Lauren Thompson, Graphic Commercial Art Class of 2011
Englewood, Ohio - Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) 2011 Graphic Commercial Art graduate, Lauren Thompson, was named Art Director for the School of Advertising Art (SAA) in Kettering in June of 2015.
A graduate of Miami East High School and MVCTC, Thompson attended SAA as a student right out of high school. With the scholarship money she had earned by attending MVCTC, she was able to earn her Associate’s Degree in Applied Business in Advertising Art. While attending SAA, Thompson interned with Nova Creative Group in Centerville and Real Art Design in Dayton. She graduated Salutatorian of her class at SAA.
A week before her SAA graduation, Thompson had a job offer with Midmark Corporation in Versailles, Ohio. She started as a Web Content Administrator intern and was hired on fill-time after about six months. She was designer for all things digital, including managing all changes and updates to the front-end of the website, created new web banners, landing pages, promotional pages, etc.
Thompson was with Midmark for about two years before getting the call from SAA that they were creating a new position and they wanted her to interview. The new position was for Art Director, and she was excited to be back at SAA.
About her position as Art Director, Thompson shared, “As the Art Director, I create almost all of the marketing materials for the school. Event invitations, signage, displays, designs for apparel, direct mail, catalogs, brochures, web banners. I do it all! I also took over all of the internal photography for the school. I do a lot of lifestyle shots of students being students and living in Kettering, photograph events, etc. One of my favorite things is being able to go back to MVCTC to talk to current students about the school or design in general and critique student work to help them improve. I also get to go back and grade senior projects and presentations.”
When asked if she had suggestions for students considering MVCTC, Thompson stated, “You have those few life changing decisions that you make in life and as a high school student, you don't even realize you're making them. Looking back, choosing to attend MVCTC was my first decision that changed my life. It made me who I am today. I was a really shy student in the beginning of high school. MVCTC gave me the confidence to be more outgoing, to be myself, to succeed. MVCTC was the first stepping stone in making my career dreams a reality. MVCTC is the best place for a high school student to really pursue what they want to do in life.”
You can learn more about the School of Advertising Art and see some of Lauren Thompson’s great work by visiting, www.saa.edu.
If you are a Montgomery County Joint Vocational School (MCJVS) or a MVCTC alumni, we want to hear from you! Please go to http://www.mvctc.com/alumni/success-stories and share your story.
For more information about MVCTC, visit www.mvctc.com.
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Photo: 2011 MVTC Graphic Commercial Art Graduate Lauren Thompson is the new Art Director for the School of Advertising Art (SAA) in Kettering, Ohio.
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