6 days Ago
The effort to publicize Aiken's annual Memorial Day parade has a variety of USC Aiken students putting their creativity into gear this year, in cooperation with Aiken County Veterans Council . The parade , a presentation of the council, is traditionally promoted through the efforts of students exploring graphic design, and this year's effort to produce a promotional poster includes 21 such students — the biggest count yet. Army veteran Linda Caldwell , a council member, is helping guide the effort, with help from Professor Michael Fowler , and plans are for council members to make their poster pick this week.
Caldwell described the arrangement as a helpful town-and-gown situation. The result, she said, is "a very professional-looking poster" for the council's promotional effort, and the chance for students in the "Introduction to Graphic Design" class to have a client-style relationship. Student Samantha Lazar said steps included "incorporating the imagery associated with Memorial Day" and "putting all the essential information in there.
" Classmate Marra Hunkins added, 'It's teaching us the skills to be able to engage with an employer, to see what they're wanting, and see how we can incorporate that into the work." Students did research, considering such elements as color, spacing and text, with guidance from Fowler, and presented their latest versions in class on April 10, with feedback from students, Fowler and Caldwell. Prizes will include a gift card and a framed copy of the winning poster for the top student.
Essential facts on the poster include the fact that the parade takes place May 24 at 10 a.m. in downtown Aiken.
Space is also reserved for sponsors, with the hope of having several businesses or other organizations step forward to help bankroll the event. Among high-profile figures in this year's event will be retired Army Colonel David Lobb (grand marshal) and Aiken City Council member Kay Brohl (first lady). Lobb's background includes 37 years in the military and, more recently, leadership in the Military Officers Association of America, and Brohl, now in her second council term, has a variety of family military connections, including the fact that her father, the late Henry Halcomb , was on duty at Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack that helped launch the U.
S. into World War II. The veterans council's poster partnership with USCA dates back to 2019 and has been in place every year since then, although the 2020 parade was canceled due to COVID-19 fears.
The parade begins on Park Avenue and turns north on Laurens Street..
