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July 06, 2009, 12:38 PM ET
Stimulus Money Preps Community-College Students for Video-Game Industry
The LA Scholars program is starting an effort to place undergraduates from Los Angeles Southwest College into internship positions in the video-game industry. “That it’s video games is a popular lure,” said Rebecca M. Goldberg, co-director of career and welfare development for the South Bay Center for Community Development, a program sponsor. She points out that the game industry is local, so there are opportunities for local students.
The program, also supported by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and LA Youth at Work, receives money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as part of the recent federal stimulus bill.
“We saw about 600 students in our initial screening process for the LA Scholar program,” said Elmer A. Bugg, dean of work-force development and corporate relations at the college. “We’ll probably place about 100 students in the video-game industry.” The program trains and places approximately 200 other students in green-technology companies, community-advocacy programs, and teaching in after-school projects.
Students must first complete a three-unit “Introduction to Computers and Their Uses” class. They must also earn a work-readiness certificate, complete 16 hours of industry-specific training (this can include “dressing for success,” time management, and how to take supervision) and pass a screening process with college faculty members.
“We want to make sure they go in as assets and represent outstanding employees,” said Mr. Bugg.
Ms. Goldberg said the program had sparked interest from half a dozen video-game companies, ranging from small start-ups to large corporations. Currently the students are in their training phase, and will be placed with employer partners at the end of July. As for how the students are faring, Mr. Bugg said, “Call me back in August.” —Dan Turner
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