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Tears fell from Kokomo High School junior Kiley Cohick’s eyes as officials from the School
of Advertising Art in Ohio told her she had been accepted into their prestigious graphic design
college.
The school accepts only 100 students each year. What’s more, Kiley became only the
second student in the school’s history to be accepted as a high school junior.
“It’s extremely rare for colleges even to look at juniors,” said Kiley’s mom Melissa Cohick,
who also is the Kokomo Area Career Center graphic design instructor.
Kiley began taking graphic design classes at the Kokomo Area Career Center as an 8thgrader at Maple Crest Middle School. Ms. Cohick’s daughter Kiley was a member of the first cohort
of students in the Career School at Maple Crest. During that 8th-grade year, Kiley fell in love with
graphic design.
In four years, Kiley has built an extensive portfolio and can talk intelligently about her body
of work. She has taken art classes, in addition to the design classes, making her more sought after
by colleges across the country.
“Because Kiley started taking graphic design classes so early, she also was able to take Ms.
Edwards’s drawing and painting class, which further opened the door for her acceptance at SAA,”
Ms. Cohick explained. “The art school looks for well-rounded students.”
Kiley’s story is far from unique, though.
Faith Miller, a third-year graphic design student at the
Kokomo Area Career Center and a high school senior, has been
accepted into the graphic design programs at four colleges –
Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, Lipscomb
University, Indiana University, and Savannah College of Art and
Design. Additionally, representatives from Chicago Art Institute
and a college from New York raved about Faith’s portfolio during
a recent portfolio review. Faith started her graphic design classes
as a sophomore at KHS.
Junior Abby Hammel, like Kiley, began her graphic design
classes as a Maple Crest 8th-grader. Starting the classes at such a
young age freed Abby’s schedule this school year, so she could
take a digital photography class and fundamentals of design class
with KACC teacher Jay Davis. In 20152016, Abby plans to take a web design
course.
In November, Abby visited Ball
State University, where officials
reviewed her graphics design portfolio and her photography portfolio.
During the review, Ball State officials requested that Abby complete an
application for their graphic design program, even though she’s only a
junior.
“All three of these students have exceptional grades, and now
have exceptional opportunities coming their way early because of their
experiences at Kokomo Area Career Center and the Kokomo School
Corporation,” Ms. Cohick noted.
The students cited Ms. Cohick and her vast graphics design
knowledge for their success. The KACC teacher worked as a graphic
designer for 19 years and offers students tips and tricks she learned from the trade.
Ms. Cohick, however, turns the attention away from herself. She attributes her students’
successes to the progressiveness and forethought of the district’s leadership.
When Kokomo Schools opened the Career School to Maple Crest 8th-graders (and opens
for Bon Air 8th-graders in 2015-2016), it gave her students a distinct advantage. Ms. Cohick now
can offer internships to some of her third-year students because they started the introductory
courses as 8th-graders.
Students selected for the internship program further build and perfect their portfolios by
completing design work for businesses in the Kokomo community.
During her internship, Kiley designed the new Kokomo Area Career Center brochure, the
Kokomo School Corporation desktop background, and the district’s summer professional
development logo. Kiley also designed a T-shirt for the Kokomo High School swim team.
Faith created a postcard for the Creating Entrepreneurship Opportunities class, designed a
T-shirt for Clifford Sign Company, and developed business cards for numerous businesses during
her internship.
“The internship is the biggest advantage we have in this graphic design program,” Kiley
said. “We talk with actual clients. We actually do work for the community.”
The School of Advertising Art officials told Ms. Cohick they only hope that seniors at their
college leave with a portfolio that’s on par with the portfolio Kiley has now as a junior in high
school.
“I am very proud of all three of these students,” Ms. Cohick concluded. “I can’t wait to see
what the future holds. I know their journey has just begun, but I’m glad the journey started at
Kokomo Schools. What we offer here at the Kokomo Area Career Center is awesome.”