Media Arts Academy in McMinnville Recognizes Student Achievment (VIDEO)

MACA is unique, and its location in a rural community proves that it doesn't take a big city to administer a high quality technology environment.

Photo and video by Tim King Salem-News.com

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - On June 10th, The Media Arts & Communications Academy in McMinnville, Oregon recognized student achievements in a special annual event that displays the student's best work.

Principal Laurie Cooper

Laurie Cooper, the school's principal, explains that the evening is something they all look forward to each year.

"Tonight's our second annual 'Media that Matters' Technology Festival. It is a showcase of our student's work. They've been working on this stuff all year and then at the end of the year they pick their best pieces and they enter in eight categories."

Journalism Teacher Heather Paton says she is sold on the school, and on the level of progress she has seen.

"A student walked through the doors tonight with a t-shirt that said 'MACA Evolution' that he designed himself. And I thought, 'how true,' our event has evolved so much in the last year, our students, our school, as a staff, our whole identity is evolving, you can't stop it."

MACA's Heather Paton

Students say the highly media-oriented knowledge the school offers is motivating and rewarding.

Sophomore Bekah Estrada wants to make a go of it for all of her high school years.

"I'm a sophomore right now, and I plan on going to MACA all four years, I'm pretty excited about that."

Another sophomore, Jake Mosiman, sees a great advantage in MACA.

"I've always enjoy going to MACA because it's a small school. It is tech based which is really nice, it gives the students a lot of freedom with what they want to do."

Heather Paton says it is all about the students, who perform well and sometimes educate the teachers in different technological areas.

"When teachers & adults let go of the reins and give students the space and the freedom to follow their passions, I think we can all connect with that."

Jake Fitzgerald is a freshman. He says he's really excited about attending this unique school.

"I think the school is amazing, I think it is a great school in general, I mean I would prefer it over any high school really. It really shows a lot of kids... they teach themselves and the teachers teach them; it shows a whole new meaning."

Jake played guitar and sang as an opening for the evening's event. He's a highly accomplished rock guitarist and an example of the often multi-talented kids who comprise MACA's student body.

One of the unique goals at MACA this year was the selection of the mascot for the class of 2010. The winner was the Hellbender Salamander. Other contenders included Leopards and Pandas.

MACA is unique, and its location in a rural community proves that it doesn't take a big city to administer a high quality technology environment.

Principal Cooper explains that the school is a magnet academy that prepares students for college.

"They get all their regular subjects at MACA. They get math, science, social studies and things like that. But we use media as a way to keep their interest and get them here to school so that they can learn those skills and so that they can practice those skills through their projects."

She says it is a good opportunity for kids because the high school is small and is expected to remain that way, according to the way it is designed to function.

"We'll never be more than about 400 students, so every teacher knows every student, I know every student, every student knows every student; it's a lot like a family."

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