New Space Connects Digital Arts and Communication Students with Hands-on Media Training
Lake Charles, Louisiana – Thursday, December 12, 2024
SOWELA Technical Community College is taking students to the airways with its new, state-of-the-art media production studio. The studio, which opened in the fall, provides students in the popular Media Production concentration of the Digital Arts and Communication program with the opportunity to gain skills in podcasting, audio engineering, music production and voiceovers. An anonymous donor funded studio construction with recording technology secured through grant dollars.
“This studio is a big step in the right direction for where we want to go with this program,” said Digital Arts and Communication Adjunct Instructor Thunder John. “It enables our students to see what it’s like to be in a professional studio and will greatly enhance the learning experience for our students. Our studio is unique because it’s fit with some of the best equipment in the industry. SOWELA continues to show how much they care for and invest in our students. This investment provides us with the space and technology that not many other colleges in our area have.”
The two-year Digital Arts and Communication program prepares students for employment and advancement within digital media. Two concentrations are available: Graphic Design and Media Production. Fields include advertising, printing, video, photography, website design, motion graphics, podcasting, reporting and recording. Students learn how to use industry-standard software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. The program is located at SOWELA’s Main Campus in Lake Charles, LA.
SOWELA’s Digital Arts students are well-trained in their field, and many earned national accolades before graduation, including a gold medal finish at the national SkillsUSA Photography competition this past summer, a record-setting top-place finish in both the national SkillsUSA t-shirt and pin design competition and most recently, first place at the ATMAE video competition in Las Vegas, NV.
The success of these students highlights their dedication and skill, underscoring the quality of education and training provided by SOWELA. Their achievements at the national level reflect the College’s commitment to preparing students for career excellence and contributions to the broader community.
SOWELA is currently registering for the Spring 2025 semester, including within the Digital Arts and Communication program. Interested individuals can visit www.sowela.edu/apply for more information or contact onestop@sowela.edu with questions. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 85 years.