Dearborn Resident Helps Baker College of Allen Park Give 'Creatively'

Editor's note: This story was supplied by Baker College.

Students received more than a grade in their spring quarter design class at Baker College of Allen Park. They also received the joy of giving back to their community because their work will help the Metropolitan Detroit/Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The class of 10 students designed marketing materials that help promote and solicit funds at four key fall fundraising events for the foundation. The materials included invitation packages, sponsorship brochures, event flyers, T-shirts, emails and goody bags, among others.

“These materials have been an enormous help,” said Adrian Laux, development manager at the Metro Detroit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 

"They help communicate that these events are fun and that donations will be put to good use. Other designers—students and professionals—have helped create our marketing materials on a pro bono basis, but this is our first organized partnership, and the results are fabulous. We are proud to have these materials represent our organization," Laux said.

Laux and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Development Director Sue Collins-Schroeder met with the class several times and provided weekly feedback as the project progressed.

The students who designed the materials include: Zaneta Alvarez of Wyandotte; Zachary Brendel of Allen Park; Andrea Gronda of Taylor; Stephen Hayes of Dearborn; Rachael Hopson of Oak Park; Johnathon Kaczorowsk of Lincoln Park; Monique Lawrence of Detroit; Nancy Monak of Riverview; Ashley Przygocki of Southgate; and Cassandra Stockdale of Wayne.

The connection between Baker College and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was formed when Charlene Galloway, instructor for Baker’s digital media design program, inquired about design opportunities for her class.

“The class is structured similar to a design firm in order to present the same challenges and rewards that students face as design professionals,” Galloway said. “They work as a team to conceptualize, create and execute design schemes and marketing tools for real clients. Grades are dependent on weekly class reports of client feedback and project advancement. Through this process, students learn about the industry and the importance of client interaction.”

Baker’s two-year digital media design program focuses on application of current concepts and technology relating to presentation of information in a creative, organized and effective manner. Graduates pursue careers in web and graphic design, print production, marketing and communications.

Galloway admits that the quality of the finished materials and the professionalism of the students assigned to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation project surpassed her expectations.

The not-for-profit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is focused on the development of new drugs to fight cystic fibrosis, improving the quality of life for those with the disease, and finding a cure for the disease.

Cystic fibrosis affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States; 10 million more — or about one in 31 Americans — are carriers of the defective CF gene, but do not have the disease.

For information about Cystic Fibrosis Foundation events, call 248-269-8759, or visit www.cff.org/chapters/detroit.