At the Multimedia Communications Academy, our goal is to give students real world work experiences in an industry that they have a genuine interest in. Students can choose either Web, TV/Video, or Digital Audio Productions as a main area of focus. Regardless of which track a student chooses, they will have an opportunity to earn industry certifications, college credit through on campus dual enrollment, and an opportunity to job shadow or even earn an internship with one of our business partners.
Here at MCA, we are about exposing students to current and future technologies in the field of multimedia and communications. Our classrooms are designed to create an environment where learners are actively engaged in learning while having fun with their studies. Our goal is to prove to students they can be successful in a college like atmosphere and persuade them to continue with their educational career at a university, college, or technical trade school.
New Business Partners Join MCA
HB Holmes with HBTV, Michael Barrett with Barrett Creative, and Arlene Rivera with Univision / Telefutura are joining forces with Lakeland High School. Our business partners is what drives the decisions that are made within the walls of the academy. With their participation we are able to keep our finger on the pulse of the communications industry. We are also able to tap into their resources where they can provide the academy with guest speakers, internships, externships, equipment upgrades, and a wealth of insight to the future as it concerns their field of work.
::: November 11, 2011 :::
MCA to Debut at WE3 Expo
In preparing for the 2012/2013 school year, the MCA will be on display at the WE3 expo on November 1st. This will give us a chance to showcase the Web and Video tracks offered within the academy that are already in existence and thriving at LHS. More importantly it will give us a chance to highlight a third component to the academy that will start next school year, the Audio Production program.
::: October 7, 2011 :::
Current Academy Status
Currently Lakeland High School is running two academies that offer the programs that will be under MCA during the 2012-2013 school year. Web Design is under the IT Academy and TV/Video Production is under the Academy of Art Design and Technology. These two programs will continue under their current academies and those students will make the transition to MCA in the Fall of 2012. Digital Audio will not exist until the 2012-2013 school year. Applications will not be taken until Spring of 2012.
::: MAY 13, 2011 :::
Exploratory Advisory Board Meeting
A meeting took place this past week with Workforce Education, Lakeland High School, Bright House Sports Network, the City of Lakeland, Hall Radio, and Polk County Sports Marketing & Tourism to discuss the pooling of two current academies programs at LHS and creating a third track to make up the Multimedia & Communications Academy at Lakeland High School. All have agreed to participate as business partners and to lend members of their organization to sit on the advisory board. The Academy is set to launch for the 2012-2013 school year. Students will be able to apply in March of 2013.
::: April 14, 2011 :::
Industry Certifications
We are a testing center here at Lakeland High School, which allows for us to test students here on our campus. MCA will pay for the testing cost for students to take and earn industry certifications. This means students who graduate from MCA at Lakeland High School with their industry certification in either web or visual communications, rich media, or Apple Pro certification will be more employable leaving high school. They will be able to work in the field of multimedia & communications while going to a post secondary institute, which potentially could earn them higher wages as well as even more exposure and experience in that field. We will offer certifications from Adobe and Apple.
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Dual Enrollment
Our faculty has enough credentials to offer Polk State College classes on Lakeland High School's campus, which allows for students to earn college credits through dual enrollment. Students will graduate from Lakeland High School with their high school diploma in one hand and a college transcript from Polk State College with six college credits. This means that students won't have to sit in two more college classes on their way to their post secondary degree and parents will not have to pay for two of those classes. Plus, dual enrollment classes give students a weighted score, which can raise their overall GPA.
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Business Partners
We are very fortunate to have the support of Bright House Sports Network, the City of Lakeland, Polk County Sports Marketing and Tourism, and Hall Radio. With our partnership we are able to keep our fingers on the pulse of industry. Each business has a member on our advisory board and holds our academy to be accountable with our curriculum and the standards for academies set forth by Polk County School Board and Workforce Education. If you would like to become a business partner, please contact us at 863.499.2900 or click here for more information.
