July 11, 2022
Jackson, Mich. - The Jackson Area Career Center is getting national recognition for the website it created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jackson County Intermediate School District has earned a 2022 Publications and Digital Media Award of Merit for its Career Center Virtual Tour Website from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The interactive, 3D platform was created in early 2021 when in-person student tours and the annual open house were canceled because of COVID-19.
The virtual tour includes 360-degree views of every Career Center classroom and lab, allowing visitors to click on “hot spots” to learn more about each program through videos, instructor bios, career-related data, and other resources that both current and future students can benefit from. The district will be honored during the Annual Meeting and Celebration of Achievement at the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar on Sunday, July 17 in Chicago. Award winners will be invited to stand for recognition, and entries will also be recognized in a digital display at the Member Center at the Seminar.
"Building this website for our students and our community was a must when we couldn't have them check out our state-of-the-art classrooms in person," said Kaci Babineau, JCISD Marketing and Special Projects Coordinator. "We hired a company to take 3D pictures of our building, and it took an entire Saturday to get it done. Once all the images were stitched together, I got to work on building the menu and adding the content. That included recording, editing, and uploading dozens of brief videos, as well as uploading documents that highlighted different careers and paths related to each of the programs. Even since resuming in-person activities and events at the Career Center, we're still adding content to the site and encouraging potential students, counselors and the community to virtually experience what these programs can offer."
The virtual tour is accessible by desktop or mobile device at http://tour.jacc-mi.net. Students interested in taking classes at the Career Center for the 2022-23 school year are encouraged to reach out to their local high school counselor for enrollment information.
The Jackson Area Career Center offers 21 dynamic hands-on programs for high school juniors and seniors. Students are able to earn academic credit, industry certifications and credentials, college credits, and take part in work-based learning experiences. The Career Center also has the JAC3 program, a three-year early/middle college for high school juniors with an interest in pursuing careers in the engineering, manufacturing, or welding fields. Adult education classes are also offered at the Career Center for adults pursuing professional skills and career goals.
