SkillsUSA California 2014

72 students (including 4 from Nellie Coffman Middle School) had an amazing experience at California's 47th Annual State Leadership Conference and SkillsUSA Championships, April 24th-27th, at the Town and Country Resort down in San Diego. 

16 DATA students medaled in 9 out the 21 skill and leadership competition areas entered, with four representing Cathedral City and the State of California in Screen Printing Technology, Audio/Radio Production, and Graphic Communications at the 50th Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City this June.

Not only did DATA students enjoy the challenges as competitors at the largest SkillsUSA event so far in California, but four also donated their time as Courtesy Core volunteers.

Congratulations to the following students!

Screen Printing Technology
Gold - Chris Rodriguez

Graphic Communications

Gold - Eric Cuahizio

Audio / Radio Production
Gold - Norma Vazquez and Jessie Rojo

Creed
Gold - Viviana Martinez

Bronze - Jennifer Reynoso

20 Second Elevator

Silver - Samuel Oropeza

Bronze - David Vo

Photography

Bronze - Jennifer Varela

Prepared Speech

Bronze - Sara Lopez

Chapter Display

Bronze - Andrea Alvarez, Denys Loaiza, and Yolanda Cortez

Career Pathway Showcase

Bronze - Denise Gonzalez, Isreal Chavez, and Bonnie Vo

A HUGE thank you to all the educators and community partners that helped to make this happen for Digital Arts Technology Academy students!!!

View State photos here!
Or visit www.DATASkillsUSA.org for more information

Fines Arts Creativity 2014

Congratulations to the following DI seniors for being recognized by the Palm Springs Art Museum at the Fine Arts Creativity Awards and Scholarship celebrations!

U.S. Bank for Creativity Award

Jonathan Serna

Self-Loathing Narcissist
Multimedia (Mixed-media photograph and digital video)

Watch his video here!

Georgia Fogelson Scholarship

Mayra Garcia

Attending Riverside Community College

Museum Associates Council 

Jarelle Balanzat

Attending UCLA Design Media Arts

and

Melissa Medina

Attending UC Santa Barbara  

Shooting Craftchella 2014

DATA Seniors Austyn Moreno and Jonathan Serna had the unique opportunity to apply their camera skills to one of the Coachella Valley's most coveted annual events- the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. For both weekends they worked alongside artists and in  partnership with the Coachella Valley Art Studios shooting photography and video in support of DIY craft culture.

Once again, this was an amazing learning experience that simply can not be replicated in the classroom and truly provides the means of "Focusing Student Creativity."

Hot Purple Photography for the Arts

For the fourth year in a row, DATA Digital Imaging has worked in partnership with Diane Funk Enterprises to shoot the Indian Wells Arts Festival. Last year, a new component was added to setup a solar powered green screen studio in collaboration with the local company Hot Purple Energy.

This year, not only did students shoot the event photography, interact with the public while operating the green screen studio, and Photoshopped attendees into an oil painting by artist Julie Dunn, they were also provided a pre-festival discussion in the DI studio with Palm Springs Life magazine web editor, Jim Powers, local life-style photographer/DATA Mentor Chris Miller, and Hot Purple Energy Owner David Herlinger. During the visit, students were treated to Miller's Coachella Fest photography and given clear art direction as to the type of images needed to promote such an event.

DATA DI is very pleased to continue such an excellent community partnership!

MakerBot for Creativity

DATA Digital Imaging is very pleased to announce that their first 3d printer has been funded, delivered, and put into action!

This was made possible through a special initiative to put a 3d printer in every high school in America through a partnership between MakerBot, DonorsChoose.org, and Autodesk in response to a call to action by President Obama. 

DI looks forward to bringing student 3d designs to life with this relatively new and powerful technology.

View our project here

Read more about the initiative here!

Fashion Week El Paseo 2014

The DATA program was again honored to be the only school in the Coachella Valley to have students shoot Fashion Week El Paseo. The event is a coveted week-long opportunity for both photography and video students to work alongside industry professionals in a dynamic environment that can not be replicated in a classroom.

In addition to working behind the cameras and on the media platform, DATA students also take advantage of volunteering at the event to earn community service hours.

View the video by Senior Jonathan Serna 

on the DATA Vimeo Channel!