Optimism high among students,
faculty in Graphic Communications
Although the economic outlook
continues to cast a chill on the na
tion to match the weather, it’s dif
ficult to find a pessimist among the
faculty and students of Chowan
College’s School of Graphic Com
munications.
The optimism of the department
is reflected in two of its recent
brochures, “Job Opportunities for
YOU” and “PaUiways to the
Future.”
Future in Two Directioiis
For graduates of the School of
Graphic Communications, the
future lies in one of two directions
according to Herman Gatewood,
department chairman.
“Many of our students seek im
mediate employment while others
transfer to senior colleges,”
Gatewood said. In both areas,
Chowan’s graphic communica
tions graduates have produced en
viable records over the years,
Gatewood stated.
The Graphic Communications
Department offers programs in
photography; news writing and
advertising; and printing
technology, the original program
offered when the department open
ed in 1952.
200 Students Enrolled
The some 200 students enrolled
in the three programs have cause
for optimism as they celebrate
Graphic CommunicaUons Week,
Gatewood noted.
The printing technology pro-
,gram c^ers instmctian for ^
studeiits in Ihree areas;
typography, process camera
operation, and press operation.
Gatewood said the program
receives strong support from the
printing industry newspapers and
manufacturers.
Gatewood estimated the replace
ment value of the ^uipment
donated by the printing industry is
$750,000. The School has just
received a donation of a $150,000
ultra high speed computer system
to set type, he added.
Gatewood said that printing
technology graduates have the op-
portiuiity of selecting among a
number of job offers. “The number
of employment requests far ex-
A two-color
offset press
is one of the
most recent
installations
in the
graphic
communications
school.
Graphic Communications majors learn the operation of a three-
unit web offset newspaper press in their preparation for employ
ment or transfer to a senior institution.
ceeds the number of graduates
who choose to enter the printing in
dustry immediately following
graduation.”
Gatewood said that during their
two years at Chowan, the students
receive training in all phases of
printing inciiKiing color separation
and co\oi pnnAing, increasirg tt»ir
value to the industry.
But he pointed out that the prin
ting program is offered in conjunc
tion with the liberal arts program.
“For every hour of printing
technology the student has an hour
of liberal arts. This is a drawing
card for employers who like the
students to be well-rounded with
exposure to the liberal arts,”
Gatewood declared.
Graduates Widespread
He said Chowan’s graduates are
serving “almost everywhere” with
newspapers and print shops and
the printing industry in general.
He said many are serving as pro
duction managers and press room
"Si'*
mm
and composing room foremen.
These include Thomas Nelson,
vice-president of Owen G. Dunn,
Inc., New Bern; Donald Oakley,
production superintendent, Rox-
boro Courier- Times; Tim Jones,
production manager, Greenville
Daily Reflector; Keith Young,
press roMn foreman, Kemersville
News; James Nelins, operation
manager, Richmond (Va.)
newspapers. Inc.; and John
Powell, commercial printing
manager for The Herald Printing
House, Ahoskie.
Another graduate, Ken Wilson, is
publisher for the Waynesville
Mountaineer and Thomas Richard
son is general manager of the Bed
ford, Va. Bulletin. John Rider is
the owner and publisher of the
Douglas, Wy. Budget. Among
graduates who own printing com
panies are Frank Edwards in
Rocky Mount; Richard Paden in
Alexandria, Va.; and Vernon Hall
in Neosha, Mo.
The School of Graphic Communications uses some of the most
modern equipment available in its educational program. Student
shown is operating a data storage and editing terminal for
newspaper typesetting.
High School Teachers
Other graduates are serving
with educational institutions.
Fletcher Noe is printing instructor
at Carteret High School in
Morehead City.
Frank Granger at Central Pied
mont Community College and
Harold Brown at the North
Carolina School for the Deaf at
Morganton direct the departments
of printing.
Gatewood said the news writing
and advertising program was
started in 1978 in response to re
quests from newspaper executives
comprising the Chman Graphic
Arts Foundation, Inc., with Don
Hall, publisher of the Roanoke
Rapids Daily Herald then serving
as president.
The demand for graduates is
“tremendous” according to
Gatewood. Chowan’s graduates
are serving as reporters and
editors with a number of papers in
Virginia and the Carolinas. Mike
Bamhardt is editor of the Benson
Review while Robin Minton
Stockett is reporter- photographer
for the Oxford Public Ledger, to
name a few.
Four former students who chose
to continue their studies are serv
ing on university newspaper staffs.
Harry Pickett of Shallotte is sports
editor at Appalachian State
University. Dean Lowman of
Hildebran is reporter and colum
nist at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Greg
Bassett and Angela Elder are
reporters at the University of
Maryland.
Photography Program
The 50 students enrolled in the
photography program, begun in
1972, receive instruction in black
and white photography as
freshmen and advance to color,
both negative and slides, as
sophomores. Areas covered in
clude news photography, photo
journalism, and studio work in
cluding portraiture and advertis
ing.
Two graduates received 1981
first place photography awards in
competiion sponsored by the North
Carolina Press Association. They
are Joe Swift, Elizabeth City Daily
Advance, and Charles Gupton,
formerly of the Hamlet News and
now a Raleigh freelance
photographer.
Another graduate, Hugh Lewis,
transfered to Rochester Technical
Institute and now owns his own
studio in Charlotte. Steve Deal,
who completed the printing
technology program, is chief
photographer for the Atlanta Con
stitution.
Help our cdUeges
cope with inflation.
The money you give
may decide wheflier
Pm to be (M* not to be.
—William Shakespeare
Poet. Actor. Playwright
Inflarion is hurting colleges all
over America.
So please give generously. By
helping to save my work from
neglect you may prevent the great
est Shakespearean tragedy of all.
Help! Give to the college
of your choice.
A public tervKKof thu
vtd Thr AdvcTMtnc Council
The Chowanian, February, 1982—Page 7