In March 1979, Full Sail (www.fullsail.edu) launched its first educational program for the entertainment media industry, an act that allowed the marking of this year as its 30th anniversary. Full Sail University will celebrate this historic milestone on April 20, 2009 with a series of on-campus events, including the unveiling of the Full Sail University Hall of Fame and an inaugural induction ceremony with six selected Full Sail graduates.
Originated as a Recording Arts program, Full Sail was first advertised in the January 1979 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. Over the last three decades, Full Sail has since grown into a leading Master, Bachelor and Associate degree-granting university offering 20 degree programs, and has graduated over 31,000 alumni. Currently, Full Sail's 190-acre campus and online education platform serves over 6,500 students from 50 states and 65 countries. Full Sail has also become the largest employer in Winter Park, FL, with over 1,400 full-time equivalent employees. Full Sail's economic impact includes an additional 2200 indirect jobs and over a five year period, a projected impact of $2.7 billion dollars to the Central Florida region.
Most recently named the 2008 "School/College of the Year" by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges, the university has also been previously named: The Harvard of Game Schools by Tips & Tricks Magazine; one of the top three New Media Schools by Shift Magazine (alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University); one of the Top Five Game Degree Programs in the world by Electronic Gaming Monthly; one of the Best Music Programs in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine; one of the Best Music Business Departments in the Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide; and one of the Best Film Programs in the country by UNleashed Magazine.
As recognition of the extraordinary accomplishments of Full Sail and its graduates throughout its 30-year history, the celebration will be held in April, and the Hall of Fame will be unveiled with plans to honor new classes of inductees in the future.
The Hall of Fame, which will be located at the center of Full Sail's campus in Winter Park, FL, will feature a 60-foot mixed media wall featuring video, sound, pictures, and industry credits of chosen graduates. In addition, the site will include artifacts and memorabilia of Hall of Fame inductees.
"I have been privileged to be a part of Full Sail from the time of its inception until today," said Garry Smith, President of Full Sail University. "The vision of this institution has always been to provide world-class education to students who aspire for careers in the entertainment and media industry. As I look back on all this university has become, I eagerly look forward to the next 30 years."