MTSU takes SIGGRAPH Conference in LA by storm

MTSU Students outside the LA Convention Center at the 2015 SIGGRAPH Conference (left to right): Rebecca Yanis, Justin Wright, Tasha Storie, Cole Smeltzer, Julia Daugherty, Quin Smith, Victor Chavez, Jared Moore, Anthony Filipas, Kelsey Hoggard, Assistant Professor Kevin McNulty, Caleb Smotherman, Jaclyn Vazquez, Angel Agee, Brandon Berry, Megan Steadman, Ryan Allgood, Derek Barnes, Zach Wells

MTSU professors, students and alumni headed to Los Angeles in August to attend the 2015 SIGGRAPH Conference at the LA Convention Center.

Electronic Media Communication Professor Marc Barr chaired the international event, giving students enrolled in MTSU’s animation program a perfect venue to learn directly from movers and shakers in the industry.

Seven MTSU students were selected as official student volunteers to work the conference, while animation graduate Natalie Rountree worked as an official leader for student volunteers. In all, 20 MTSU students attended.

Assistant Professor Kevin McNulty served as an Education Committee member, Education Committee booth manager and curator for the 4th Annual Faculty Submitted Student Work Exhibit.

MTSU animation alumna Mikki Rose was appointed chair of the Computer Animation Festival Program. Rose, a 2005 graduate of the college, was inducted into the Mass Communication Wall of Fame in 2012. She was part of the team that won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for The Golden Compass in 2008.

Another animation alumnus, Mike Hardison, served as the Games Program chair. Hardison currently works for Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, California.

The annual SIGGRAPH conference is a five-day interdisciplinary educational experience in the latest computer graphics and interactive techniques including a three-day commercial exhibition that attracts hundreds of exhibitors from around the world. The conference also hosts the international SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival, showcasing works from the world’s most innovative and accomplished digital film and video creators. SIGGRAPH stands for Special Interest Group on GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques. MTSU’s SIGGRAPH chapter is one of only 20 university chapters worldwide.

Here is Professor Barr giving an overview of the SIGGRAPH 2015 conference: Marc Barr

For more information on this year’s SIGGRAPH conference, please click here.

MTSU students (left to right) Jared Moore, Caleb Hoskins, Jaclyn Vazquez, Kelsey Hoggard, Professor and SIGGRAPH Conference Chair Marc Barr, Anthony Filipas, Cole Smeltzer, Angel Agee at the 2015 SIGGRAPH Conference in Los Angeles.