MTSU animation students network, volunteer at SIGGRAPH conference in Colorado

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Nearly 20 students in Middle Tennessee State University’s AMC SIGGRAPH organization attended a nearly weeklong conference in Denver, Colorado, where they had the opportunity to network, volunteer and participate in special sessions with companies like Pixar and Disney.

Kevin McNulty, associate professor, media arts, animation program coordinator — Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty, an associate animation professor in the College of Media and Entertainment’s Department of Media Arts, serves as the faculty advisor for MTSU’s SIGGRAPH student organization.

“Association of Computing Machinery (AMC) is the parent group, and SIGS is an acronym of Special Interest Group,” explained McNulty. “AMC SIGGRAPH is the largest organization in the world for computer graphics and interactive techniques. The interactive techniques can mean a lot of things, but a lot of times it’s virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or extended reality (XR), but it’s all graphic related. This year’s conference in particular was heavy on artificial intelligence and generative artificial intelligence.”

McNulty said one of the unique things about these conferences is students have the opportunity to apply as volunteers.

“If they’re accepted, they get a complimentary conference pass that gives them access to everything at the conference. They learn how to help run the conference — they’re at the doors checking badges, they’re helping at booths, they’re helping as exhibitors show their latest stuff. They also have the chance to sign up for a resume and demo reel review by professionals, too,” McNulty said.

Middle Tennessee State University students Eily Jacobs, Skye Baxter, Lyra Rochat, Isabella Ashley and Mars Alcantar pose for a photo in front of a sign welcoming SIGGRAPH Conference attendees to Denver, Colorado. (Photo submitted)

Kat Shattuck was one of the 19 MTSU students who worked as a volunteer during the recent conference. There were around 300 student volunteers in total. It was her third time working as a student volunteer and her first as a team lead.

Middle Tennessee State University animation student Kat Shuttuck worked as a student leader at the annual SIGGRAPH conference in Denver, Colorado, for the third time this summer. The senior will graduate in December 2024. (Photo submitted) — *Kat Shattuck (Photo submitted)*

“I truly believe I wouldn’t have found out what career path within animation I wanted to pursue if I didn’t go to the conference,” Shattuck, who graduates in December, said. “Being able to attend SIGGRAPH has widened my perspective on how many roles are within the animation industry.”

McNulty said he tells his students they can go to any conference, and it won’t be anywhere near the same experience as the SIGGRAPH conference.

“They have all these additional opportunities to go through these experiences with peers from other universities. Those experiences really do shape a relationship and form a bond.”

Shattuck said she received great advice from others at the conference who are working in the area of animation she’s interested in.

“I went into this year’s conference with my business card saying I was a ‘3D Environmental Artist’ because I assumed it was what I was best at. I later ran into Professor McNulty at an event and he said I would fit of a project manager perfectly. I was immediately surrounded by people who either have worked in that role, or are currently working in that role and they were giving me advice on how to change my resume to fit it and what the first steps would be.”

Middle Tennessee State University students, from left to right, Blaire Myers Wilson, Eily Jacobs and Skye Baxter, worked as student volunteers at the annual SIGGRAPH conference held in Denver, Colorado, where they had the opportunity to network and participate in sessions with companies like Pixar and Disney this summer. (Photo submitted)

Shattuck said since the conference, she has stayed connected with some of the people she met at the recent conference and how they motivate her to keep going.

“I’ve always had a good support system, but being able to make a new support system of people within your field who understand the struggles and goals you have is a new overwhelming feeling that I would never give up,” she said.

Shattuck said the best advice to anyone thinking about attending a SIGGRAPH conference in the future is to go.

“I was hesitant to go my first year, but once I got there and saw how amazing it was, I never looked back,” she said. “Be yourself. I guarantee people will see the potential within you.”

“It is a super valuable experience, and this is an organization and conference that is internationally recognized and respected,” McNulty added.

The 19 MTSU students who attended this year’s conference includes: Kat Shattuck, Morgan Ruth, Ana Herrero, Ariel Dickens, Blaire Myers Wilson, Blake Hailey, Cole Keisling, David Worley, Drew Lacy, Eily Jacobs, Evan Swartz, Isabella Ashley, Jose Montoya, Krystal Gowan, Lizzie Rawlinson, Mars Alcantar, Skye Baxter, Stefan Gramling, Steven Rocco, Amy Csaki and Tom Sidorski. Student Lyra Rochat also attended but not as a student volunteer.

SIGRRAPH is open to all majors.

— DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)