Camp to educate high school students on computer graphics

Anna Herkamp/Summer Reporter TIRED AFTER THE DRIVE: Britton Jones, a high school student from Jones Academic Magnet High School lays on his bed in Hillenbrand Hall and tells his dad, Brad, his new phone number. Britton is attending the week-long Computer Graphics Camp that targets high school age students from around the country and the world.

By Anna Herkamp
Summer Reporter

This week 112 high school students from around the world will gather to learn about the latest computer graphics technologies and job options available in the field.

The Computer Graphics Summer Camp will help students learn about all aspects of computer graphics including Web animation and publishing, said Mark Bannatyne, associate professor computer graphics and coordinator of the camp.

The goal of the camp is to get information to high school students about the field of computer graphics technology as an occupational activity and not just a hobby, said William Ross, professor of technology.

While the camp targets all high school students, special emphasis is put on women and minority students. "Women add an entirely different dimension to computer graphics," said Bannatyne.

For many students, travel expenses on top of the camp's $425 fee is more than they can afford. To offset some of the costs, the camp offers approximately $1200 in scholarship money to students; 25-50 students receive a full ride.

The fee for the camp includes money for all instructional sessions, lab time, a tee-shirt each student designs themselves, housing in Hillenbrand Hall, meals, entertainment such as a film festival and billiard party as well as the day tours the students take during the week.

The camp is becoming more and more widely known each year, said Bannatyne. Every year, information about the camp is sent out to various school districts throughout the country. The camp sends out a letter to every department of education in the United States. There is also a Web site many students visit and find out about the camp via the internet.

Because of the extensive public relations the camp does, some students of rather diverse backgrounds will attend this year.

One American family in Singapore found out about the camp from the Web site and decided to come back to the states so their child could attend.

There are also six Navajo students from New Mexico, as well as students from Puerto Rico and France in attendance.

All professors who work at the camp volunteer their time and effort to make the camp a success, said Bannatyne. While they are educating students about computer graphics, it also gives them a chance to share some information about Purdue's graphics program.

The camp has even attracted the attention of some software and computer companies in past years. However, that type of support is "not what it's about," insists Bannatyne.

He said he would like to see some sponsorship, but only the kind that will contribute to the education of high school students about the computer graphics, and not about selling merchandise.

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