Paint Students Work for a Noble Cause

New London, CT - In late 2005, the students in the IUPAT Sign & Display Program at the Atterbury Job Corps Center produced 13 banners for the Cerebral Palsy World Championship Games held in New London, Connecticut.

The games are held to bring people with CP and their families from all over the globe together for two weeks of fun, bonding and athletic activities. The organization also sponsors the event to increase public awareness of CP and the great strides made to find a cure. Through their participation in the events, the athletes demonstrate how activity-based therapy plays an important role in recovery.

According to IUPAT Job Corps Instructor Mark McIntyre, the project presented an opportunity for the students to practice their newly learned skills in art, design and mathematics. To create the 13 banners, the students designed a layout and built a work bench 35 feet in length in order to accommodate the construction and art installation for the project. The students used strong-flexible vinyl and a model that would display and highlight the logos of the companies that sponsored the games. The students also utilized their new skills in the state of the art method of thermal printing to produce the bright colors for the lettering and logos on the banners.

McIntyre stated that he was very impressed with the students’ energy and enthusiasm toward the project. He also explained that the students felt a sense of pride from using their skills for a special cause. But most importantly, McIntyre elaborated, is that they learned a valuable lesson in the nature of improvisation which is caused by last minute changes and hectic production schedules.

The participants and spectators at Cerebral Palsy World Championship Games were able to witness first hand the talent, skills and generosity of the IUPAT students and the work they can produce.