Communications Academy students at Nease High School had the chance to see how the skills they learn in class translate into real-world job opportunities. On February 2nd, Communications Academy TV Production students traveled to PGA Tour Entertainment Studios, located in World Golf Village. The trip was organized by members of our Advisory Board, Jackie Petty and Chris Sinclair. Students toured the production and post-production facilities, which included the studio and control room, and met professionals in the industry. PGA Tour Entertainment also treated the students to lunch (always appreciated by hungry teenagers), during which time the students got to speak with PGA employees who also happened to be Nease graduates.
On February 9th, Cady Studios generously offered to host Nease’s Digital Design and Yearbook students for a day-long event at their Lake City facility. Upon arrival, the students were taken on a tour of the facility by the Customer Service Manager. Students got to see the customer service, photography, retouching, and printing departments. Then, they headed to the conference room where employees spoke about their jobs and roles in the company, including: customer service, photography, retouching, branding, and being school a representative. The students were provided with several examples of the many different branding examples that Cady Studios has done for the schools they represent. Next, Cady Studios generously fed the students pizza and allowed them to utilize their break room, including the pool and ping pong tables. After lunch, they were given the opportunity to have their pictures taken by their photographers. From there, those photos were given to the retouching department where students got to see firsthand how the graphics department takes the photos and make them look print-ready. They removed braces and scars, lightened/darkened pictures to ensure the best quality of the photos, and even turned a student into a zombie. It was a great trip which allowed students from Digital Design and Yearbook to get a first-hand look at how the skills and theories learned in class are used in the field. Cady was incredibly hospitable and we thank them for offering to pay for charter bus transportation, which allowed the students access to their awesome facility.
