Workshop to give students head start to design, construction careers

Contact: Christie McNeal

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's School of Architecture will offer a free workshop for high school and college students who want to know more about developing quality resumes and portfolios in architecture, art, interior design or building construction.

To be held Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., the College BOUND workshop will take place at the university architecture program's fifth-year building in downtown Jackson: the Stuart C. Irby Jr. Studios at 509 E. Capitol St.

Sponsored by the university's College of Architecture, Art and Design, the workshop will explain the basics of resumes and portfolios and what universities and future employers are looking for during the application process.

Students and guests will have time before the workshop to meet with faculty, staff and admissions representatives to learn more about programs in CAAD, which include the School of Architecture, the Department of Art, the Interior Design Program and the Building Construction Science Program.

Attendees also can participate in a "studio hop," which will include a tour of current fifth-year architecture students at work in their studio spaces and will help explain the studio-learning environment, something unique to a design education and CAAD.

The resume- and portfolio-building workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Beth Miller, interim associate dean of the college and director of the Interior Design Program, teaching "Tips and Tricks to Building a Quality Resume." Michael Berk, director of the School of Architecture, will explain "Packaging," and Jamie Mixon, interim director of the Department of Art, will discuss "The Basics to Building a Digital Portfolio." David C. Lewis, interim director of the Building Construction Science Program, will wrap up with "The Importance of Collaboration."

After these presentations, students will have the opportunity to break into smaller groups by area of interest. In these groups, students can ask more specific questions and get one-on-one help and critiques of their own art or design work, portfolios or resumes. Guests also will be able to browse student work in the building's gallery space during this time and speak with a university admissions representative about financial aid, scholarships and housing at Mississippi State University.

Anyone interested in attending the free workshop should apply online at www.caad.msstate.edu/collegebound/. The priority registration deadline is Sept. 5. For more information or for questions, contact Christie McNeal at cmcneal@caad.msstate.edu or 662-325-9839.