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NWCC Yearbook Redefines Winning
click picture to view article in the DeSoto Appeal

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Northwest Mississippi Community College's yearbook, the 2010 Rocketeer, claimed first place in the Mississippi Community/Junior College Press Association competition for the third year in a row, according to Renate Ferreira, lead yearbook adviser and journalism instructor.

"Redefined" was the theme for the 224-page, four-color book, edited by freshman graphic design major Andrew Bartolotta of Southaven. The book received 980 points out of a possible 1,100 points.

"The Rocketeer was a strongly executed book that completely enveloped its theme of 'Redefined.' By using classic elements and a clean, continuous design, it was the clear showpiece and winner of the competition. This is a book that can sit on a coffee table and survive the test of time. The Rocketeer staff should be very proud of their work and deserve the fruits of their labor," said competition judge Ashley Dees in her comments.

It has become a tradition for Northwest yearbooks to place in state competition. Over the past years, the publication has claimed first-place awards in 2009, 2008, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998 and 1997. The book was printed by Taylor Publishing Co. in Dallas.

"Winning this award for the third consecutive year is a real feather in our caps. I am so pleased that this award recognized our students' hard work and made the many hours spent creating this book all worth it. Editor Andrew Bartolotta emerged as a great designer with new and exciting ideas. This is my fourth year as adviser, and I never cease to be amazed by our students' creativity and dedication," Ferreira said.

Students at Northwest who work on the publication are enrolled in one of four sections of college publications, which is a one-hour lab class for yearbook or newspaper production. The work takes place in the Ann Y. Whitten Student Media Center in Yalobusha Hall on the Senatobia campus, which is equipped with Macintosh computers.

"The Rocketeer keeps getting better year after year. The students and staff at Northwest should be so proud to have this beautifully designed, high-quality publication that documents for posterity the people, campus life and special events that occurred throughout the year," said Julie Bauer, assistant director of communications and student publications adviser.

The Mississippi Press Association Education Foundation has awarded the journalism department grants for the past few years, providing newspaper and yearbook staffs with iMac computers, a digital Rebel camera and video equipment to record news clips for the Ranger Rocket online edition. The department was awarded $1,400 by the foundation this year for a new iMac computer and tri-pod.

Students work under the leadership of an editor and receive guidance from advisers including Ferreira, Bauer and communications assistant Brittany Greer. Former public relations director Nancy Patterson and former assistant for sports information Brett Brown also assisted in advising the 2010 Rocketeer staff.
© 2010 Memphis Commercial Appeal. All rights reserved. 

Northwest graduate launches new business with social media
(Click picture to visit on The NWCC Website)

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Written By: Sarah Sapp

Northwest Mississippi Community College graduate Andrew Thomas Bartolotta of Southaven can now add ‘entrepreneur’ to his resume after launching a successful social media campaign that attracted more than 700 visitors to the ‘andrew.jpg’ online storefront for his new graphic design and photography firm.
Bartolotta created a weeklong event on the popular social networking site, facebook, to promote his business virally. “Whoever promoted my business through their status got entered into a contest to win $100 worth of photography, photo shoots or design, and the winner would be announced at the end of the week,” said Bartolotta.

The fledgling photographer and designer got his start with wedding photography and designing for the non-profit Dress for Success. As word of his reasonable prices, efficiency, innovation and tech savvy spread quickly across the area, Bartolotta began taking on more paid jobs designing direct mail pieces and menus for the restaurant and catering industry. 
Since then, Bartolotta’s web-based and print graphic design work has spanned further into widely varying industries, including investment firms, political candidates, health care facilities and athletes’ official social media logos. As attention to his website continues to grow through word of mouth and social media, demand for his wedding, concert, special events and senior and family portrait photography is gaining momentum alongside interest in his graphic design.

“Northwest definitely prepared me to start my own business as soon as I graduated because of their Graphic Design Technology program,” said Bartolotta. “It provided me the practical application of manipulating my designs, my photography and my logos.  My instructor, Ms. Cheryl Rice, helped me by making class more like a business instead of strictly teaching.  The way that she taught us how to get everything done as a working project instead of just a grade helped me with the business aspect of my new career.”

Bartolotta attributes a lot of his success and design knowledge to the experience he gained as editor of the “Rocketeer” yearbook on the Northwest campus. “Being the yearbook editor really helped me be more outgoing and to be more of a people person. It taught me to just be myself while promoting such a wonderful school.”

The Northwest Graphic Design Technology program educates students in the art of visual communication, emphasizing the professional practice of design. Students combine digital technology with aesthetics in the production of typography, signage, publications, identity systems, packaging, design and other forms of communication. Students in the program combine concepts and facts from the humanities, social sciences and technology while utilizing critical design methodologies in visual problem solving.

For more information about Graphic Design Technology at Northwest, contact Rice at (662) 562-3442 or clrice@northwestms.edu. For more information about andrew.jpg Design and Photography, contact Bartolotta at andrew.jpg@gmail.com or visit his website http://www.andrewjpgdesigns.com.

Northwest yearbook editor awaits arrival of book in April 
By Brittany Greer | 3/8/2010

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After seven months and countless hours spent designing Northwest Mississippi Community College’s yearbook, Rocketeer Editor Andrew Bartolotta of Southaven and Adviser Renate Ferreira of Oxford sent in the last few pages on Feb. 22.

“This book takes months to make. Each page out of this 224-page book has specific guidelines, fonts, design elements, etc. It could not have been completed without the hours of dedication and the help of almost a dozen people including Mrs. Ferreira, Nancy Patterson, Public Relations director; the yearbook staff, and other advisers Julie Bauer, assistant Public Relations director; Brittany Greer, Public Relations assistant, and Brett Brown, assistant for Sports Information,” said Bartolotta, a freshman Graphic Design major.

His hope is that everyone who looks through the book reads the articles written by talented Northwest students and appreciates the photography that captures the moments that have happened this year.

“I could not have done this without the amazing Mrs. Ferreira whose stories and laughs have helped us through the tough deadlines, and the overall genuine and caring relationship she exhibits through her fascinating design skills and expertise,” said Bartolotta.

He said he is truly thankful for this opportunity to be in charge of documenting the history of Northwest for more than 8,000 students and more than 300 faculty and staff in this book. “This has been a valuable learning experience, one that I will carry with me throughout my career. I have been blessed with this amazing journey, and I hope that this book reflects everyone's Northwest experience.”

The Rocketeer will be available in the Ranger Bookstore on the Senatobia campus and at center locations at the end of April.

“This is the first time I am scared to see one of my yearbooks because more of my work is in it than any other I’ve done. However, I am looking forward to its arrival,” said Bartolotta.

Bartolotta, originally from Chicago, said working on his high school yearbook is what helped him adjust to life in Mississippi. “I would not be here without my high school yearbook teachers, Mrs. Robin Patterson and Mrs. Tania Garrard, who asked me at the end of his ninth grade year to join the yearbook staff,” said Bartolotta.

“At first I thought that it would be a great opportunity to break out of my shell I had built around me since moving to Southaven from Chicago that year. After I accepted and tried out, little did I know that my life would truly never be the same,” he said.

Through three years of experience on the DeSoto Central High School yearbook staff, he grew to have a definite fascination with the world of journalism and design.

After seeing the previous Rocketeer editor, Lizzy Gray, go from being on the DeSoto Central yearbook staff to being Northwest’s yearbook editor, he was inspired to persevere and work hard to not only follow in her footsteps, but to create his own path as well.

While at DeSoto Central, he was named the Yearbook Staff Member of the Year by the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association. He also served as vice president of Students Against Destructive Decisions and a member of Bridge Builders, a leadership and diversity organization.

Bartolotta has faced many challenges throughout his life, including starting over in a new city and suffering from a heart attack at the age of 14. “My heart attack was caused by a virus. I have a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is basically the hardening of the heart. I guess you could say I have a heart for creativity,” said Bartolotta.

He currently works as an office associate and biller at FedEx Freight in Memphis. “I work 30 hours a week while going to school full-time,”  he said.

Bartolotta considers himself outgoing and family-oriented. “Life is too short to be serious all the time. I love meeting new people and taking photos. Family time is also very important to me. My mother, Jackie, and I are very close. I have a fraternal twin brother, Eric, but we are complete opposites,” he said.

His goal as a designer is to one day see his work as he walks down the street in an ad, poster, photograph or publication. “The design world is very broad. There are many different professions available, and I just haven’t found my niche yet,” said Bartolotta.

“My advice to anyone with a dream is to never give up and always remember that you only live once, so live for the moment. You should never have any regrets,” he said.