Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) and the Davenport Community School District are excited to invite you to the CRE8 Labs Student Showcase! This exciting event marks the culmination of a weeklong summer program designed to immerse high school students in creative disciplines—from storytelling and music production to fashion design and content creation.

Event Details

What: CRE8 LABS Student Showcase

When: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  •  12 p.m. – Welcome
  •  12:15 p.m. – Student Showcase

 Where: EICC Urban Campus, 101 W. 3rd St., Davenport, IA

About CRE8 LABS:

CRE8 LABS  is a one-of-a-kind summer program offering high school juniors hands-on experience in various creative industries. Over the past week, 18 student participants have engaged in professional-led workshops focused on exploring personal voice, building marketable skills, and creating original work.

Creative Tracks & Instructors:

  • Fashion Design & Styling – LaNette Turner, Dress for Success
    Students explore fashion design, personal styling, and sustainable clothing. They learn sewing techniques, brand-building strategies, and present their work in a live fashion showcase.
  • Sound Engineering & Music Production – Tanner Jordan, AyeTJ Music
    Students dive into beat-making, sound design, and music production using industry-standard software and equipment. They produce original music, record vocals, and experiment with audio mixing.
  • Creative Writing – Anthony Abboreno, EICC English Instructor
    Through storytelling, short stories, and narrative writing, students build confidence in their voice and use writing as a tool for expression and creativity.
  • Graphic Design & Digital Art – Clint Balsar, Retired Visual Art Teacher
    Students gain experience using Adobe Creative Suite to design logos, posters, and social media graphics while learning foundational design principles and creating a professional portfolio.
  • Content Creation & Social Media Strategy – Jasmine Babers-Gunn, Her Voice Media
    Students explore podcasting and digital storytelling, from scripting to editing. They also develop a digital brand and social media strategy focused on authenticity and community engagement.

Enrichment Sessions:

Beyond their creative work, students participated in workshops on:

  • Workforce Readiness - Melissa Mapes, EICC HR 
  • Financial Literacy -  Heather Waffle, IHMVCU
  • Entrepreneurship - Joel Youngs, SBDC

Guests will experience the students’ final projects firsthand. We welcome the media, community members, and supporters of youth education to come and celebrate the creativity and commitment of these outstanding students.