On December 15th, 2023, The Digital Communications program at South Fremont High School through the Business Technology and Marketing department was selected as a recipient of a Program Quality Initiative Establishment Grant through the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education. The program was awarded $22,000 to go toward equipment and technology for a video/ broadcasting studio and to update a few other technologies to advance the digital and graphic communication courses offered to SFHS students.
The awarded funds will go towards purchasing a studio camera, another film camera, portable industry combo microphone system kit, high quality processing computer, two tripods, 3 different types of lighting, Audio equipment, sound mixer, high intense storage hard drives and capture and playback drives, teleprompters, sound proofing equipment, room dividers to section off space, 2 high quality DSLR cameras, and a studio TV; all equipment will be used to establish a video/ broadcasting studio. The use of this studio will be used to teach technology students visual communication, video production, and podcast production. They will also learn filming, audio, sound, editing, and promotion techniques and skills that will lead them to industry certification in those areas. The studio and skills taught through this technology will also be used in the Business Management/ Marketing pathways to teach content creation, digital marketing, ecommerce, digital promotion, and video content marketing.
The grant money will also be used to purchase a few high-quality laser printers, go pros, and 3 drawing tablets used in the digital communication pathways that focus more on graphic design rather than video design. Finally, a POS system will be purchased to update the financial management of the programs’ School Based Enterprise ‘Cougar Den” to teach students proper financial management, inventory control, and business technology skills. This equipment and technology will be purchased and utilized beginning the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year: with the hopes of greater use in the future.
This grant funds will go a long way to updating the program to make it more competitive at teaching students in-demand digital communication and business skills. This will also allow students to gain more industry skills and certifications in the world of digital communication, marketing, and business technology.