Contact JoAnn Patel, Program Director
Email: jpatel@champlain.edu
Phone: 802.383.6683
Contact JoAnn Patel, Program Director
Email: jpatel@champlain.edu
Phone: 802.383.6683
The best way to find out what it's like to study Game Art at Champlain is to hear from our current students and alumni. Follow a few of them below as they take you on their journeys and share the successes they found along the way. Beyond the classrooms, students have countless avenues to explore their interests, connect with others, and dive headfirst into their field.
Jenny Caplan on Studying in America and International Education
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Hometown
Scotland
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Burlington, VT
What about Champlain College appealed to you as an international student?
For my Computer Arts degree, there were several options in Europe for exchange programs. Champlain was the only one in the USA which was interesting to me. I wanted to go to Champlain because it seemed like a really fun and friendly community. I went to the exchange program presentation led by previous exchange students. I was really excited after the presentation, finding out there were so many clubs and student activities. I had my own club at Abertay but without much engagement. I run one now by the same name of Jukiyo club and the club members are now all my closest friends here.
What resources are available to you as an international student? How were they helpful?
The OISS office run by Jessa Karki is my first point of contact for any issues or questions that I have as an international student. Jessa is really helpful and is a good advisor for when I'm struggling with anything. I have also found many professors to be understanding of my status as an international student, as well.
As an international student, what do you think is most valuable about a Champlain education?
I think having professors in the industry has been really helpful in preparing me to choose the right specialization and career path in Game Art after graduation.
I really enjoyed Game Entrepreneurship, which was a virtual Montreal class. We worked with real industry problems and data in our case studies, which was really interesting.
Jack Tenda on the Game Studio, Changing His Perspective, and Advice for First-Years
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Hometown
Williston, VT
Pronouns
He/Him
Favorite Class
Advanced Seminar
What specifically made you choose Champlain?
The Game Studio/Game Art program was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to attend Champlain. Being a local Vermonter, I always heard great things about the program. It seemed like a no-brainer to be a part of the Champlain community, which values hard work and collaboration.
How has Core changed your perspective (of self, of community, of the world)?
Core allowed me to open up as an individual and be a free thinker. I can see now that before coming to college, I was a very close-minded person, and did not really care to learn more about other perspectives. Core classes completely changed my way of thinking about life, and helped me form my own opinions while doing relevant research on important topics. Without the Core curriculum, I would not feel as prepared to jump headfirst into the real world.
Having been at Champlain now, what advice do you wish you could have given yourself on day one?
If I could have given myself advice, it would have been to be more involved with the Champlain community, and find a club or extracurricular to join. It always seemed like there was no time to fit these activities into my schedule. Looking back and seeing how quickly four years went by, I wish I did more to find a club or community.
Katherine Townsend on Studying Game Art and Animation, the Game Studio, and Her Internship with Jam City
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Concentration
Animation
Minor
Interactive Narrative
Hometown
Brookline, NH
Pronouns
She/Her
Internships
Animation/Video Intern at Clocky & Game Production Intern at Jam City
Favorite Class
Advanced Seminars in Animation
What is it about your major/area of study that appeals to you? Why does a career in that field matter—what value does it add to the world?
I've always valued the field of animation, and I knew I would pursue that direction when heading to college. I've found game development is full of many more opportunities than I had even known. While I've always valued entertainment—whether that be through film or games—it's even more clear now how necessary it is to humanity moving forward. Entertainment gets people through hard times and helps make our lives better.
Talk a bit about your classes. What projects, subjects, or experiences have had an impact on you? How does that apply to your field?
In the Game Studio curriculum, our studio classes have had the biggest impact on my understanding of the industry because we were immersed in a real studio environment with team-driven projects. It fostered a sense of community, autonomy, and goal-setting that I hadn't encountered before. It also allowed me to explore different roles in the studio. It's also where I was introduced to being a producer, which is what I'm going to do in my career.
Have you had opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in your major to experiences outside the classroom?
For my entire junior year, I worked as a Game Production Intern at Jam City. I've been able to bring the documentation and planning skills I've learned from my Game Studio classes into a major mobile game development studio. Coming from an interdisciplinary background, I was able to serve the art and narrative teams at work with the previous knowledge of having studied both subjects with my major and minor courses of study.
During my internship with Jam City, I served on the production teams of two games: Panda Pop and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. I dove into production for art and animation, while also dabbling in narrative and localization. I handled various tasks and documentation that supported both teams, and took on solo projects that aided the team's asset archives and reference material that will bring efficiency to future projects. Outside of working and supporting my teams as a Production Intern, I met many great people and made amazing and meaningful connections that I know I'll keep for the rest of my career.
Olivia Jones on Being Prepared for a Future Career, Champlain’s Approach to Game Art & Animation, and Champlain’s Friendly Community
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Concentration
Concept Art
Hometown
Haverhill, MA
Pronouns
She/Her
Favorite Class
Concept Painting Fundamentals
How prepared do you think you are for life after Champlain, both in your future career and day-to-day life?
The Game Development classes have prepared me for what it would be like working on a real game development team. As the years have passed, our process has become more industry-level. I believe that if I transitioned into a fulltime position on a real team tomorrow, I would have a strong grasp on the work.
What is it about your major/area of study that appeals to you? Why does a career in that field matter—what value does it add to the world?
I'm a Game Art & Animation major, with a primary interest in concept art. I love all things 2D and also enjoy storyboarding, comic making, animation, and the collaboration between art and narrative. Ever since I was a child, one of the things I wanted most in my career was to make people feel something in the same way I felt while engaging with movies and games. They have the ability to transform and inspire a person, and that's important to me.
What’s your favorite thing about Champlain’s community?
As a commuter, I think my favorite thing about the Champlain community is its friendly nature. More often than not, people are willing to speak to one another, and help with issues they are experiencing. It's a community that bands together in tough times.
Olivia DiPrizio on Creating a Portfolio, Advanced Seminar in Environments, and Studying Abroad
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Minor
Interactive Narrative
Hometown
Exeter, NH
Pronouns
She/Her
Favorite Class
3D Modeling
What has been your favorite Core class so far? Why?
My favorite Core class has been Bodythought with Erik Shonstrom. We learned all about how we experience the world on a subconscious level. It was eye-opening and very fun! In every class, we did something new and exciting—like going swimming in Lake Champlain, learning to waltz, or playing Twister.
What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found particularly rewarding or useful?
The projects in my Game Studio classes are always very rewarding because I get to bring a game's visual direction to life. Helping develop a game from a concept to a finished prototype is a great experience, especially when it's helping me develop skills I'll need for my future job.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in? What do you do and why do you enjoy them?
I'm part of Social Impact Scholars, a group dedicated to discussing social and political topics on campus, in Burlington, and in the world. I enjoy being able to facilitate discussions with other students and the exposure to new perspectives and opinions in an environment that's dedicated to understanding.
Grace Magnant on Game Art, Organizing a Drag Show, and Post-Graduation Plans
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Specialization
Environment Artist
Hometown
Topsfield, MA
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Quebec
Favorite Class
Bodies: Dance
Post-Grad Job
Junior Environment Artist at Raven
What made you choose your major?
I was at Champlain's open house, and I remember going to the Game Art and Animation presentation. They were very honest about what was to come if I wanted to be a game artist. The professor explained that Game Art was one of the toughest majors on campus, and that there would be very little free time if you chose to go down this path. My dad told me later he was listening to this thinking "oh gosh, that's a tough sell. Grace probably doesn't want this." But when he looked at me, I was inspired. I wanted a major that was challenging, something that pushed me to be better, and in some ways, something that would prove to myself that I could accomplish any task in front of me. I found that environment art combined the two things I love the most: mathematical problem-solving and art.
What was your favorite Core class experience?
I was able to create a drag show in my second year for a core class that questioned gender expression and how much confidence and self-worth ties into how one presents themself. I brought a bunch of friends together and had them take a series of surveys before, right after, and a few weeks after the drag show that asked about their mental state and self-worth during those times. It was incredible to see just how much self-worth and confidence can be tied to the way people present themselves and how opening the door to things like drag shows improved many people's self-confidence and self-worth. As an experiment, it also brought to life how dressing certain ways can put you into a box you may not be comfortable with and how, even if you find you like the way you present yourself currently, gender expression and fashion experimentation allow you to find a place where you feel the most confident with yourself.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have recently accepted a Junior Environment Artist position at a company called Raven, and will be moving out there this summer. I am excited to further my career from this point forward, and I am very grateful for the opportunities and growth I have gained at Champlain College.
Alex Theodoreu on Champlain College Esports, Jobs on Campus, and Lake Champlain Sunsets
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Hometown
Red Bank, NJ
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Canada
Internship
Weathered Sweater in Winooski, VT and Rad Magpie in Burlington, VT
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
I was involved with Champlain College Esports from the first week of my first year to the beginning of my junior year. It was one of the best decisions I ever made because I met so many cool people and really felt like I found a place for myself at Champlain. The connections and friendships I made have been really great, and I did a lot of graphic design work for CCE so I was able to build a portfolio for that. I never expected to get involved with Esports at all when I got to college, but it was one of the best choices I made.
Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position?
Two positions I really enjoyed having are being a Student Ambassador and being a Game Art Tutor.
Being a Student Ambassador is such a great way to meet a new group of friends and start feeling more self-confident. SA really focuses on how to talk to people, how to represent yourself and the school professionally, and how to think through situations quickly and handle them with ease. I've become a much better speaker ever since I started giving tours, and that has helped me with so many things from giving better presentations for my classes to being able to communicate more effectively with the people I collaborate with. Game Art tutoring is a super rewarding job because you can do it when you're a senior and actually be able to apply the knowledge you've accumulated over the past three years of college to help other students. It's been great actually learning how to articulate what I do specifically in the programs I'm using so that I can clearly communicate how to fix an issue or show a person how to do something without confusing them. I find that I learn more about the programs I use by teaching others how to use them.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found at Champlain?
I was surprised with how much I fell in love with the sunsets over the lake. I genuinely would schedule my meetings in the library right around when the sun would set so I could see the sunset over the entire horizon. It's absolutely breathtaking, and I'm so happy I can sit in awe in front of my window every night and watch the sun fade into the mountains that frame Lake Champlain.
Colton Orr on the Game Art Program, Champlain Professors, and Interning at an Indie Game Company
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Hometown
Lebanon, NH
Pronouns
he/him
Internship
3-D Character Artist at Tuque Games in Montreal, Canada
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Canada
Pots-Grad Job
Character Artist at Insomniac Games in Burbank, CA
What made you choose Champlain College?
I liked Champlain for a multitude of reasons, including the Upside-Down Curriculum, but I ultimately chose Champlain because of the Game Art & Animation* major. Our program is all about creating games with a purpose beyond just entertainment. We consider depth, and what makes a game matter. That's something other schools don't have, and we do it well.
*Program name changed to Game Art in 2019.
What is the best part about the professors at Champlain?
No matter what classes you take, your professors care about your success. There have been so many times when our professors stayed hours after class just to work with one student on something, not necessarily because that student was struggling, but because the teacher was inspired to help them. Champlain professors go above and beyond for their students.
Can you tell us about your internship in Montreal?
My internship was at Tuque Games, a small indie company. During the summer, I was working as a character artist creating monsters for a game I grew up playing. One of the most rewarding memories I have is the first time I got to play against one of the monsters that I made. I learned how to work on a team, practice new art techniques, and manage my time in a professional setting. The experience was amazing.
Anders Lindberg on the Upside-Down Curriculum, Esports, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Specialization
Animation
Hometown
Bedford, NH
Pronouns
He/Him
Favorite Class
Animation I
How has the Upside-Down Curriculum enhanced your education?
The Upside-Down Curriculum has been so beneficial to me as a learner that I cannot imagine being in a program that doesn't utilize it. The amount of genuine experience I have received in my field has put me in a position that allows me to develop critical skills every semester starting right away.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
My first semester at Champlain, I was given the opportunity to join one of the Champlain College Esports teams, and beyond that I have had a blast participating in student-run events such as Game Jams and movie showings. I enjoy these activities because they are run by students, for students. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to influence these activities and make them exactly how they want them to be.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve found out about your experience at Champlain so far?
What surprised me about Champlain was myself. Oftentimes the first years come down with 'imposter syndrome,' and I can say that it hit me hard. I was afraid that I couldn't live up to the expectations. What surprised me was how much potential I had within me, and how these classes could drag that potential out and allow me to do things I didn't think were possible.
Michelle Lee on Creating a Portfolio, Advanced Seminar in Environments, and Studying Abroad
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Communication & Creative Media
Specialization
Environment Art
Hometown
South Burlington, VT
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Quebec
Favorite Class
Advanced Seminar in Environments
How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?
Through the curriculum at Champlain, I've been able to create a portfolio that has landed me multiple job offers. The Game Studio hosts many company visits and mixers, through which I've been able to make connections and a mentorship with an industry professional. The mentorship helped me not only get a job offer, but also allowed me to learn from a professional who was currently in the field and apply the skills I've learned.
What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Champlain? What made it special?
My favorite class was Advanced Seminar in Environments, which I took during my semester abroad in Montreal. The professor was a tough industry veteran who worked at Ubisoft. It was the hardest class I've ever taken, but also the most rewarding. There were only 4 students in the class. The class size was so small! We each got a lot of attention and the professor was able to push us to our limits.
How was your study abroad experience valuable as part of your overall education?
I studied abroad in Montreal during the fall semester of my junior year. The courses were excellent because they were all taught by industry professionals who were still working in their field and teaching us during the night. The school also took us on many company visits, tours, and cultural events throughout the semester.
I was able to take an advanced French course, and it was great to finally be able to put what I learned to use when speaking to locals.
Adam Streeter on Choosing Champlain, Gaining Hands-On Experience, and Clubs
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Hometown
Milford, CT
Pronouns
He/Him
Internship
Lost Cosmonauts
Favorite Class
Arab Spring
Post-Grad Job
Valve Software
What made you choose Champlain?
I knew I wanted a smaller school, and I also knew I wanted something game-related. Reading up on Champlain's robust game majors was very exciting! I was especially interested in going to Champlain after hearing about the production sequence and actually getting to make real games. What sealed the deal was the location. Having grown up in Connecticut, I knew I wanted to stay in New England. Sure it's cold, but in the fall it's less cold! And look at those trees!
Have you worked on-campus either in a work-study or part-time position?
I worked for five semesters at the Emergent Media Center, which gave me a lot of important experience working with actual clients on real projects, and taught me more about the production cycle hands-on! I've also been a Resident Assistant on campus for two years, which really helped me come out of my shell socially, built up my confidence as a leader, and introduced me to a lot of responsibility!
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
I participate in the Champlayers drama club. It's a small group of people who I consider good friends, and they're incredibly supportive and talented. I love being able to get on stage and make people laugh and have a good time. I also attend Climb Champlain, which is a great way to get physical and hang around with a bunch of really passionate climbing folks.
Jocelyn Bedell on the Field of Game Art, Working on Rock Band Four, and Getting a Full-Time Job Offer From Her Internship
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Specialization
Concept Art
Hometown
Bristol, VT
Pronouns
she/her
Internship
Intern at Harmonix Music Inc. in Boston, MA
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Canada
Post-Grad Job
Junior 3-D Artist at Harmonix Music Inc. in Boston, MA
What is the best thing about the Game Art major at Champlain?
Game art is always developing. There are new programs, new pipelines, and new methods. Champlain is always tweaking its programs to keep up with industry trends in game art, which gives students an edge when they enter into the field.
Have you had any internships?
I had a summer internship with Harmonix Music Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. I created assets for character customization in Rock Band Four and seasons rewards for character customization. Now, I will be working full-time for Harmonix after graduation!
How did Champlain prepare you for the professional world?
Without Champlain and the support of my professors, I would have never applied for my summer job at Harmonix. I would have never worked on Rock Band Four, and I certainly would have never been hired by them now.
Jen Carlin on Game Art Professors, Developing Professional Skills, and Working on Spider-Man PS4 During Her Internship
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Hometown
Huntersville, NC
Pronouns
she/her
Internship
Lighting Intern at Insomniac Games in Burbank, CA
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Canada
Post-Grad Job
Lighting Artist at Insomniac Games in Burbank, CA
What is the best thing about the professors at Champlain?
The Game Art professors at Champlain are knowledgeable and invested in your future. They really go out of their way to help you whenever possible, but also make sure you develop the skills to help yourself. It's easy to build a one-on-one relationship with your professors since class sizes are so small. I still see former professors around from classes I had two or three years ago, and they always take a moment to catch up with me.
How has Champlain prepared you for the professional world?
Throughout my years at Champlain, I've really had a chance to practice networking at events like the Womxn in Gaming dinners, where students and alumni get a chance to mingle. You get a chance to develop soft skills as well as technical skills at Champlain.
Can you tell us about your internship?
I worked as a Lighting Intern at Insomniac Games in Burbank, California. I helped the lighting team on Spider-Man PS4 with elements of the game like open-world reflections, lighting cinematic cutscenes, and lighting the game's loading screens. Champlain's Game Art program made sure I was ready to handle the workload of a major studio, even after only three years of education. My internship led to me being hired as a full-time Lighting Artist with Insomniac after graduation.
Riley Morrissey on Industry Professors, the Senior Show, and the Importance of Hard Work and Dedication
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art
Hometown
Jericho, VT
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Quebec
What have you learned at Champlain that will help you in the game industry?
I definitely think one of the most important things I've learned is hard work. It's one thing to be good at what you do, but you also have to work hard in order to get to the place where you need to be. It's been great having professors who are either currently in the industry, or formerly in the industry to help me out with that because they know—more than anyone—what you need to be doing to best position yourself for getting a job after college. And I would also say that my time in Montreal has taught me a lot. Studying abroad was a great experience for a multitude of reasons, but the number one was we had people currently in the industry who would come teach us classes at night.
Can you tell us about the Senior Show?
The Senior Show is something that we work towards our entire time we're at Champlain, and that's where everyone gets together and shows off the games that we've been making for the whole year. We show our work off to not only our peers and faculty, but to recruiters and people in the industry as well, in hopes of getting interviews afterwards. The game that I'm working on specifically is a VR I-spy game where you're trying to find different objects around a room and take pictures of them. And that's been really fun for me so far. I've really been enjoying it.
What’s your advice for high school students thinking about going to the Game Academy program?
I would highly recommend it. I think it's important to know what you don't want to do as much as what you do want to do, so being able to try that stuff out beforehand rather than just going in head first, not necessarily knowing what you're doing, I think is super important. Quite a few of the people that I went to that camp with are also still going here, and we're still friends, so it's a great way to connect with other students or potential students. It's a great way to connect with the professors. It's a great way to see what a class at Champlain looks like. It's a great little snapshot of Champlain College.
Olga Kachura on Choosing Champlain, Working On Campus, and Becoming a Collaborator
Division
Communication & Creative Media
Major
Game Art & Animation
Hometown
Moscow, Russia
Pronouns
She/Her
Studied Abroad
Montreal, Canada
Favorite Class
3D Modeling II
As an international student, how did you hear about Champlain and why did you choose to come here?
I had an advisor at Education USA Russia, and she met Jessa Karki (Director of Student Services) at one of the educational fairs and gave her my contact info. From there, I looked up Champlain online and read more about the Game Art program.
I was really drawn to the Game Art program because I wanted to gain some experience in digital arts. I liked the curriculum and the fact that Champlain is in touch with so many game studios. One of the key factors for me was how attentive and nice Jessa Karki was, and I was immediately more drawn to the school based on that.
Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position?
I worked at IDX in the beginning of college, then as an Orientation Leader, Peer Coach in the Career Collaborative, and an Admissions Intern at the Admissions Office. I think each one of these jobs made me more organized, and I learned a bunch about working with people, which is a really useful skill to have wherever you work. Three of these positions were leadership positions, and I definitely became a more confident person, too!
How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?
I think my game classes helped me become a harder worker and improved my work ethic. I used to be a competitive person, but working with so many talented artists made me more of a collaborator. I also got to talk to a lot of people who have been in the game industry for decades, and I feel like I have gained some very useful knowledge about it and have more realistic expectations.
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