With the digital age bringing unforeseen changes to the electronics and technology industries, it is imperative for education in those respective fields to experience change as well. Flashpoint Academy is sitting ahead of the curve, leading the way toward the digital age’s bright future. Ric Landry, chairman and founder of the Academy, sees the shift as inevitable and welcomes it. “The whole move from analog to digital [has been] off the charts, [and] if you don’t have this skill set today, you’re going to miss the boat,” he warns. Change is rapid, continues Landry. “Five years ago we didn’t know what YouTube or MySpace was all about, and I can’t tell you what digital media is going to look like five years from now.”
That uncertainty means that the next generation of digital innovators must be prepared. Flashpoint offers a unique approach to educating, focusing on film, sound, animation and game technology. The public response to that unique approach has been strong. “It makes sense. You don’t need to wait four years and you don’t need to retake general education courses to be in any one of these disciplines,” says Landry. “The mayor loves it because we’re creating real jobs. His comments have been that [with] the jobs that are being created, the students can actually live in the city and raise a family. The industry professionals love it, the business professionals love it and it’s great for the city of Chicago.”
Praise from the industry and the city at large notwithstanding, Landry understands that the heart of any institution is its students. “The students that we have are really passionate. The reason they want to come here is because they want to get started, they want to develop a skill set in a short period of time and move into the workforce,” he explains. “Eighty-five percent of the students we have are coming from other programs, they’re coming [here] because we’re offering a hands-on, state-of-the-art experience.” - todd williams