With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2015:
Name: Caroline Durkee
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Major: Durkee graduated with a B.A. in Graphic Design and a B.A. in Communication on May 9.
Post-graduation plans: Durkee accepted a position as a junior graphic designer at LaForce + Stevens, a New York City public relations firm. In her position, Durkee creates graphics, conceptual artwork and visual aids for various clients including fashion, retail, luxury brands, events, media and entertainment.
How HPU helped you get there: “My internship with the HPU Office of Communications was a huge turning point for my real-world design experience. I developed graphics and layouts for promotional and social media for HPU, designing anything from Instagram posts to water bottle designs to brochures. It was a rewarding experience just from the fact that I was creating real-world design work, but also from seeing my designs implemented all over campus throughout the year.“
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Professor Allan Beaver stands out as the most impactful for me during my time at HPU. His impeccable design taste and impressive experience made him an excellent mentor.“
Most impactful moment at HPU: “An infographic project I created in a design course my junior year was the only graphic design piece featured in the Sechrest Gallery’s Art of Seating exhibit displayed from August to December of 2014. Seeing my work in a gallery space among some of the best student design work was a humbling experience that I will be forever grateful for.“
Advice for underclassmen: “Partake in as many internships as your schedule allows, and make the most out of them. I was lucky enough to gain quite a bit of experience from five different internships before I graduated from HPU, and I learned invaluable knowledge from every one of them.“