CCAD Launches High School Storyboard Contest To Mark College's Selection As First U.S. Center Of Excellence For Toon Boom Animation Software

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbus College of Art & Design announced today a national competition for a high school student to win a full scholarship to CCAD's three-week summer College PreView program to develop the selected animation.

The contest celebrates CCAD's selection as the first Center of Excellence in the United States for industry leading digital content and animation creation software Toon Boom. Montreal-based Emmy-Award winning Toon Boom is the platform behind the development of Nickelodeon's "Rug Rats," Disney's "Princess and The Frog," and feature movie versions of "The Simpsons" and "SpongeBob Square Pants."

"Being a Center of Excellence provides CCAD students with the opportunity to test and use the latest versions of this industry leading software and maximize their value among film and animation employers," said Dennison Griffith, president of CCAD. "Employment opportunities in this field are growing significantly with the use of animation not just in the entertainment industry, but in the development of apps, software and gaming technology."

The choice of CCAD as the first American Center of Excellence follows Toon Boom's selection as an official educational resource and curriculum to support development of 21^st century skills among Canadian students by the Information and Communications Technology Council in Canada.

"CCAD has been a long-standing customer and supporter of Toon Boom. We are thrilled to see them become the first Center of Excellence in the U.S. and prepare students for the marketplace. CCAD will be highly recommended to all our customers as a prime source of talents for their productions," said Joan Vogelesang, president and CEO of Toon Boom.

Griffith said the partnership with Toon Boom helps the college increase the visibility of its Animation and Cinematic Arts programs.

"Our Animation program is rated No. 3 in the Midwest, and we just celebrated with our 2010 grad Steve Hubbard who was part of the Oscar-winning animation team for 'Life of Pi,'" Griffith said.  "And we're looking forward to the upcoming release of 'Monsters U,' which is directed by alum Dan Scanlon."

Griffith said CCAD's community programs for adults and middle and high school students offer access to the Toon Boom software for classes and workshops held in CCAD's media arts lab. Among those programs is College PreView, July 7 to July 27, for students entering grades 10, 11 and 12 in the fall.

For a full list of youth and adult courses and to register, go to www.ccad.edu/ce or call 614.222.3248.

ABOUT CCAD:
Columbus College of Art & Design, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest private art and design colleges in the United States with 1,350 undergraduate and graduate students. CCAD offers bachelor's and master's degrees in Fine Arts. Undergraduate students choose from nine majors: photography, industrial design, advertising and graphic design, animation, illustration, fine arts, fashion design, interior design and cinematic arts. www.ccad.edu

Contact:
Robin Hepler
[email protected]  
614.222.6163
614.565.6525 (cell)

SOURCE Columbus College of Art & Design