services with a small co-pay and billing to students insurance through Sarasota Memorial’s network of providers. By having a dedicated physician’s assistant on-campus 25 hours a week, we are also able to work together to keep a watchful eye on issues that regularly affect our students at various times of the year.

The influenza virus is spread through coughing, sneezing, or talking which releases the virus into the environment via droplets. Because we often cover a cough or sneeze, our hands can become vehicles for spreading the virus as well. The CDC reports that someone infected with the influenza virus can spread this to others who are up to six

feet away, and those people may be infectious the day prior to developing symptoms. This can make controlling the flu difficult. Our best strategy during flu season is prevention. Student should stay tuned to the campus portal for dates of free on-campus vaccination clinics available across campus, or they can come into the health center at any time after the vaccine is available to receive one at no cost as well. The vaccine may not be appropriate for all students, and the Health Center offers other ways to stay healthy including annual physicals, management of long-term medications, and provision of education to prevent illness and maintain a healthy immune system.

Of course, these measures will not protect everyone from getting sick and we are available to help students when they need it. Our on-campus clinic is equipped to diagnose and treat students who present with symptoms of the flu, which include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, and fatigue. We also have partnered with Walgreens to have prescriptions delivered to our clinic so that students do not have to find time or transportation to get their medications. If you have a home prescription you would like to transfer, visit our website for more details.

While the risk of Ebola is very low within the general U.S. population, including on college campuses, we want to ensure that our students, faculty, and staff continue to be well informed. Sarasota Memorial Health providers in our on-campus Student Health Center, as well as the Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s local ER and Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Centers, have access to up-to-date information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and we are in

What should a student do if he/she traveled to one of the countries where the Ebola outbreaks are happening?

See CDC’s Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure to learn about your risk level.

Pay attention to your health after you return:• Monitor your health for 21 days.

o Take your temperature every morningand evening.o Watch for other Ebola symptoms: severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.o If your temperature is 100.4•°F (38•°C) or higher or you have any other Ebola signs or symptoms, seek medical care immediately.

contact with the Florida Health Department’s team monitoring the outbreak in West Africa.

While risk is very low in the U.S., to further reduce the possibility for a potential exposure, we recommend all students, faculty, and staff continue to monitor the CDC’s travel notices and avoid non-essential travel to high risk regions. The CDC has posted Warning Level 3 Travel Notices recommending that people avoid travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and at this time. Additionally, the CDC has posted Alert Level 2 Travel Notice to practice enhanced precautions for travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We advise that travel to these countries be postponed until further notice. Please review any updates to the list of travel notices before making travel plans and again right before scheduled departure: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

[ 26 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 27 ]

appear. It is spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids (such as urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, and semen) of an infected person, or with objects like needles that have been contaminated with the virus. This includes through intimate contact, such as sex, since Ebola can still be found in some bodily fluids for 7 weeks after a person has recovered.

• It is always good to avoid contact with anyone who is sick and to wash your hands regularly. Use soap and water if available or use hand sanitizer. Doing so can help you prevent getting sick from many different illnesses.

How long is the outbreak going to last? Will it be safe to travel in the spring semester?

• Although it is impossible to predict with complete certainty, it could take a minimum of six months to get the outbreak under control. The ministries of health in the countries where the Ebola outbreaks are happening are working in collaboration with the World Health Organization, CDC, and others to respond. However, due to the complicated nature of the outbreak, these countries face many challenges. Students, faculty, and staff should consider the likelihood that the outbreak could continue for months and that CDC’s recommendation to avoid non-essential travel may remain in place for as long as the outbreak lasts. This might mean not traveling to the affected area during the spring semester if the outbreak is still ongoing.

We are here to help support Ringling College’s academic mission and your student’s success in the classroom by providing convenient medical and mental health services for a range of basic services and guiding students through the process of identifying and scheduling with off-campus providers when they need specialized care. Ringling College has a demanding academic curriculum and we understand the impact of illness on the educational experience. We encourage you to visit our website at http://health.ringling.edu to view a video overview of our services offered, hours, and other frequently asked questions. You can also reach us by email medical@ringling.edu or phone 941-309-4000.

• Call and tell the doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms before you go to the doctor’s office or hospital. Advance notice will help the doctor care for you and protect other people who may be in the doctor’s office or hospital.

• Limit your contact with other people when you travel to the doctor; avoid public transportation.

• Do not travel anywhere except to the doctor’s office or hospital.

• Limit your contact with other people if you are sick. Do not go to work, classes, or other student or College activities until you have been medically evaluated.

• During the time that you are monitoring your health, if you have no symptoms, you can continue your normal activities, including work and school. If you get symptoms of Ebola AND HAVE VISITED WEST AFRICA OR ANOTHER HIGH RISK REGION IN THE PAST 21 DAYS it is important to stay separated from other people and to call your doctor right away.

What should a student do if he/she has traveled to one of the countries where the Ebola outbreaks are happening and have been exposed to Ebola?

• If you were exposed to people who had Ebola, or their blood or body fluids, students should notify our on-campus medical staff and contact Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care at (941) 917-4777 or your home physician, even if you do not have symptoms. Faculty and staff should email or call Human Resources. In all cases, a doctor should evaluate your exposure level and symptoms if you have them and consult with public health authorities to determine if actions•€” such as medical evaluation and testing for Ebola, monitoring, or travel restrictions•€” are needed. You should also follow the instructions above for monitoring your health.

What should my student do to protect his/her health if they suspect they may have come in contact with people on campus who have recently returned from a country where the Ebola outbreaks are happening?

• Ebola poses little risk to the U.S. general population and is not contagious until symptoms

As we wind down this semester and prepare for spring we are getting all students registered into courses. Registration began on November 17, so at this point all students without a STOP on their account should be registered for next semester. Advisers have been working hard and meeting with a lot of students over the past few weeks. We are still making adjustments to schedules so that everyone has the courses they need to graduate, and we will continue to tweak things for the next few weeks.

In addition to getting students ready for spring, the Office of Advising and Registration is excited to share with you two new services that have been brought online this semester.

Online Transcript Ordering

Transcript Ordering allows you to order official transcripts via the Web at any time, 24/7. You can order as many transcripts as you like in one online session using any major credit card. Registration is free; you pay only for the transcripts you order. Whenever you order a transcript, you will receive real-time order updates by email and can request to receive instant mobile text alerts. You can also track your order on the Transcript Ordering Web site.

Among the benefits that students will realize from online Transcript Ordering are:

· Convenient 24/7 access· Secure transactions

· Immediate, secure electronic transcript delivery worldwide

· Automatic order updates via mobile text alerts and email

· Online order tracking· Ability to order multiple transcripts for

multiple recipients in one order

Degree Verify

This month we went live with Degree Verify from the National Student Clearinghouse. It is an online enrollment and degree verification service. Simply put, it makes the hiring process for our graduates quicker and easier. Employment screening firms and individual companies no longer have to call during business hours or mail us a verification request. They can go online 24/7 and verify a graduate’s credentials from Ringling instantly. Anyone that needs to verify a graduate can do so at http://www.degreeverify.org/ and more information can be found on the Registration website.

These services are a big benefit to our current students and alumni. We are now going to begin work on the second phase of the project that will allow our current students to obtain enrollment verification online 24/7. So stay tuned!

Justin SelphRegistrarjselph@ringling.edu

From the desk of the RegistrarJustin Selph

[ 28 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 29 ]

The last weeks of the semester find ARC staff scrambling to keep up with study for final exams; students taking makeup, accommodated tests, and last minute writing help. Writing consultants, who are students themselves, must balance their own increased workloads with increasing demand for help with writing.

Rounding out the Semester in the AcademicResource CenterVirginia B. DeMers

As a semester progresses, some students face new health and education challenges and need to determine how those impact their work. Others discover that challenges they thought had ended resurface at just the wrong time or find they need to identify more time for classroom demands that can seem beyond possibility. Any student in a situation like that should contact Paula or Virginia as soon as there’s time. Sometimes the answer is time management or a series of writing consultations; for disabilities, solutions may have to wait until the new semester in January, but making a quick contact now can set the process in motion so help is in place as soon as possible.

Speaking of January, the ARC will begin the year with a reprise of Calendar Days during the first week of classes: 12 through 16 January 2015. For students who come, there will be information about the ARC and a limited supply of colorful 2015 wall calendars and Ringling planners for any student who did not receive one in the fall. Tell your students to come by, meet the staff, learn more about us and get a little “perk” for the effort.

We look forward to a successful end of semester for all and a good new semester in Spring 2015. Enjoy the holidays everyone!

Virginia B. DeMersDirector, Academic Resource Centervdemers@c.ringling.edu

Verman Kimbrough Memorial Library is pleased to announce the addition of three new multi-purpose High-Low rise workstations that extend the accessibility services to all Ringling College Library users and students. These new state-of-the-art tables have approximately 20 square feet of workspace and accommodate the portfolios, backpacks, laptops and whatever else our students carry with them around campus. Their motorized height adjustments allows for easy raising or lowering from a push button control.

Also, due to the generous donation of Mr. Sol Schwartz, professional artist and friend of the college, the library was able to purchase two new Wide TEK 25 large format scanners. These new units feature a poster size scanning capability of 25 x 18.5 inches; FTP, SMB, USB and e-mail scan; and ISO/DIN A2 color scan with up to 1200 x 600 dpi resolution. They complement our current small and medium sized scanners that accommodate 11 x8.5 inch and 11 x 17 inch media respectively.

All VKML patron workstations are Apple Macs which come with assistive technologies that help people with disabilities enjoy a full range of its features including visual, hearing, physical and motor skills and learning and literacy capabilities. For visual assistance, there is Voice Over, Zoom, dictation, and contrast control and cursor sizing. The deaf or hard of hearing can benefit from Facetime, closed caption, iMessage by sending to an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or another Mac, screen flash and mono audio. Difficulties with

Ergonomic and Accessibility Features Extended in the Kimbrough LibraryAl Zavar

keyboard, mouse or trackpad are overcome with Switch Control while Slow Keys and Sticky Keys allow for sensitivity and sequencing adjustments responding to motor- skill requirements. Speaking to your computer via dictation as well as using mouse keys for control or the onscreen keyboard is offered. And for those with cognitive and learning disabilities the Mac has features such as Simple

Finder for simplistic focusing and assists from dictionary, text to speech and word completion to name a few.

With the acquisition of the new High-Low workstations, the full range of library technologies will be available at these locations including one large format scanner, a Wacom Cintiq 24HD touch Pen Display, and several Mac workstations. One of our students, Phil Leslie, a fourth year

Illustration major from Tampa commented, “The standing desks are great. We spend so much time sitting that it’s nice to be able to stand and get work done.” Congratulations to Phil, a recent recipient of the Ringling College Library Association’s scholarship award.

Please stop in and visit the Ringling College Library family on your next campus visit. We would be glad to discuss the many exciting things that the Library has available for your student’s success.

Sincerely,

Al Zavar, Interim Library Directorazavar@ringling.edu

[ 30 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 31 ]

Ringling College of Art and Design celebrated International Education Week from 17 – 21 November. International Education Week an opportunity for celebrating the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education represented efforts in promoting programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future innovators and designers from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.

Highlights of the celebration at Ringling College included: study abroad information sessions; the screening of The UWC Spirit, a documentary film focused on the United World Colleges and produced by a Ringling College first-year student; an international photography exhibit; a glimpse of the library’s extensive international collection; mini language lessons; a celebration of Latvian Independence Day and an international fashion show. We enjoyed celebrating all things international at Ringling, including the rich contributions made by our growing international student population.

Those very same international students are eager to apply all that they are learning in the classroom and many second and third year students will be considering summer internship prospects. Senior international students will be thinking about jobs and graduate school and the Optional Practical Training application process. Although several workshops have been offered already, the spring semester represents an opportunity to prepare these students for these various endeavors. The Office of International Student Affairs, in collaboration with the Center for Career

Services, will be offering workshops specifically for international students in search of internships and employment. Topics will include the available resources and the recruiting process as well as the relevant immigration regulations, procedures and processes.

When the time comes to apply for work authorization, international students will have the opportunity to meet with an advisor in the International Student Affairs Office to have all questions answered and to finalize the process. Students with summer internships will have a clear sense of the documentation they need to gather in order to address the immigration regulations. Seniors will apply well in advance in order to ensure that they are able to pursue their plans upon graduation. The goal is for every student to have his or her work authorization in hand before the May 8 commencement.

International Education Week Amy Pettengill Director of International Student Affairs

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A Student LeaderMeghan Kay-Yun Cole, Advertising Design Class of 2015

We Should All be Creative Leaders

As a senior, whenever I’m asked what the difference is between Ringling College of Art and Design and another college, the first thing I say is the amount of creative problem solving that’s involved in all the majors on campus. We are taught more than production and skill-- we’re also taught how to approach an artistic or creative challenge and think about the best solution for the task at hand. This translates into the leadership space as well, and is a great opportunity for students to consider when building their experiences here on campus.

The Student Government Association is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. As President of the Student Government Association, I work alongside my executive board to manage and oversee all student clubs and organizations on campus, and manage student feedback as a direct line of communication between our faculty and the student body. I served as the Head Editor of Landline, the student-run “newspaper” that’s now online. I also serve as a student representative on several committees, including the Academic and Student Affairs committee. I won’t lie and say it’s an easy job, but knowing that Ringling values student leadership and input has always been important part of the school for me.

Classmates will often tell me their work schedules are too hectic to also be involved on campus, but I believe that making time to get involved outside of schoolwork is a critical aspect of our time as students. These experiences are more than a skillset taught from a textbook or tutorial video: they’re chances to develop as an individual preparing to go into the “real world” that I’ve been hearing more and more about as graduation

approaches.

When it comes down to it, recruiters want to see a balanced resume that shows we’re more than the classes we’ve taken. I’ve found that being involved on campus has made me more well rounded and prepared to manage multiple tasks and handle situations better than I could as a freshman. Leadership is never easy, but it’s definitely something I’ll always value from my college career.

Being involved on campus is easy: there are over 38 clubs and organizations on campus for all different interests. Any student can start a new club if they want to. We also have several college chapters of professional organizations for multiple majors, which are great opportunities for professional development. And of course, all Student Government Association meetings are open to all students on campus.

I started as a student representative for SGA my sophomore year, and since then I’ve really loved being involved on campus. I encourage my peers to do the same! If they’re ever interested in learning more about student involvement on campus, they are welcome to coming to an SGA meeting or emailing sga@c.ringling.edu for more information.

[ 34 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 35 ]

Food for the SeasonChartwells Dining TeamDuring the Season where counting your Blessings is more important than counting calories, this classic recipe will leave your house with that warm aroma of Holidays past, and delicious Joys to come!!

Happy Holidays and many Blessings in the New Year!

Tami’s Favorite Dutch Apple PieTOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 40 min. + coolingMAKES: 6-8 servings

Ingredients• 2 cups all-purpose flour• 1 cup packed brown sugar• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats• 3/4 cup butter, melted• FILLING:• 2/3 cup sugar• 3 tablespoons cornstarch• 1-1/4 cups cold water• 3 cups diced peeled tart apples• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Nutritional Facts1 serving (1 slice) equals 488 calories, 18 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 46 mg cholesterol, 185 mg sodium, 79 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Directions1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats and butter; set aside 1 cup for topping. Press

remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 9-in. pie plate; set aside.2. For filling, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water in a large saucepan until smooth; bring to a boil.

Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in apples and vanilla.3. Pour into crust; top with reserved crumb mixture. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until crust is

golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 6-8 servings.

[ 36 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 37 ]

Half Full: Midterm From One Recruiter's ViewSidney Clifton

It was a pleasure to meet many of you at the Food For Thought: Recruiter panel during Parent's Weekend. I am Sidney Clifton, Director of Recruitment, TransMedia and Employee Relations for Bento Box Entertainment. Bento Box is an Emmy award-winning studio that develops and produces quality-animated content for all distribution platforms worldwide. Recognized as the leading producer of primetime animated comedy series for broadcast, cable and digital networks, the company works with leading networks, studios and distribution companies. Bento Box currently employs over 350 artists, animators, writers, creators, post-production and production staff across its multiple studios. In my role as head of recruitment, I am tasked to find the best and brightest new talent in colleges and universities across the country.

I am also the mother of four, ranging in age from 8 to 32. Like you, I worry about my kids, regardless of their ages. Are they prepared, are they making smart choices; do I step in, do I back off? Is this a wise investment? Trust me, I get it.

I have visited many colleges and universities in the US and Canada, and approach each with a singular goal: to assess students' talent, preparedness, work ethic and attitudes. It is clear that midterm is stressful on students. They often feel in developmental limbo; neither here nor there, at the peak of the learning curve and struggling to hang on and steer this creative puppy while honing skills they hope can apply to a life to which they believe they aspire. Whether your son or daughter sees the glass as half full or half empty can vary by the hour.

I'm a mom. I get it.

But here is the good news; in my travels as a recruiter and as a mother, I am deeply impressed

by the phenomenal talent and practical career preparation provided by the president, professors and Career Services staff at Ringling College. Yes, the curriculum is at times intense; but the tools and resources provided are detailed and personalized. Ringling students and graduates are among the most phenomenal I have encountered, not only because of their amazing talent and often-specialized skills; but because of their ability to drive their own destiny and problem-solve using skills honed during their Ringling education. Be assured that the staff and professors at Ringling share your pride at the success of your sons and daughters. They care, and it shows in measurable results, with Ringling students being recruited by top companies in a variety of creative, business and high-tech sectors.

So if your student's confidence seems to waver a bit right now, don't be alarmed. Provide support, be encouraging, but if they seem unsure, remind them that they have gotten this far and that is to be commended. Ringling professors, staff, and fellow students are a strong team, and the experience will pay off. At the end, Ringling and you will have produced a world-class creative contender with skills, confidence, poise, and preparation that would be an asset to any team.

As a recruiter, an artist, and a mother, the glass is most definitely half full.

(Ms.) Sidney CliftonDirector of Recruitment, TransMedia andEmployee RelationsBento Box Entertainment5161 Lankershim BoulevardNorth Hollywood CA 91602818-333-7745sidney.clifton@bentoboxent.com

[ 38 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 39 ]

Helping Your Student Achieve Career Goals During Winter BreakAlejandra Lance-Calderón

The bulk of recruiter visits and portfolio reviews take place in the Spring semester for both internships and full-time positions. The five weeks of Winter Break are an excellent opportunity to prepare for those visits, and make preliminary strides towards securing a position at a company for the summer. This break is key for doing three things: preparing portfolios, networking with companies, and preparing/acquiring appropriate interview outfits. Some students may find thinking about the future very stressful, but there are some easy ways that parents can help guide them and relieve some of the pressure.

Preparing a portfolio, whether a hard copy printed version or electronic, requires a few key components. These are tasks that a student can easily do in advance, and insert the appropriate artwork later. For a print portfolio, images are contained within a bound book with sleeves. These are sold at most art stores and come in a variety of sizes and materials. As parents, you can help guide your student by providing a list of stores in your hometown that may carry what they need or provide a price list or list of materials for them to consider their options. The student will eventually need to print their images. Finding a good printer for high-quality images can be tricky, especially if local printers do not specialize in printing artwork. Students have access to print-services on campus, but they may need some help finding a local library or print store that isn’t too costly and has the correct size and type of color printer (i.e. Kinko’s is pricey). These are small, professional details that can go a long way in making the presentation of the student’s artwork really stand out.

Networking over the holidays is a great way to get a head start, too. Perhaps there are companies

in the student’s hometown or nearby where they could gain experience. December and January are a great time to take a tour or have an informational interview with someone at the company. If an in-person visit isn’t possible, encourage your student to use LinkedIn. Winter Break provides the time to encourage your student to update their profile and contact employees and recruiters at different companies. These quick interactions can get the student’s name out to important hiring managers and can be done from a mobile phone with the LinkedIn app- perfect for those long holiday rides to grandmas!

Last but not least, I recommend Winter Break for shopping or preparing interview apparel. Here at Ringling, interviews tend to be informal, but still require a nice pair of slacks, a nice shirt that doesn’t have a brand logo, or new shoes. This might mean digging clothes out of the closetand making sure they are packed for the returnto campus!

Recruiting season can be stressful, especially as it overlaps with finalizing thesis and end-of-year gallery shows. Preparing in advance and making small, conscious efforts to prepare for the job search every day can save a lot of hassle later when students are apt to leave career planning for last minute. Keep inspiring your student and they are sure to impress the employers!

Alejandra Lance-Calderón, Assistant Director, Career Servicesacalder@ringling.edu

[ 40 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 41 ]

Alumni Presentaion: Tom Bancroft, Character Design/ Art Direction/ Animation/ AuthorCynthia Flanagan

Another Next Step Speaker Series began with a bang this semester. Tom Bancroft works (or has worked) with several of our Ringling College graduates and was suggested as a great speaker for our students. What an understatement! Tom presented to a full house both Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and was a fantastic addition to our speaker series.

Friday, October 3rd after a day of visiting classes, meeting students, looking at portfolios, and critiquing work (whew!) - Tom gave his first presentation, "Making it in Animation" to a standing room only crowd. He shared his career experience from working at Walt Disney Feature Animation to Big Idea Entertainment to the ups and downs freelance work. Advice from Tom on how to get a job and current needs for artists in the industry was honest and well received.

On Saturday morning, "Character Performance" was the topic of the presentation, a subject touching on ALL aspects of creating a character (character design) but focusing primarily on the performance (staging, posing, expressions, acting). The lecture provided insights for ALL artists and animators working in 2d and 3d animation, illustration, video games, comic books, and concept design. Tom shared references in his presentation that taught the audience how to see and observe problems with illustrations and characters that might otherwise be overlooked but seemed bothersome. When the awareness and simple corrections were made to the artwork a more believable outcome is presented, accepted, and more easily understood.

Tom’s presentation and many more are available for all students to view at: www.Ringlingcollege.tv

(An ID and Password are needed for all Career Services recorded presentations to protect the rights of our presenters and proprietary recruiter information)

Cynthia FlanaganAssociate Director, Career Servicescflanaga@ringling.edu

More about Tom:

BIO: http://about.me/tombancroft/Portfolio: http://tombancroft.designbinder.com/Teaching: http://taughtbyapro.com/

Tom Bancroft has almost 25 years of experience in the animation industry, most of which was for Walt Disney Feature Animation where he was an animator for 11 years. He has been nominated for Annie and Rueben awards, spoken at the Kennedy Center and awarded an entry into the Chicago Children’s Film Festival.

While at Disney, Bancroft had the opportunity to contribute his talents to 10 animated feature films, five animated shorts, and numerous special projects and commercials. Among the classic films on which he worked are, “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” “Mulan” and “Brother Bear.” He was also a character designer and director for Big Idea Productions, makers of the family-friendly “Veggie tales” video series.

In 2005, Bancroft had his popular art instruction book “Creating Characters with Personality” published by Watson-Guptill Publishers. It has become the most recognized book on designing characters for animation, video games, comic books and cartooning, and is a required textbook

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at many art schools around the world. In 2012, Focal Press published his second book, “Character Mentor” and it is already one of their best-selling art instruction books. He has also illustrated over 50 children’s books, art directed a major children’s educational website (ABCMouse.com), wrote and illustrated multiple comic book series, and created character designs for TV, Film, and Video games for clients like Lego, Disney, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, CBN, Random House, Big Idea Production, Marvel, and more.

Presently, Bancroft is the Head of Character design for Seasons 2 to 4 of the “Superbook” series for Christian Broadcasting Network, President of online art instruction website (TaughtByAPro.com), speaks at video game companies and art schools all around the world (EA Entertainment, SCAD, Ringling, Nemo Academy-Italy, etc.) and creates art for clients all over the world.

Bancroft and his family reside inFranklin, Tennessee.

madeby Gallery featured in Sarasota Magazine - On the BeachAnnual Visitor’s Guideover 26,000 distribution to Florida hotels

[ 44 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue www.ringling.edu [ 45 ]

madeby Gallery is now located in the heart of the Ringling College of Art and Design campus in the lobby of Ulla Searing Student Life building.

On Nov 4th, 2014 madeby Gallery celebrated its 5th year Anniversary and it seem just right to celebrate that special day with a Grand Re-opening event at madeby Gallery new on campus location. The Gallery was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by President Dr. Larry Thompson and Dr. Tammy Walsh, Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students. The celebration was well attended by madeby supporters and customers.

During the Grand Re-opening madeby Gallery was featuring the 1st Annual Student Show. The Show opened for Parents’ Weekend on October 24th and continued through November 7th. Outstanding and creative artwork by over 20 students was juried by madeby and displayed for the show. The juried show gave the students the opportunity to promote and observe the process of selling their artwork.

You are invited to The Atomic Holiday Bazaar - http://atomicholidaybazaar.com/

Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th from Noon to 5:00 p.m. - SRQ’s original indie craft show, entering its 9th season! Atomic features handmade crafts. madeby Gallery will be located on the stage and selling the Alumni and Students indie crafts.

Looking forward to 2015 Gallery Openings

January 16th - January 31st Jess Nagy & Mirald CakeFebruary 6th – March 2nd Daniel Miyares March 13th – March 30th Tim Rogerson

April 3rd – April 13th Alumni Show

April TBA Aaron Blaise

Please visit madebygallery.com for details on these exciting upcoming madeby 2015 Gallery Openings.

Please call us at (941)822-0442, visit our website madebygallery.com and like us on Facebook.

madeby Gallery Happeningsmadeby team

< Photo by Karen Arango

[ 46 ] Parent Newslettter | December 2014 Issue

Photos from madeby Gallery’s grand re-opening and 5 Year Aniversarry ribbon cutting on

November 4th, 2014

Thank you for reading our quarterly Parents’ Newsletters. We would truly appreciate your feedback as the Newsletter develops.

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