School of Design Receives $75,000 Grant for Student-Led Game Development
A $75k Illinois Innovation Voucher grant will will fund the creation of an educational game designed to help young people navigate college and early career development. Columbia College Chicago’s School of Design, in partnership with the online college and career platform REACH Pathways, has been awarded a $75,000 Illinois Innovation Voucher grant to support a student-led game development project. The grant, awarded through a program with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, will fund the creation of an educational game designed to help young people navigate college and early career development.
The project, led by Columbia students, will provide valuable resources for students preparing for their futures by offering interactive and engaging experiences. The grant will also allow Columbia to hire students to work on the game development team, giving them hands-on experience in the gaming industry.
"We're incredibly proud to have secured this grant alongside REACH and to be part of such an innovative approach to game development," said David Antognoli, assistant professor of game design. "By participating in this project, students are getting valuable industry experience while participating in a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship."
Eden Szopa, a recent graduate in Game Design and current graduate student in UI/UX with an expected graduation in 2025, reflected on the impact of the project: "When I started college, it took me a year to feel fully adjusted, both academically and socially. As a first-generation student, I lacked support and guidance, and it caused me to fall behind and struggle in my classes. I wish I had this sort of game as a resource when I first started my bachelor's degree, providing me with some sort of direction in how to navigate college and how to determine the career path I chose was right for me. Having this content in a video game format will create an experience that students will learn from and feel immersed in."
The next step is sharing the positions with students via Columbia’s Career Center. Once students are hired (ideally in November), game development will begin, with an anticipated end date of March/April 2025.