Transforming art into human essence and fusing it with technology and nature is what Patrick Millard has been doing in various art exhibits since he was a teenager, but the highlights of his evening this Thursday will be viewing the work of his students at Point Park University and meeting their parents.Millard will join Associate Professor of Multimedia Heather Starr-Fiedler and School of Communication (SOC) Dean Tim Hudson, who will host the event, to honor the best work from the past year’s communication students collectively in the multimedia exhibit on Thursday, April 28th at 7 p.m. in Lawrence Hall lobby. Hors d’oeuvres and an exposition will precede the ceremony.From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Awards and Recognition ceremony will commence in the third floor Lawrence Hall Ballroom, and from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. dessert will be served as the exhibition continues in the lobby. Registration is free for School of Communication students and club members, and other guests are asked to pay a $10 fee.”This exhibition is special because it is a representation of what our students have been working so hard to do,” Millard said.The exhibit will include work from SOC media outlets such as The Cavalcade, To The Point, The Globe, WPPJ and U-View. Each club will display pieces selected by its leaders. Millard is the curator for the juried photography exhibit called “Mirrors and Windows.””The name of this collection comes from an old way of viewing photography either as a window – a way for the artist to look in on the world and show it to another with minimal personal interpretation behind it – or a mirror – a way for the artist to reflect upon the world they are looking at, then show that idea of the world to the viewer,” Millard said.Millard and Christopher Rolinson, assistant professor of photography and photojournalism at Point Park, examined 60 to 70 photography submissions to find the work they felt would be the “strongest representation of excellence” from the photography programs. The selected works will be framed and suspended on the walls for a classic art gallery experience. Lighting, however, will not play a significant role in how the art is perceived.”We look forward to a very controllable environment in 2013 when we open our gallery in the new SOC building, but for now lighting will be used to help emphasize work in whatever way we can,” Millard said.Starr-Fiedler said that each club within the SOC will be awarding “Outstanding Member” recognition to students exemplifying exceptional qualities within each organization, and scholarship recipients will also be regarded. Though this celebration is held annually, it will differ this year.”In the years past we’ve done each department, club or group separately. This is the first year that we’re combining all School of Communication events into one large showcase and award,” said Starr-Fiedler.She also said that in addition to the photography display, viewers can look forward to a graphic design slideshow and interactive websites displayed on touch screens, as well as U-View and WPPJ programming.Acting Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Anthony Moretti will also be in attendance and hopes that the work displayed will encourage current and prospective students to aim for higher achievements in years to come.”I hope it inspires students to say, ‘I can do that, and even better than that, next year,'” Moretti said.He prefers to mentally maintain a “blank slate” instead of knowing what pieces will be presented this Thursday.”I deliberately didn’t want to know what is going to be there … I want to be dazzled,” Moretti said.He looks forward to patting his students on the back and congratulating them on a job well done.