Kelly Garcia '07, of Abilene, Texas (Cooper High School) creates
a sound-and-image project allowing her to combine interests from
her double-major in physics and music. It also
resulted in her presenting her research at a conference.
Garcia and Assistant Professor of Music Christopher Watts gave a
presentation at the sixth annual Music Technology Workshop and New
Music Festival, based on a stop-motion animation project Garcia created
that explores the relationship between image and sound. It was also presented
at the second annual Center for Educational Technology Music Conference. She
furthered her study on the topic as a 2005 McNair Summer
Research Scholar; Garcia is also pursuing a minor in film studies.
You might wonder where Garcia finds the time for academic research.
She works in the costume shop, in the music library, is a music tutor
and helps paint sets for productions. Garcia also helps set
up the physics labs, and is one of the mentors for the Presidential
Diversity Scholarship students. She plays in the Rhythm
and Roots ensemble, is a member of the physics honorary, and lives
in the Artist Guild theme house.
Garcia plans a career in filmmaking, focusing primarily
on poverty and abuse, a decision influenced by her experience volunteering
in a soup kitchen and shelter during a University break. "I
see myself as a storyteller and a messenger for people in those situations," Garcia
says. "I want to reach as wide an audience as I can. Even though
people hear about poverty and abuse a lot, it never sinks in until
one sees it with one's own eyes."
