Tucked into Station Square is Schell Games, where they run the gamut of gaming. The company creates games for your phone, computer and even virtual reality. “We do all kinds of games at Schell Games,” Lauren Reed, head of human resources, said. “We have melee-style games. We have puzzle games.”Starting this fall, the company plans to partner with Community College of Allegheny County on an apprenticeship program for aspiring game artists. Rebecca DuPont teaches video games, web design and development at CCAC.“Being able to make this connection with Schell Games and having students take what they’re learning and then apply simultaneously in a work environment is very crucial,” said DuPont. Reed said this program will be a midway point for students between what they learn in the classroom at CCAC and hands-on experience. It’s a three-year program that’s full of lessons on design, art, engineering, writing and producing. Schell Games CEO Jesse Schell came up with the idea for the program. He has lived in Pittsburgh for the last 20 years. He got his master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University, but said a program like the one he’s starting did not exist. “That would’ve been phenomenal,” he said. “You know the game industry is it’s out there, but it’s not something everybody knows about.” Online learning opened up this opportunity, which is an idea Schell has had for a while. “I kept thinking you know it can be kind of lonely doing college work from home,” Schell said. “Why couldn’t you do it from an office?”More specifically his office, which is full of gizmos and gadgets, but also something else. “We are going to be able to reach out and work with students that maybe wouldn’t have had this opportunity,” said DuPont. More than 20 students have applied for this apprenticeship. There are only two spots open. Click here to find out how CCAC students can apply. Interested applicants should select Fall 2022 term and Multimedia Programming, Simulation & Gaming Associate Degree and complete additional questions for the Schell Games Apprenticeship Program.For the students picked, Schell Games plans to pay their full tuition plus pay them for the time they work in the office. “Students that go through this apprenticeship at the end of three years will have a degree and three years of work experience and zero student loans,” Schell said.
Tucked into Station Square is Schell Games, where they run the gamut of gaming.
The company creates games for your phone, computer and even virtual reality.
“We do all kinds of games at Schell Games,” Lauren Reed, head of human resources, said. “We have melee-style games. We have puzzle games.”
Starting this fall, the company plans to partner with Community College of Allegheny County on an apprenticeship program for aspiring game artists. Rebecca DuPont teaches video games, web design and development at CCAC.
“Being able to make this connection with Schell Games and having students take what they’re learning and then apply simultaneously in a work environment is very crucial,” said DuPont.
Reed said this program will be a midway point for students between what they learn in the classroom at CCAC and hands-on experience. It’s a three-year program that’s full of lessons on design, art, engineering, writing and producing.
Schell Games CEO Jesse Schell came up with the idea for the program. He has lived in Pittsburgh for the last 20 years.
He got his master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University, but said a program like the one he’s starting did not exist.
“That would’ve been phenomenal,” he said. “You know the game industry is it’s out there, but it’s not something everybody knows about.”
Online learning opened up this opportunity, which is an idea Schell has had for a while.
“I kept thinking you know it can be kind of lonely doing college work from home,” Schell said. “Why couldn’t you do it from an office?”
More specifically his office, which is full of gizmos and gadgets, but also something else.
“We are going to be able to reach out and work with students that maybe wouldn’t have had this opportunity,” said DuPont.
More than 20 students have applied for this apprenticeship. There are only two spots open.
Click here to find out how CCAC students can apply. Interested applicants should select Fall 2022 term and Multimedia Programming, Simulation & Gaming Associate Degree and complete additional questions for the Schell Games Apprenticeship Program.
For the students picked, Schell Games plans to pay their full tuition plus pay them for the time they work in the office.
“Students that go through this apprenticeship at the end of three years will have a degree and three years of work experience and zero student loans,” Schell said.