In The Stellar Academy of Engineering, Communications Academy, and the St. Johns County Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, the relationships between the Academy programs and the business partners provide a variety of opportunities to help expand our students’ education through assemblies, field trips and competition judging. Here’s just a bit of what Nease’s Academy students experienced this school year, thanks to our business partners:
Nease’s Communications Academy, which trains future professionals in the fields of TV Production, News, Sports Media, Digital Design, and Journalism, had the chance to see their career possibilities in action. Bob Ellis, Vice President and General Manager of WJXT, coordinated an amazing broadcast journalism workshop seminar at the Channel 4 Studios; Jackie Petty and Chris Sinclair of PGA Tour Entertainment organized a field trip to explore their studio and production facilities at World Golf Village; and Lisa Dowling hosted a field trip to Leonard’s printing and production building in St. Augustine. The partners also worked together to bring a group of 6 professionals in the Communications industries into one major assembly, where students had the chance to hear about a variety of potential jobs in the fields of television, publication, photography, digital design, and social media.
In the Stellar Academy of Engineering, the business partners have donated resources, time, and expertise, which have helped to make the Engineering program one of the most sought after in all of St. Johns County. Ron Fournier, of Stellar, helped to organize a panel discussion assembly, bringing together engineers from different fields to expand academy students’ vision of the possibilities in Engineering. Alexis Alexandris, an aerospace engineer, organized field trips to the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast to tour the F/A-18 Hornet Strike Fighter Aircraft Production Line. Business partners through the University of North Florida took Academy students for a tour of UNF’s Engineering College. And Academy business partners Mike Molkenbur (of Peters and Yaffee, Inc.), Will Lyon and Shane Dankworth (of Pond and Co.), donated their time and expertise by coming into the classroom to judge Nease’s Project Green competition.
Field trips organized by business partners for the St. Johns County Academy of Hospitality and Tourism have been incredible this year. One of our newest advisory board members, Ali Fraser, organized a trip to the Fountain of Youth, where students took in the attractions, and learned what goes into keeping the park running; partners Michelle Criswell and Stefanie Thibideau coordinated an awesome trip to the Sawgrass Marriott, where Academy students got to shadow employees in all of the different departments of the hotel; and students had the chance to get a complete back-of-house tour at the Renaissance World Golf Village resort and convention center, along with a free business lunch, catered by the hotel.
All of these opportunities, provided by Academy business partners this school year, encourage Nease’s students to dream big, moving them one step closer to realizing their professional goals.
