Oakland, CA – For the past four years, fans have watched Academy of Art University softball athlete and Graphic Design major Kimberly Dauer pitch in more games than any other Urban Knight, intrigued by the masterpiece she might author in the circle. Now, Dauer will pioneer ART U beyond the softball field as she has secured an internship as a graphic designer for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League.

"I am extremely excited to have been offered a graphic design internship position with the Oakland Raiders," Dauer said. "I first heard about this internship position after one of my softball games, towards the end of our season. As I was raking the mound, [Director of Athletics] Colin Preston and [Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator] Meghan Bushnell approached me asking if I would be interested in working with the Raiders and said that they would be able to forward my resume and possibly get me an interview. I was very excited to be offered the opportunity to interview with a professional sports team."

The tale began this past May when Dauer headed across the Bay Bridge to Raiders headquarters in Alameda to meet with the team's Creative Services Manager for her interview. After getting a feel for Dauer's personality and background, the discussion ended on a strong note with a look at the work she had done. A few weeks later, she received a call back from the Raiders congratulating her on receiving one of the team's two available graphic design internship positions.

"He was very impressed with my enthusiasm, passion, and the work that I have produced," Dauer said. "I could not be happier to have my first internship position be with an NFL team!"

A 2012 All-PacWest Second Team selection, Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award winner, and one of the program's two NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes, Dauer has the most career starts as a pitcher, innings pitched, and the most saves in program history in addition to ranking second all-time in wins and strikeouts.

"We are so proud of Kim!" co-head coach Sami Strinz said. "Earning an internship for the Raiders speaks volumes to the quality of work she puts out. Kim is an amazing person, was a great pitcher, and now gets to be a tremendous graphic designer. The sky is the limit for this young lady!"

The internship itself is slated to span June to September, but Dauer anticipates continuing with them throughout the fall and into the football season to get the full effect. Working with the Creative Services Manager and one other graphic design intern, Dauer's first projects consist of designing billboards, bus shelter ads, and ads inside of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). In addition to creating a logo for the Raider's new marketing campaign, other work to come will be stadium pamphlets, posters, and flyers.

"As an artist-athlete, this opportunity could not be any more perfect where my passion and drive for sports, something I have pushed myself and worked very hard for, can stand out in my designs and artistic ability," Dauer said. "I am also very excited because I have been given quite a bit of freedom and trust on the designs that I will be producing. This experience will prepare me for design positions in the future."

Having had her work featured on multiple occasions at the Academy of Art University Spring Show over the past few years, Dauer has built a portfolio that blows one away like a high fastball. As a three-time PacWest Academic All-Conference Team, she understands the value of the education she has received and now looks to combine it all beyond the classroom.

"I definitely feel like Academy of Art has prepared me very well for an opportunity like this," Dauer said. "In the classroom, we work with top instructors who are still working in the industry and who are constantly pushing us to get our best work out. Our classes are extremely hands-on and we work as if we were designing for clients."

Dauer explained that her classes at Academy of Art University provided her the opportunity to work with clients in the graphic design industry including The Art of the Olympians, in an Identity/Branding class, and The Republic of Tea, in a Package Design class. In fact, because of her impressive work, Dauer was offered a design internship position with The Republic of Tea roughly one year ago, but had to decline on account of her intense schedule combining school and softball.

ART U Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) and Graphic Design instructor Darrell Hayden worked with Dauer in two of his classes and offered praise of the gifted artist-athlete.

"Congratulations to Kim Dauer on her Raiders internship!" Hayden said. "It was my pleasure to teach Kim in two of my classes at Academy of Art University: Identity Design and Creatively Speaking. Her focus, dedication, curiosity, and positive attitude set the standard in both classes."

Dauer is living proof that the Urban Knights' mantra "Be Artist. Be Athlete." is very real as she continues to deal out incredible designs in this next chapter of her life. Equipped with a unique skillset and a determination that aligns perfectly for the world of professional sports, Dauer knows she is ready.

"I feel even more prepared to work in the graphic design industry after being a NCAA student-athlete," Dauer said. "I have developed great time management skills; balancing the demands of homework, project deadlines, classes, practices, workouts, games, and sleep. I also get my competitive drive, outgoing personality, and ability to work with others from being an athlete for most of my life."