Manuel Enriquez - DBD Student

Life after high school can be very confusing for young adults. The majority typically have the support to help them move onto universities and community colleges. Some even have a job in a family business waiting for them. Still there remain a small minority of young men and women who are lost in their future outlook.

For a handful of students looking at a career in the highly competitive field of digital visual arts and design, such is not the case. Digital Business and Design College (DBD) in El Monte, California, a small private school specializing in computer multi-media and design, has a roster of graduates that overcame many obstacles because of the small scale, almost one-to-one teaching they received as students and the support network they gain as graduates.

Enrique Diaz, a career educator, runs DBD all year long and sustains it with passion. He typically spends his early morning to afternoon working at Mt. San Antonio Community College, and then spends another 6-8 hours at DBD with his students. "Seeing the success of DBD's alumni is an immeasurable reward," said Mr. Diaz. "What's even better is that some of them are helping each other succeed."

Javier Hernandez (comic book artist and radio host), Erika Garces (DBD student), and Rafael Navarro (Emmy-winning comic book artist)at DBD

Donald Quintana attended DBD and after graduation served as an intern for two years. During that time, Donald was undergoing treatment from UCLA for a medical condition that prevented him from becoming, among other things, employed. After a major surgery from UCLA, Donald was medically cleared for employment and with help from Digital Business and Design College and DBD alumni, he was able to land a graphic designer position with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that he holds to this day.

Raul Caracoza, another DBD graduate was also employed by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group as a graphic designer for their various print and web media, including the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star, and Whittier Daily News. Today, Raul is the webmaster for radio station Movin 93.9 FM with Rick Dees . Aside from his professional illustrations, Raul's works of art are also on display at Self Help Graphics & Art , a world-class art gallery in Los Angeles.

Adrian Guerrero, a DBD student, interned as well, being responsible for the layout of Nuvein Magazine , an online magazine that is maintained by DBD. His accomplishment for the magazine was the basis for his hire at the New Media, a division of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group (owner of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune). When Adrian joined MySpace.com earlier this year, he had obtained the position of supervisor at the Tribune.

DBD student Dennis Gomez started his own business, Third Eye Graphics, upon completion. His company is now a successful graphics design company with an impressive client list including A-listers such as Arista Records, Black Eyed Peas, Clear Channel, Discovery Channel, MTV, and USA Networks.

75th Mummy Anniversary Video Shoot in Studio.

Filadelfia Hernandez is one of the latest students admitted to DBD. Also a graduate of South El Monte High School, Fili attended DBD as an EMSEM Chamber Educational Committee scholarship award winner in 2006. Currently, she is still coming to DBD to update knowledge of multi-media, including HTML, Flash, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Fili has won awards for the SAX Arts and Crafts Magazine and the LA County Fair. She has transferred to Rio Hondo College and will begin an internship at the Nuvein Foundation in the next few weeks. She looks forward to entering the workplace having the necessary skills and experience in computer graphics and design that she learned and acquired at DBD.

DBD is small school. But from its high caliber list of growing alumni, Mr. Diaz looks to build up from a solid foundation of quality education. Through personal touch, he carefully guides his students not just in their studies but also in career advancement, especially when it comes to landing their first job. "The guidance and follow-through to help get a job is just as important for my students as the skills they learn in class," he said. Certainly, his students, past and present, can attest to the personal treatment that they've received from their teacher in order to achieve success in a very tough field.