With summer finally here, the Stellar Academy of Engineering and The Communications Academy at Nease have wrapped up another amazing year. In 2014-15, Nease’s Academy students enjoyed unique experiences and incredible opportunities that took their learning out of the classroom and into the real world.
This year the incredible partnership between Nease and Stellar was honored by the Jacksonville Business Journal at the Innovation in Education awards. Stellar, and the Academy of Engineering Advisory Board, work very closely with the school to create a dynamic program for the academy students. This year the students enjoyed field trips to study engineering at Universal Studios, Whetstone’s Chocolates, Habitat for Humanity build sites, and historic downtown St. Augustine. Stellar awarded two graduating academy seniors with $1,000 scholarships as they pursue engineering degrees in college, and engineering students also competed in a regional concrete canoe building competition through the University of North Florida.
In the Communications Academy at Nease, television production students raked in the awards this year. The news program, Wired, was named the best daily taped newscast in the southern United States, and was awarded as the second best newscast in the nation at the Student Television Network convention. A dozen Communications Academy students traveled to the convention, in San Diego, California, to receive the award, and to compete in television production contests against more than 2,500 television production students from around the country. At the convention, a team of two sports media students won the Sports Highlight on-site competition, beating out dozens of other entries for the top award.
Communications Academy students also won two local competitions this year, earning a $1,000 grant from the Davidson Cares foundation, and a group of students won first place in The Greatest Save PSA Competition, earning the program a $500 award.
Academy students enjoyed several opportunities to learn how their skills in the classroom can be applied in the real world. Students attended a discussion session with a panel of experts in the field of digital design and publishing, and television sports and news production. Students also had the chance to take field trips to UNF’s Journalism Workshop, Universal Studios, WJXT and PGA Tour Entertainment Studios, Flagler College, and Leonard’s production facility. The students are provided these opportunities through Nease’s work with the Communications Academy Advisory Board.
Next year, Nease’s academies will include a record number of students, ready to learn the skills that will help transform their passion to a career. In addition to the Stellar Academy of Engineering and The Communications Academy at Nease, the school is also fully launching The St. Johns County Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, which has big plans both in the classroom, and the community.
