The Digital Media & Design strand is for the creative, artistic student that is interested in exploring careers in Digital Media. The strand is divided into four sub strands: graphic design, digital photography, video production and audio production. Student associates in this strand find their passion and develop technical skills by working with local businesses as well as completing personal projects. This strand is perfect for students who want to follow their passions in digital media in life after high school. 

Past projects during the fall semester have included:

Graphic Design projects creating logos, t-shirts, album covers, backstage passes, business cards, advertisements, flyers, cartoons, magazine layouts, and motion graphics

Digital Photography projects include photo shoots for Sporting KC, the River Market, Colony, local food trucks, fashion designers, Clever Fools, Webster House, and Chops BBQ

Video Production projects including videos for Union Station, KC Drone, the KC Street Car, Clay County Economic Development Council, and the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts

Audio Production projects including music mixes, composing movie soundtracks and original albums, podcasting and radio shows

Past internships during the spring semester have included:

• Hallmark Cards
• KCPT
• 90.9 The Bridge
• Colony
• Rhino Room
• Belger Studios
• Alphagraphics
• Jazz Sister Cities

Stay up to date with the Digital Media & Design strand by following it on Instagram and YouTube!

The Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing strand is ideal for student associates interested in exploring the multitude of career options available in engineering and advanced manufacturing industries. The experience in this strand is geared toward helping student associates figure out how their passions and skill sets align with industry standards to find the right career and the best path toward it. Student associates in this strand learn valuable professional skills that are useful in any career, including project management and presentation skills. They will also have opportunities to learn industry-specific technical skills such as applying lean manufacturing processes to drive out waste or working with 2D and 3D software to develop concept models. 

Past projects in the fall semester include:

• Assisting with renovation plans for the new KCI Airport terminal
• Designing prototypes of safer vehicles for local roads
• Tracking "lost" water usage in Kansas City by analyzing vast data sets
• Pitch design proposals to utilize currently unused community areas
• Create products that alert pet owners that their pet is in a vehicle on a hot day
• Observe manufacturing lines and look for ways to increase efficiency and safety

Past internship opportunities during the spring semester include:

• Magna/LMV Automotive
• Black & Veatch
• Burns & McDonnell
• CRB Consulting Engineers
• HNTB
• Holland 1916
• J. Price Architecture
• Kaw Valley Engineering
• Olsson Associates
• Standard Aero
• TK Architects
• YMCA

Keep up with the latest happenings in the Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing strand by following us on Instagram!

The Business Accelerator, new during the 2019-20 school year, is a unique strand within the Northland CAPS organization. Rather than focus on career exploration opportunities in an industry of choice, student associates in the Business Accelerator strand are given time - and provided the networking connections - needed to take an idea for a new product or service and try to begin turning it into profit. Some student associates in this strand already have existing businesses when they enter the program and simply wish to grow it.

Typical projects completed during the fall semester include:

• Creating "shark tank" pitches to present ideas to investors
• Researching and developing plans for creating of expanding a business
• Interacting with other entrepreneurs at industry events

Students associates in this strand have the option of choosing a standard Northland CAPS internship during the spring semester, but those whose business ideas show potential in the fall may qualify to continue working on them in the spring. 

Follow along with the Northland CAPS Business Accelerator by following us on social media!

The Global Business & Logistics strand is for student associates who are detail-oriented, enjoy problem solving, and want to learn how businesses increase their profit margin. This includes organizing and managing people, projects, facilities and supplies to compete in an ever-changing market with both local and global competition. Whether you are interested in a career with an established company or organization or intent on creating the next great product or service, our program will connect you with the local leaders and mentors to help prepare you for a successful career.

Past projects during the fall semester include:

• Working with non-profit organizations to attract new businesses to Kansas City
• Completing feasibility studies for the creation of a mobile lawn equipment service
• Developing patient transport services for local hospitals
• Researching and recommending policies for hiring and retaining millenials
• Developing social media plans for special events
• Developing shipping strategies for local start-ups
• Creating marketing materials to promote co-working spaces in the Northland

Past internships during the spring semester include:

• AlphaGraphics
• Central Exchange
• Clay County Economic Development Council
• Express Employment
• Five Wows
• City of Gladstone
• Harrah's Casino and Hotel
• HipHire
• Hunt Midwest Development
• iWerx
• Kansas City Economic Development Council
• LumenTouch
• Make48
• Mid-Continent Public Library
• National WWI Museum
• NKC Business Council
• Northland Angel Investors
• Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Northpoint Development
• Reece Nichols
• VideoFizz

To keep up with the latest happenings in the Global Business & Logistics strand, follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

Due to overwhelming demand, the Medicine & Healthcare strand of Northland CAPS is spread out across four separate medical facilities in the Northland. Our approach centers on offering student associates the ability to experience many different specialized careers in the healthcare industry. A portion of the fall is spent inside a hospital where students are exposed to a unique medical environment and shadow different in-patient professionals throughout the facility. The other portion of the fall semester focuses on the out-patient side of the medical world, including (but not limited to) EMS, professional clinics, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, and other similar career opportunities. 

Typical activities completed during the fall semester include

• Learning industry-specific technical vocabulary
• Earning Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Earning CPR/First Aid certification
• Shadow experiences with healthcare professionals
• Working on in-depth case studies of body systems
• Learning real, relevant physical assessment skills. 

Past internship opportunities during the spring semester include

• North Kansas City Hospital
• Liberty Hospital
• St. Luke's Hospital
• Children's Mercy Northland Clinic
• Chiropractic Kinesiology Clinic
• BluePearl Vet
• Clay County Public Health
• Claycomo Densitry
• eyeSmith
• Gladstone Fire Department
• Kearney Fire & Rescue
• The Medicine Shoppe
• Northland Regional Ambulance District
• Quest Diagnostics
• Synergy House

You can keep up with the Medicine & Healthcare strand by following us on Instagram!

• Creating and building new websites with non-profit, startup, and private companies
• Developing mobile applications for a fundraising event
• 'Creating and troubleshooting hardware or software to meet business needs
• Developing and automating databases for sales reporting or email organization

Past internships from the spring semester include:

• 1102 Grand
• Cerner Corporation
• Clay County Economic Development Council
• Code Koalas
• Commerce Bank
• Federal Reserve Bank
• Handy Camel
• Indigex
• Kauffman Stadium
• Lexmark International
• LightEdge
• The Nerdery
• NKC Business Council
• Northwest Missouri State University
• Opus Solutions
• Packet Layer
• Snacks on Racks
• UGA Financial

To keep up with the latest happenings in the Technology Solutions strand, follow instructor Curt Kelly on LinkedIn.