From a varied lineup of live entertainment and the Criterium bicycle race to the Redmond Fire Department?s pancake breakfast and a 5K run/walk to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the list of Derby Days activities is long.
One of the highlights on that list is the Grand Parade. And leading this year?s parade is Grand Marshal Claude Comair, founder and president of DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond.
?I am extremely, extremely proud,? he said about being asked to be grand marshal, adding that it is a great honor.
Comair and DigiPen have been part of the Redmond community since 1996 when the school relocated here from Vancouver, British Columbia. The school first opened its doors in 1988.
?We wanted to move to Washington because 80 percent of our students were American,? Comair said about the relocation.
He added that when they were in Canada, the American students weren?t able to apply for jobs or internships because they weren?t Canadian citizens.
Comair said the choice to come to Redmond was deliberate, as well. He said with tech giants such as Microsoft and Nintendo in town, it was obvious things in software technology were happening and will happen in Redmond.
?It?s incredible?like nowhere else in the world,? Comair said about Redmond. ?We love it here. This is our home.?
A few years ago, City of Redmond Mayor John Marchione declared a day in August as ?DigiPen Day.? On this day, the school opens its doors to the community, giving them the opportunity to play, create and explore the world of gaming and digital art.
With 2013 being DigiPen?s 25th anniversary, Comair said they plan to have a bigger DigiPen Day this year. The event will also be in September due to building renovations, he added.
Lisa Rhodes, City of Redmond events and marketing administrator, said the school?s anniversary made it a great fit to have Comair as the Grand Parade?s grand marshal, but this was not the only reason why they asked him.
?DigiPen is such a great partner of ours and we thought it would be nice to honor them in this way,? she said.
Comair said he is very appreciative that the city thought of him for the position. He also acknowledged that he couldn?t have brought DigiPen to its current level by himself, which is why he asked the city to allow students and staff to walk with him and represent the school, as well.
Contact Redmond Reporter Reporter Samantha Pak at spak@redmond-reporter.com or 425-867-0353, ext. 5052.Source: http://feeds.soundpublishing.com/~r/redmondnews/~3/B9ChuI-ODx8/215158961.html
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