Over the past year, we have been looking for ways to implement the latest technology into our campus and truly become a high-tech high school. Last week I highlighted the new math technology and the interactive boards outfitted in those math rooms. This week I want to focus on our digital arts program that we began this year. Digital arts is a two year program of study that focuses on Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Premier, and InDesign, and Lightroom, as well as Autodesk Maya 3D animation and virtual reality. Over two years, students create a portfolio of projects they have completed that represent their abilities in each of the digital arts areas. Once they have completed  both the digital arts classes, typically their freshman and sophomore years, they have the option to continue their study by attending EVIT's 3D Animation program. The East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) offers an amazing 3D animation program that gives students two more years of training in the software field and culminates with a certificate of completion. Essentially a FHHS student can complete four years of high-tech software training and prepare themselves for a career in 3D animation. A certificate in 3D animation opens the doors to many career options and will prepare students looking to focus on this field in college. Many schools offer high-tech classes, but unfortunately have to offer those classes in labs that limit opportunities for students. We are fortunate to have two new computer labs, each of which offer students the best computer experience available. Our Mac lab has the latest iMac computers with the fastest processors available, and upgraded memory, hard drives and the fastest graphic cards available. Our Dell lab has Intel Xeon processors, upgraded memory and hard drives, the fastest graphic cards available, and each unit has its own Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. These two labs rival the best computer labs in the country, and our students have access to them right here in Fountain Hills. If you would like to come by for a tour and learn more about our digital arts program, please call and set up a time. Below are some pictures of our new labs.