Cobin Black is interested in studying game design and the Huntington High School Class of 2020 member has decided to attend one of the best schools in the country for it at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.
“I chose SCAD because it’s one of the best schools for design and the environment of the city is beautiful,” Mr. Black said. “I want to study game design because my whole life has pretty much been all about video games and I want to start giving back the knowledge I’ve learned in the past.”
Huntington Class of 2020 member Cobin Black will attend Savannah College of Art and Design.
Established in 1978, Savannah College of Art and Design enrolls about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The school also has locations in Atlanta and Hong Kong, a study abroad location in Lacoste, France and an online degree granting program.
“Huntington all around made me who I am today,” Mr. Black said. “The teachers and all the staff have been super helpful over the past four years. So now, when I go to college, I can’t wait to use what I’ve learned to the best of my ability.”
Mr. Black has especially enjoyed the high school’s choir program. “Ms. [Victoria] Garbarino has helped me so much during these years and has been my rock,” he said. “The kids in the music department are also great people and they always have your back. I think these past four years wouldn’t have been as great if I wasn’t part of chorus.”
The drama club has been Mr. Black’s favorite after school activity “by far, because I love hanging out with my friends and being able to act,” he said. “It’s always a great time and being able to perform for my school and others is such a honor.”
The teenager’s advice to incoming Huntington freshmen? “You should talk to everyone around you and know you aren’t alone in this school,” Mr. Black said. “The teachers will always have your back and the students from 10th-12th are very accepting.”
Mr. Black’s mentor has been English teacher and drama club faculty advisor Michael Schwendemann. “He has been with me since day one of my high school career and every time I see him he always puts a smile on my face,” the teenager said. “He also was the reason why I wanted to put more care into my work. He also taught me how to write with more feeling.”
The new Huntington grad is sure to be challenged in SCAD’s interactive design and game development program, which seeks to “bridge art and tech to transform digital media.”
“Bring your A-game to the interactive design and game development program at SCAD, lauded by The Princeton Review and Animation Career Review,” states an overview of the program. “SCAD students have access to super powered tech including AR/VR labs, they win prestigious gaming competitions like E3 College Game Competition and Intel University Games Showcase and they move the needle at companies such as Apple, Adobe, Electronic Arts, Microsoft and more. From participation in professional conferences to collaborations with digital media giants, SCAD students capitalize on their passion for interactive design.”
Naturally, Mr. Black is excited to start his college studies, but he will miss the town and people he is leaving behind as he prepares to take up residence in the southeast United States.
“I can say that Huntington is very unique compared to many places,” Mr. Black said. “I’m going to miss the village the most because I’ve made many memories there with my friends.”
