K-State Digital Summit for Teens to showcase next-gen higher education digital innovation
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Kansas State University is hosting the inaugural Digital Summit for Teens on Oct. 4 at the K-State Olathe campus, where high school students from the Kansas City area will explore digital innovation with K-State faculty experts. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — High school students from the Kansas City area will have the opportunity to explore digital innovation and Kansas State University's next-gen digital degree and certificate programs at the first Digital Summit for Teens on Oct. 4 at K-State's Olathe campus.
The Digital Summit for Teens is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and Kansas State University Salina.
Students will participate in an immersive event that will include hands-on workshops led by faculty experts representing new programs in digital innovation in media, cybersecurity, computer science, integrated computer science, digital media technology, marketing technology, digital media user experience design, social media management and digital engagement.
Participants will experience simulations in augmented and virtual reality, mobile app development and artificial intelligence from K-State's Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab and explore student media learning opportunities with the Collegian Media Group.
The Digital Summit for Teens will also feature a panel of industry professionals from Garmin, KaZoo Digital Media, JNT, Lucky Orange and VMLY&R discussing in-demand, market-ready digital skills, careers and expectations for future graduates.
"K-State is a leader in developing next-gen degree and certificate programs designed to help build the digital workforce of the future," said Alan Boyer, director of digital innovation programs in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication. "The Digital Summit is an interdisciplinary collaboration across K-State colleges and campuses that sharpens our collective focus on the digital talent pipeline while highlighting K-State's strategic advantage in higher education digital innovation among land-grant universities."
The Mid-America Regional Council and Zippia project that Kansas and regional employers will need to hire more than 40,000 graduates during the next 10 years with blended digital skills for the jobs of today and the future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 1.7 million digital media-related jobs will need to be filled by 2030. In addition, the bureau reports entry-level salaries for digitally skilled professionals will range from nearly $40,000 to more than $111,000.
K-State's digital programs build blended digital skills that prepare students to write compelling content, code software, create digital art, build mobile apps, secure networks, design games and digital advertising, optimize analytics and data, start their own online businesses, communicate across cultures and more.
The workshops, simulations and industry panel at the summit will help students better understand what is required for a range of careers in the digital space such as mobile app developer, digital marketing manager, social media specialist, digital artist, digital brand strategist, software developer, animator, data analyst, game designer, digital brand or product manager, and digital business analyst.
"The Digital Summit for Teens will demonstrate how each of the digital programs across the university provides every degree- and certificate-seeking student with applied learning experiences, fulfilling our commitment to prepare students for life beyond K-State, starting early in their college experience," said Chris Culbertson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "We're excited to meet KC-area students at K-State's Olathe campus for this inaugural event."
