Full Sail Real World Education Raises Money and Makes a Matching Donation for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Winter Park, FL (PRWEB) October 9, 2005

Full Sail Real World Education and students of the Full Sail Entertainment Business Degree Program announced today that a total donation of over $ 20,000 will be made to the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The initial contribution of more than $ 10,000 was raised by approximately 60 students pursuing their Bachelor of Science Degree in Entertainment Business. The students created and executed the successful fundraising event, “Kickin’ Katrina,” held on September 22, 2005 and September 24, 2005 which welcomed approximately 500 guests. Full Sail has now stepped in and is proud to present a matching $ 10,000 donation to contribute to this cause and acknowledge the students exemplary efforts.

“It was so important to the Full Sail Team that we made a donation to aid in the recovery of everyone impacted by Hurricane Katrina. When our students accepted their assignment in Entertainment Business and exceeded all expectations, we knew that this was the right opportunity to match their donation and do all that we can,” said Deb Magruder, Chief Financial Officer of Full Sail.

The students were divided into five teams and given an assignment for one month to put on an event with a $ 0 budget and no provided resources. The divided teams were each assigned a specific job responsibility including: Sponsorship and Charity, Promotions, Web Design, Venue and Artist Management. Throughout the month, the teams were required to secure all aspects for each event which occurred in the Central Florida communities of Oyster Bay and Waterford Lakes. The first event required an admission price of $ 3.00 for presale tickets and $ 5.00 at the door; however, there was no charge for admission at the second event.

“Kickin’ Katrina” successfully booked a variety of musical guests including artists such as: Unison, Jam Session, Slow Dance Kings, and American Idol Finalist, Jessica Sierra. The students secured sponsors as well to provide donations and raffle ticket prizes including: Universal Studios, Barnes and Noble, Planet Smoothie, Cirque du Soleil, The Melting Pot, and more. The Promotions Team also pre-sold Hurricane Katrina wristbands and after selling out of over 600 at $ 5.00 a piece, guests could continue to purchase a paper version. In addition to the monetary donation to the American Red Cross, haircuts were offered at the event by seniors of the Paul Mitchell School, and 56, ten inch-plus locks of hair donations were made to Locks of Love.

Full Sail Entertainment Business Student, Matthew Schievella said, “It feels great giving to the American Red Cross in such crucial times. Creating this event with my classmates has given me an experience that lives up to Full Sail’s motto, ‘A Real World Education.’”

For more than 25 years, Full Sail graduates have been making their mark on the digital media and entertainment media industries. Recent graduate credits include work on Oscar-winning films such as: The Incredibles, Million Dollar Baby, and Spider-Man 2, best-selling video games including: Madden NFL 2005, Oddworld Stranger’s Wrath, and The Matrix Online, and Grammy-winning albums by Ray Charles, Usher, and OUTKAST. Full Sail graduates have also been involved in creating motion graphics and Web Sites for companies such as ABC, Nike and the Atlanta Falcons, and have been in lead positions in the live event industry with artists and companies such as Madonna and Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba at Walt Disney World.

On August 11, 2005, Rolling Stone Magazine named Full Sail one of the top five “Best Music Programs” in the country, and honored Full Sail as having one of the nation’s top three music business departments in the Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide. In addition, the January 2003 edition of Electronic Gaming Monthly named Full Sail one of the top five Game Design schools in the world, and in April 2000, Shift Magazine ranked Full Sail as the No. 3 top new media school alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (No. 1) and New York University (No. 2).

For more information about Full Sail, please visit http://www.fullsail.com.

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