A team of students from the Center for Digital Imaging Arts of Boston University worked with the CARE for Kids Foundation on a website design project during the Winter Practicum at the school’s Washington, DC location. After four weeks of intense work with the Director of the local non-profit organization, the team launched the CARE for Kids Foundation website on Friday, December 18, 2009.

Students enroll in CDIA BU following college graduation or, in many cases, following a number of years of being in the workplace. They come to enhance their skills in the digital imaging arts, and take advantage of the many options offered according to their needs and timing.

Three times each year selected students participate in a Practicum. Each student team is matched up with a non-profit organization to provide pro bono digital imaging services needed by the organization. In return, the students are afforded “real” content to use in final products destined for their resumes and portfolios. It’s a win-win situation not only for both the students and the non-profit organizations, but also for the community.

Director of the CARE for Kids Foundation Leigh Updike Braun comments that the talent, dedication and professionalism of the student teams assigned to her Foundation were exceptional. CDIA BU student Hayley Sanderson majored in English and is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland. Contessa Crisostomo graduated from Salisbury University in Maryland with a Communications major and was a reporter for three years for The Gazette. Lisa Loyd graduated with an Art History major from the University of Virginia and started her own business of print and web-related services.

The video team assigned to the project was led by Anar Garibov, who remains in the Washington area and has expressed an interest in assisting with additional footage as the CARE for Kids Foundation project evolves into the premiere performance of the first musical. His team members in the Winter Practicum were Katrina Fletcher, Joseph Poleman and Scott Berry. The expertise observed during the production of their contribution to the Foundation’s web presence was exceptional.

Please encourage others to visit the website to learn more about the CARE for Kids Foundation and how it can work in their communities.