What if your homework was playing video games? For Games, Interactive Media and Mobile Technology student Kortny Serrano, that’s not a hypothetical question.
“We have a little arcade machine in one of our classrooms and we studied Braid, a 2D platformer,” Serrano said, recalling one of her classes in GIMM, the program’s moniker here on campus. “We had to analyze the game, write a quick paragraph and then integrate those lessons into our future projects.”
Serrano, originally from Fruitland, Idaho, with Navajo and Mescalero Apache heritage, came to Boise State in 2022 after taking two gap years. She had explored her options outside Idaho, but ultimately decided to become a Bronco on the advice of her father and brothers, all Boise State graduates.
“I fell in love with it,” she said. “I’m really glad that I ended up here.”
Serrano’s choice of major helped her fall in love with Boise State. The GIMM program mixes art and technology, teaching students to express themselves through digital creations like games, mobile apps and interactive displays.
It was a perfect match for Serrano. “I’ve been drawing and painting since I could hold a pencil,” she said. “I’ve also been messing with HTML, making my own little websites and then making them pretty.”
But it’s not all fun and games. GIMM is one of Boise State’s latest innovations, founded in 2015, and it includes a rigorous course of study that prepares students for a range of digital creative jobs. Recent graduates have gone on to work for industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon and Rockstar Games.
Part of that placement record is thanks to the career-oriented curriculum. “The whole class is making a resume, putting all of our projects on it and practicing writing cover letters,” she said, speaking about her GIMM 300 Mobile Web Development course. “The final will be applying to 15 internships.”
Serrano plans to graduate in 2027. After that, she would like to explore careers in video games and other opportunities that blend art and technology. The portfolio of work Serrano is producing in her classes, including a 2D platformer video game called Far From Home, will be a valuable asset when she enters the job market.
Outside her studies, Serrano has found a durable sense of community at Boise State, thanks to her involvement in the Outdoor Program, the Intertribal Native Council and TRIO ACES.
As a trip leader, she has taken students on day hikes, camping trips and a visit to Bruneau Dunes State Park, where students peered through the professional-grade telescope in the new park’s new observatory.
Serrano also appreciates the community that the Intertribal Native Council gives her. “It’s nice to see people that share your cultural background,” she said. “Especially since we’re a big enough campus where we’re very diverse and you don’t always see people who look like you and can relate to you on another level.”
In her studies and extracurricular activities, Serrano has found a home at Boise State.