CWU Holiday Card Competition Displays Student Talent

November 30, 2004

Contact: Judy Miller (509-963-2111/fax 509-963-3206/e-mail: miller@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - If you've been impressed with the 2004 Central Washington University holiday card, you can thank a CWU student. This year's card was conceptualized, designed and produced by Kristin Jacobs, a senior graphic design student from Tacoma.

In 2002, CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre introduced the idea of holding a student competition to create the university's holiday card, which is sent to the university community, emeriti faculty, community leaders, legislators and individuals at other institutions across the region and nation. It serves as an invitation to the president's annual holiday reception.

Now in its third year, the competition is held in an upper-division graphic design class taught by Glen Bach, CWU graphic design professor. His students have about two weeks to conceive, design and create the holiday card.

They are given broad guidelines to follow, including the card size and a general theme from which to work.

"We also ask students to focus on campus scenes as they explore that broad, general theme."

Last year, about 20 students presented a mock-up of their final design to McIntyre, who looked at the cards and circulated them to other administrators and staff for their feedback.

"The designs are amazing, and it's difficult to make a choice," Judy Miller, executive secretary to the president, notes.

The winning card is selected a year in advance, allowing time for students to design it during the appropriate season and for production of the card.

Jacobs, the creative mind behind this year's holiday card, presented her design to McIntyre in December 2003.

Jacobs, who works for the CWU campus life publicity center, created a card featuring a still life of a trumpet, violin and ballet slippers in rich tones of gold, brown and red.

Inside, Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted: "Announced by all the trumpets of the sky, arrives the snow." The card is delivered in a delicate vellum envelope with a violin decorating the return address.

"I particularly like the card's musical theme because it reminds us of our good fortune to enjoy our spectacular new music education facility this season," Miller notes. Jacobs created the entire concept of the card, from the copy, layout and graphics to the materials.

"Besides giving graphic design students real world experience, President McIntyre wanted to have an excellent card to send people that reflected the quality of our graphic design students," Miller explains.

"The success we've experienced over the last two years has produced much positive feedback that has shown us it's the right thing to do."

A monetary award is given for the first, second and third place holiday cards. Jacobs will receive $200 for her first place design.

On Dec. 3, McIntyre will present a professionally framed copy of the 2004 holiday card to Jacobs at the CWU board of trustees meeting.