Collection Artists Cesar Santander and Aristides Ruiz in current issue of American Art Collector

ARISTIDES RUIZ




CESAR SANTANDER

Collection Artist Amanda Besl work included in Beyond/In Western New York Show at Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Bruce Montgomery and Flashpoint Academy featured in Rolling Out website and magazine

Bruce Montgomery- Leader of the New School



photo by steed media service

Director of Industry Relations, Flashpoint Academy

It's the lights, the action, and everything else innovative that makes Chicago's newest college the main attraction. Flashpoint Academy will officially open its classrooms this fall, and this school is equivalent to a two-year crash course in digital entertainment. "We're really doing something that is new in the country," says Bruce Montgomery, the director of industry relations. "We are bringing the environments of digital filmmaking, audio recording, and game design under one roof. One thing that is evident about entertainment today is that everything is about collaboration."

The school will also combine book knowledge with hands-on experience under their educational umbrella, as Montgomery is committed to being the professional liaison between the students and their futures in entertainment. "My role is to partner with phenomenal organizations [within] the film studios, the advertising agencies and recording companies," he asserts. "We're hearing already that the big-name companies have job openings in this field."

With high expectations for the future of the institution, Montgomery believes that Flashpoint's mission will put their students a step ahead of other undergraduates who pursue a traditional 4-year degree. "Our ultimate goal is to have students ready to hit the ground running, working in the profession of their choice," he explains. "So, when they finish the program, not only will they have a portfolio, but they will be able to move right into key job opportunities in digital media. -Jamana Jamison

Experiencia Participates in CPS Back-to-School Program

HAT, Elaine and Elizabeth attended an important CPS - Chamber of Commerce kick-off event and press conference today to encourage businesses to support parents in encouraging and accompanying kids returning for the crucial first day of school. Jerry Roper introduced Arne Duncan and other speakers and put in a great plug for everyone to visit Experiencia.

Newest Flashpoint Academy Ad - Slick Guy

Collection Artist Lory Lockwood - Summer Newsletter

Collection Artist Sharon Shapiro Museum Show - Brenau University Art Gallery

Experiencia featured in online article on Chicago Parent website

Experience Experiencia

Kids become scientists and business people in interactive camps

Elizabeth Held
7/23/2007

Photos courtesy of Experiencia



At Exchange City, kids learn about supply and demand, laws and finance. EarthWorks, below, allows kids to interact with different animals and learn about nature.



Your kids can interact with 100 different animals, travel to Mars to learn about gravity and conduct experiments to try to solve ecological problems. But if science isn’t their passion, perhaps they’d rather run their own business or produce TV segments.

At EarthWorks and Exchange City, kids can do all this and more. These two week-long Experiencia, Inc. camps, offered throughout the summer and during winter and spring breaks, transform kids into scientists, producers and consumers. The staff supervises the activities, but the kids really run the show.

"My kids can’t stop raving about it and always want to go back," says Chris Kopka, a Buffalo Grove mom whose two kids, ages 6 and 10, have attended the camps. "They don’t think of it as learning. For them, it’s just a fun place to go with lots of animals."

The camps are located in a 25,000-square-foot learning center. A lake, forest, prairie and cave make up EarthWorks and a mini city with 14 businesses makes up Exchange City. The summer camps are compressed versions of the eight-week school-year simulation.

"We want this to be an exciting way to make education entertaining and hands-on," says Howard Tullman, CEO of Experiencia. "We want these kids to go back to their schools and brag about their experience."

Kopka says she was drawn to the camps’ educational benefits and staff when she decided to enroll her kids in EarthWorks.

"It isn’t a day camp whose staff turns over every year," says Kopka. "These people are invested in getting kids to learn the messages the camp wants to teach."

For more information about Experiencia, including their recently added fall weekend workshops, visit www.experiencia-world.com.

Keywords: august 2007

Flashpoint Academy Dean Paula Froehle Interview on WBIG radio

Click on the title to this post or paste the link below into your browser to hear Paula's interview on WBIG.

http://mfile.akamai.com/21880/wmv/cmfour.download.akamai.com/21880/wm.communications-four/7277Tullman/Flash_Point_paula_froehle.asx