Community service a priority at DCAD

December 22nd 2009

Over the course of the fall semester, first-year students at the Delaware College of Art and Design were able to accumulate 732 hours of community service, fulfilling one of their core requirements.

As part of DCAD’s Foundation Seminar, students are required to spend six hours assisting a group within the Wilmington community with arts-related tasks. Co-ordinated by DCAD’s Director of Student Services Scott Straw and Director of Communications Jessica Sturgis, the students assisted a total of eight groups this semester.

Students worked with the Delaware Museum of Natural History, helping them to prepare for their annual Dino Days, scheduled for Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. DCAD students painted and/or illustrated different species for the event and also helped to design pieces for interactive portions of the event wherein children can touch the items. DCAD students also prepared materials for the museum’s Halloween “Bats and Other Creatures of the Night” event.

Other highlights of the semester included working on art projects at Elementary Workshop Montessori School and the Christina Cultural Arts Center as well as helping Meals on Wheels prepare for special events. DCAD also worked with St. Michael’s Pre-School, Hagley Museum Library and the YMCA Resource Center.

Foundation Seminar is designed to introduce students to each of DCAD’s six majors – Animation, Fine Arts, Photography, Illustration, Interior Design and Graphic Design. Students spend two weeks in each major and two weeks doing community service. Between 15 and 19 students are split between the sites for each cycle.

Students finished their fall community service Dec. 9. New DCAD students will participate during the spring semester.