ArtsTech, an academy within UC High, is a program for students to get hands-on knowledge about art, cinematography, theatre, and/or technology, and they are taking applications for next year right now.
According to the school’s bulletin, applications can now be turned in for enrollment in the program for next year. Their motto is: “Where it’s okay to act out and color outside of the lines.” Applications can be found in the counseling center or in Room 218 (sandi.com/universitycity).
According to the informational meeting given to all freshman English classes, Art Teacher Lauriel Adsit is the director for the Artstech program, and Media Teacher Brad Milhoan directs the video production classes. English Teacher John Middleton is the main English teacher in this program, while Drama Teacher Belinda Brown is the Drama director. Other teachers such as English Teacher Susan Bristol, History Teacher Andy Zafuto, and History Teacher Michael Brown are also involved in the program.
Additionally, it was explained at the meeting that Artstech is typically a three-year program starting sophomore year; however, sophomores are welcome to join in their junior year for a two-year program. Classes are average sized, but broken up into smaller groups for classes like video production or one of Adsit’s art classes.
Senior Roxana Shademan, an Artstech student, explained that the program’s upcoming event, Art Attack, will be occurring in May. “Art Attack is an event where students have the opportunity to showcase all of their work that they have created throughout the school year,” said Shademan.
Activities outside of school include work such as filming and photography, which allow students to learn how to be both responsible and creative. Students are also offered internships their senior year and get to participate in field trips to places like the Getty Museum and Kit Carson Park, according to Middleton.
Media Teacher Brad Milhon said, “There is one course during their junior year, which is Multimedia Production, that they get college credit for. It’s a ROP class, which means a Regional Occupational Program Class. And we articulate it up to San Diego Community College District. Because they’ve done two successive years, we give them up to 11 college credits during their second year. You don’t normally get that many in a regular ROP course. They get those credits in their junior year during Multimedia Production.” Regarding Multimedia Production, Senior Jordan Esquerra said, “This is not just an elective, or always being with friends, this is a college class.”
Art Teacher Lauriel Adsit said, “It’s about having fun, but also preparing for careers and college. Everything we do is at that college level. We encourage them to take high level classes, like AP courses, that will send them out well prepared with ideas about what careers they are going to focus on in college. That saves them time and money in college…. We do have several college classes; our Multimedia is a college class.”
Adsit added, “We also have professional partnerships with colleges and businesses in San Diego who support our program. We have San Diego Museum of Art and Woodbury School of Architecture, private graphic designers, filmmakers, and architects even sit on our advisory board. We want students to do internships to get real world experiences.”