Image credit: Steve Granados Lopez
This article was authored by Steve Granados Lopez.
The SIGGRAPH Student Chapter at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has come a long way since its founding, and its growth over the years reflects the dedication and passion of its faculty advisors and student leaders.
Kevin McNulty, faculty sponsor of MTSU’s SIGGRAPH Student Chapter and student chapter liaison for ACM SIGGRAPH, shared insights about his role within the chapter and the greater ACM SIGGRAPH community:
“My role at MTSU’s SIGGRAPH Student Chapter is as the faculty sponsor. Within the ACM SIGGRAPH, I am part of the Professional Student Chapter Committee (PSCC) , where my specific role is the student chapter liaison, meaning I help support student chapters worldwide.”
Image credit: Steve Granados Lopez
When asked about the history of the MTSU chapter, McNulty explained how it began:
“The student chapter was chartered in 2012 by ACM SIGGRAPH. It was a long haul at the beginning to get students to understand the value of this new organization. Slowly, as other students saw what it had to offer, they started telling others to join. We really began to blossom. The major turning point was when I took seven students to the SIGGRAPH conference in 2013. When we returned and gave a full presentation about the experience, every single student wanted to go. It was a huge moment for us, and since then, we’ve had great engagement and growth not just in the chapter, but in the animation program itself.”
The chapter’s growth has been fostered by a variety of events and activities. McNulty highlighted some of their proudest moments:
“The growth of the chapter has been incredible. Starting from nothing and making it a common thing for animation majors to join has been one of our greatest achievements. A major part of this has been the types of events we host, such as guest speakers — sometimes alumni or people we’ve met at SIGGRAPH conferences. A highlight was having a Marvel character designer come to speak in 2018. I met him at SIGGRAPH during a book signing for Marvel concept artists, and after reaching out, we were able to organize a great talk. Another memorable event was when a Snapchat ambassador came to MTSU to do a hands-on demo of the latest Snapchat AR filters. Students were able to create their own filters in a workshop setting. We really focus on providing a variety of experiences — from tech talks to guest speakers and workshops — because our program is a generalist one.”
Image credit: Steve Granados Lopez
Eily Jacobs, the current president of MTSU’s SIGGRAPH Student Chapter and a junior in the animation program, shared her thoughts on what she’s most proud of during her time with the chapter:
“One of the biggest things I’ve done is plan Blue Bash, our annual Halloween party where we collaborate with other organizations. It was a lot of work organizing everything, but it was a lot of fun! Another highlight for me was when I was the PR director. A few officers and I went to the Discovery Center, where we taught animation to first graders. That was such a rewarding experience! We also held a webcomic workshop, where I shared my experience in webcomics with the students.”
As a Student Volunteer at SIGGRAPH, Jacobs also shared why she chose to get involved:
“The experience I was looking for was not just about getting free admission to the conference but about helping others while gaining more industry knowledge. It was also a chance to travel with my peers, assist others, and apply what we were learning in animation to help others while learning more about the industry. It was such an interesting experience!”
The MTSU SIGGRAPH Student Chapter is a prime example of how a student-led organization can grow, evolve, and become an integral part of a larger community. With events, guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with professionals, the chapter continues to play an important role in shaping the future of animation at MTSU and beyond.
