Class of 2003

Jared's Resumé

Jared's webpage

Jared Bishop
BFA, Electronic Arts, Tufts University, 2001

Carolyn's Webpage

Carolyn's Resumé

Carolyn Brooks
BSE, Computer Engineering and BGS, General Studies, University of Michigan, 2001

Carolyn Brooks graduated from the University of Michigan, 2001, attaining a BSE, Computer Engineering and BGS, General Studies, concentrating in film. Carolyn is passionate about the creation of animated characters from conceptual sketches, texture painting, to character modeling and animation, utilizing various software packages.

Carolyn desires to create computer generated special effects and characters because computer generated applications have the potential to enhance the visual imagery of cinema in ways that are not possible otherwise. In addition to computer animation, Carolyn greatly enjoys drawing, creative writing, photography, and traveling.

 

Yusei Horiuchi
BFA, Sculpture and Installation, Carnegie Mellon University, 1999

Amy's Resumé

Amy Kalson
BA, Liberal Arts, Sarah Lawrence College, 1995

Amy is a dot-com refugee. After graduating from SLC in 1995, she got sucked into the vortex of Internet applications programming. Narrowly escaping with her soul (and a few thousand completely worthless stock options), she hopes to pursue her passion for game design. Amy is a published fiction writer. Her short story "Fish" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She has written a column for Silicon Salley covering topics such as women and technology, programming, and the GDC. In April 2000, her article on the Men of The Valley was read on KBZS BizRadio in San Jose. In addition to coding and writing, she enjoys riding horses, making no budget films with her camcorder, and teaching her dog to read.

Ying-Tzu's Resumé

Ying-Tzu Lin
BS, Architecture, National Cheng Kung University, 1998

YingZ graduated from National Chen Kung University in Taiwan with a Master of Science in Architecture in 2000. After one year’s work at college, she decided to be a student again, to enjoy the life without time clock and being able to make mistakes. Her architecture concentration were computer aided architecture design, design theory and method. She studied issues of atmosphere and spatial context of virtual environments through several projects of virtual museums in her graduate thesis. Besides cooking and eating, she has to confess that she has an unexplainable obsession with museums. She enjoys designing museums and going to the museums as well. She hopes her study here can help her find a better life combining both technology and art without unpaid overtime.

Ray's Resumé

Raymond Mazza III
BA, Computer Science and Physics, Colby College, 2001

Ray graduated Colby College with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Physics. Some of his focused work included writing an assembler for a computer chip simulator, using genetic algorithms to evolve trees in 3D graphics, and a senior project building a 3D engine and virtual world. When Ray enrolled in a computer game course he soon realized that his dream of becoming a game programmer was not just a fantasy. In his spare time, which he doesn't have, Ray likes to practice Tang Soo Do, juggle chipmunk-sized objects, and ponder the ridiculous. He can't wait to work with everyone at the ETC.

 

Billy Mitas
BS, General Studies, Point Park College, 2000
AA, Visual Communication, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 1973

Ingrid's Resumé

Ingrid Moncada
Systems and Computer Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, 1999

Jon's Webpage

Jon's Resumé

 

Jon Parise
BS, Information Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2001

Jon is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with concentrations in internetworking and web development and a minor in Science, Technology, and Society Studies. Jon spent three years as an active member of RIT's Computer Science House, serving as the head systems administrator. Jon is proud to display his New Jersey heritage both on and off the road. He also enjoys books, history, the outdoors, movies, music (especially from the '80's), and obscure trivia. Jon is also looking forward to a change of climate from not-so-sunny Rochester.

Shawn's Webpage

Shawn's Resumé

 

Shawn Patton
BS, Computer Science, Rutgers University, 2001

When you find yourself thinking about 2001 Computer Science and Cinema Studies graduates from Rutgers University, the name Shawn Patton should spring to mind. If it doesn't, read on. Shawn's mother and father prepared him well (genetically) for the ETC, in that the former is an artist and the latter a "computer guy". Since designing video games at a young age Shawn has been very interested in computers and how to make them fun. When he read the description of the ETC he knew he had found his (hopefully) new home. He has tried his hand at everything from Capoeira to Curling but finds making movies and video editing especially fun. Clips from his sketch comedy show and spy-spoof movies can be found at his website as well as a pictures of both moose and reindeer and many other wonderful little treasures. And when you find yourself thinking about the telephone, think Alexander Graham Bell first, and then call Shawn on it.

Timothy's Resumé

Timothy Price
BFA, Theater Production, University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee, 2000

Timothy hails from the great state of Texas. After receiving his Associates of Arts from San Jancinto Community College in stage production the cold state of Wisconsin called. Graduating from the University of Wisconsin: Professional Theatre Training Program; where he received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Stage and Production Management. Carnegie Mellon University beckoned but not the ETC The School of Drama held him prisoner for a year until the ETC freed him. Timothy’s interests include Film, TV, music and the Theatre. After graduation Timothy would like to dabble in, themed and location-based entertainment. When Timothy has free time, he enjoys Long Distance Running, water and snow skiing, and watching old movies.

Elan's Resumé

Elan Ruskin
BSE, Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania, 2001

Elan Ruskin (pronounced "Crash") comes to CMU after his 2001 release from a four-year sentence at the University of Pennsylvania, where he acquired a BSE in computer science, a minor in English, and another minor in the History & Sociology of Science. He views video games as a new form of narrative, and especially enjoys those games that have deep thematic roots and involve sneaking up behind people. An erstwhile science journalist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and two-time finalist in the Asimov Awards for Science Fiction Writing, Elan is also interested in more mundane forms of storytelling. Besides his short stories, his creative interests include filmmaking, photography, theatre design, and impersonating fantasy authors.

Dan's Website

Dan's Resumé

Dan Schoedel
BFA, Theater-Lighting, Webster University, 2001

Dan graduated from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University with a B.F.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in lighting design. Over the last two years Dan has lit over fifteen musicals, straight plays and dances. Dance is one of Dan's favorite things to light. He enjoys how the light sculpts the dancers and how dance enables more freedom in lighting design. (For those who know Dan, notice how he hasn't mentioned anything about moving lights.) Non-theater things that Dan enjoys are movies, anime, and video games. Dan also enjoys anything that has to do with the water including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, water polo, and teaching swim lessons. Dan remembers when he and his friends made fun of all of the geeky looking people on this web site. Woe to those who make fun of the pictures. You could end up being one of them.

Todd's Website

Todd's Resumé

William "Todd" Sellers III
BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2001

William Samuel Sellers III is not sure himself where he got the name Todd. He does however know that he has had the name since birth and that it makes a very good icebreaker. A native of Hagerstown, MD, Todd returns to the Steel City where his mother was educated, at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Todd earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park in May of 2001. While at the University of Maryland, Todd was president of the school's Engineering Student Council and played an integral role in the Engineering design competition that takes place in the Spring on Maryland Day. His goal is to utilize his engineering knowledge to educate and tap into the creative abilities of children. Todd has been brought to you by the letters T, O, D, and the number 9

Cort's Website

Cort's Resumé

Cort Stratton
BS, Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 2001

Cort was born and raised in Boston, MA. He wandered into the ETC one day, unwashed and unshaven, and smelling vaguely of cabbage-water. A hand-lettered placard hung about his neck, reading "will implement hardware-accelerated 3D graphics engines for food" (though the word "food" had been crossed off, and "Kerberos tickets" scrawled in its place with what appeared to be hoisin sauce). After several fruitless attempts to dislodge him, he was permitted to stay. Cort's middle name really is "Danger". He enjoys breathing new life into old and decrepit computer systems, rolling naked in snowbanks, playing assorted sounds and noises in sequences in which they've never before been played, exploiting parellelism, listening to disco music at tempos other than the one at which it was recorded, and Fluffernutters. Upon initial inspection, Cort appears to have no eyebrows. But don't be fooled!

Ken's Resumé

Kenneth Strickland

BS, Computer Science, and BA, Creative Writing, Carnegie Mellon University, 2001

Born the frozen, icy northland of Rochester, NY, Ken soon found solace from the penguin-killing cold of his home in old, leather-bound books and the manipulation of abstract symbols. Fed on a steady diet of fish-heads and absurdist poetry, he quickly grew to love fiction and brain-rotting console systems, especially the ones that made unhealthy bleeping sounds. Ken graduated from Carnegie Mellon with two degrees (in computer science and creative writing), two dollars in dimes, a smile on his face, and a bar code on his behind. He hopes to use the ETC as springboard into the games industry, where he could design and write to his heart’s content.

But some say that’s only half the story; in certain circles it is whispered that Ken is actually the product of a highly-classified, now-defunct government research program in memetic warfare. And really, who’s to say that the story isn’t true, and that ideas of a truly addictive caliber can’t cause hallucination on a massive scale? Ask yourself: did you really see a human being in that lecture hall an hour ago, or did you just really, really want to?

Matt's Resumé

Matt's Website

Matthew Udvari

BA, Theater, double-minor Computer Science and Music, Wake Forest University, 2001

Matt Udvari is currently a video game designer at Day 1 Studios in Maryland. At Carnegie Mellon, Matt studied playwriting in the drama department in addition to his role in ETC creations. Throughout his theatre career, he has performed in numerous plays and musicals, acted in Shakespeare & Company's Intensive Workshop in 1999, and directed Broken Bones for the Wake Forest Theatre. As a playwright, he has written numerous works and seen them produced on stage. At Wake Forest University, he was a decathlete/jumper for the varsity track team. Matt has a passion for the evolving medium of video games, and continues to focus on blending gripping gameplay with strong dramatic narratives.


David's Resumé

David Ventura

BS, Computer Science, University of Virginia, 2001

Dave graduated from The University of Virginia with a bachelor's in computer science. His undergraduate research areas were graphics and human-computer interaction. In preparation for life at Carnegie Mellon, Dave has logged countless hours during code compiles in the Virginia graphics lab testing the effects of haptic feedback with Need For Speed. He is also a retired council member for The Programmers of Original and New Games (PONG). Originally an intending drama major, as a software engineer Dave has suppressed his "evil" liberal desires such as art, music, and writing. Now a graduate student in the Entertainment Technology Center, he plans to make good on sticking it to "the man" by indulging his love for the humanities and making jokes that don't involve geometry. Beyond crayons and Muppets, Dave enjoys playing outdoors and electronica.

Natalie's Resumé

Natalie Willis
BEng, Computing, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, 2000

Na-ta-lie spent her first 13 years of life in a beautiful city in the South China Sea called Hong Kong. She later joined her sister in boarding school in Oxford and graduated from the Imperial College of London with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computing in the United Kingdom. Originally wanted to be a Vet, Na-ta-lie still has a keen passion in animals and zoology. She spent a year working as a RA in the City University of HK after graduation, in the research department of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching building a virtual learning support center. Apart from her computing major, Na-ta-lie enjoys drawing, painting and filming, playing her clarinet, good food (which is hard to find in Pittsburgh) and exploring creative media with artificial intelligence.

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