ART INSTITUTE FACULTY AND OTHER INDUSTRY LEADERS JUDGE

Sandra Hugh, an eighth-grader at Ruth O. Harris Middle School in Bloomington, presents “Fashion Passion,” her concept of a pre-teen’s dream room, to judges in the Interior Design portion of the student organization FHA-HERO’s Region 10 Competitive Recognition Events held recently at Ontario High School. Judges included Sara Sandoval (left), academic director of Interior Design program at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire and Susan Thomas (right). Some of the drawings on Sandra’s presentation board were created with Auto-CAD (Computer Aided Design) software. Photo by Chris Sloan


(ONTARIO, Calif.) Before a young person commits to obtaining a college degree at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, something sparks their creativity.

For students who are pursuing degrees in Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Interior Design, Fashion Design and Fashion & Retail Management, that spark of creativity is often an organization they belonged to in high school, FHA-HERO. With that in mind the academic directors of these Art Institute of California – Inland Empire programs, Eyad Joseph, Sara Sandoval and Sherry West, helped judge a regional FHA-HERO competition held recently at Ontario High School.

Just as they would be able to continue doing at The Art Institute after high school graduation, the teenagers gain from FHA-HERO an opportunity to learn about and succeed in home economics-related fields. In fact, the HERO part of FHA-HERO means “Home Economics Related Occupations.”

The FHA part of the organization’s name means “Future Homemakers of America,” but that’s a tribute to their long history as an organization for students enrolled in home economics. Its only bearing on the home economics curriculum in 21st Century high schools in California is that a portion of the curriculum strives to prepare youth for personal success at home and in a career.

This curriculum is officially known as “Home Economics Careers and Technology.” It heavily emphasizes preparing students for careers in home economics, which is what
The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire also wants to do for its Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Interior Design, Fashion Design and Fashion & Retail Management students.

Educators at both levels agree. The Home Economics Careers and Technology program is a great first step, but college is also important for those who seek more than an entry-level career in these industries.

“These students are looking for educational opportunities in the local colleges,” said Sara Sandoval, academic director of the Interior Design program at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. “Competitions like the one sponsored by FHA-HERO influence students entering The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. They come to our school having already experienced an opportunity to positively influence other people’s lives through their skills, and are ready to take those experiences to a new level.”

As an Interior Design instructor, Sandoval was impressed to see middle school students using Auto-CAD (Computer Aided Design) software to create their entries in FHA-HERO’s Interior Design competition. Auto-CAD is a program The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire teaches its third-quarter Interior Design students, after they first take two quarters of paper and pencil drafting.

But for the young teens who did this, learning Auto-CAD from family members was just one of the many ways they have enriched their lives through learning. To create entries that showed the judges their concepts of an ideal room for a pre-teen child, the students also relied on freehand drawing, math and public speaking to create entries that included display boards, cost and materials analyses and five-minute speeches.

“Their thirst for knowledge and interest in developing lifelong professional skills also coincides with their interest in supporting the wellbeing of a community by becoming involved in a school organization such as FHA-HERO,” Sandoval said. “As industry professionals and educators, it is our responsibility to channel their great productive energy into well-rounded designers.”

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers an Associate degree in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design.

The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start a new term at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin April 6 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information, or to arrange a tour, call The Art Institute at (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire), a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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