Sat Nov 21 2009
By JARED ORZOLEK
NAPOLEON -- A graduate of Napoleon high school is helping group of citizens to improve the downtown business district with the help of technology.
Rechelle Bischoff, a 2006 graduate of Napoleon High School and current student at the University of Findlay, is developing a website for Napoleon Alive Inc.
Bischoff is the daughter of LeRoy and Dawn Bischoff, who reside in Napoleon, and is a senior digital media major. She started designing the Web site in May, when she selected the local non-profit as her client for a capstone course in communication.
Napoleon Alive is a group of concerned citizens and business owners seeking to improve the downtown area. The group is seeking grant funds from the Ohio Department of Development to assist business with efforts to improve businesses and buildings.
Bischoff said chose this project because it aligns with her career goals and allows her to be more active in the community. She will be one of the first students to graduate from the University of Findlay with a degree in digital media, a program launched in 2006 that merges communication and technology to meet the new media demands.
"This web site will help Napoleon Alive get the word out about its organization to the community in a positive way," said Bischoff, who is working under the guidance of faculty mentor Jens Hatch.
Bischoff is practicing her web design skills for her senior project and designing the site in Joomla, a web publishing program.
The site will allow Napoleon residents to read about the organization and obtain information such as community events in Napoleon.
"These days, websites are an important business tool for any organization or business. Having a professional looking website that functions well, and one that offers technological options for the presentation and gathering of information is very valuable," said Robin Weirauch, executive director of Napoleon Alive. "With a good reliable website, we will be able to share information with members, area residents, visitors, and virtually anyone with Internet access about Napoleon, and the downtown revitalization efforts going on here."
Weirauch said the organization will also be able to use the site to gather information about events for calendars, sign up members and volunteers, survey area residents about new programs and link people to each other as well as other organizations.
"It is also valuable for us to have a website that is user-friendly for regular updates, changes and additions. A website that only techies can maintain is a real handicap. Ms. Bischoff has promised us easy maintenance with a full set of instructions," Weirauch said.
Bischoff, who plans to work as a web designer after graduation, is also developing a video tutorial to train Napoleon Alive members how to update and maintain the web site once it has been designed.
Both projects will be unveiled Dec. 2 during a formal presentation on the University of Findlay campus.
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