SOWELA Students Launch Original Children's Book

SOWELA Technical Community College Digital Arts and Communication students unveiled their original children’s book, A Cat’s Tail, during a book launch party at the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana. Attendees enjoyed a live read-aloud of the book performed by the student author and illustrators, followed by a book signing.

“This project is a great example of how SOWELA students apply their creativity in real-world ways while giving back to the community,” said Darrell Buck, Digital Arts and Communication Instructor at SOWELA. “Seeing our students collaborate across disciplines to produce a professional-quality book—and turn it into a scholarship opportunity for future students—is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

The picture book was created as a Graphic Art Club project, with each participating student illustrating one to two pages. The book was written and the project led by SOWELA Digital Art student Christian Ramirez and follows the adventures of Pin, a cat born without a tail.

“Working on A Cat’s Tail was an amazing experience because everyone brought their own style and ideas to the story,” said Ramirez. “Holding the finished book and sharing it with children and families showed us what’s possible when creativity and teamwork come together.”

All proceeds from book sales will benefit a Digital Arts scholarship through the SOWELA Foundation. Printing costs for the book were generously covered by Lake City Printing. The book is available for purchase at the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana gift shop.

SOWELA’s Digital Arts and Communication program prepares students for careers and advancement in digital media. The program offers concentrations in Graphic Design and Media Production, with hands-on training using industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud.