The Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College has recognized Central Educational Center teacher Michael Britt with a 2016 S’Park Media Mentor Award.
The S’Park Award recognizes high school teachers and advisors who are committed to igniting a passion for media in their students.
Britt teaches film and television production at the Central Educational Center in Newnan. As a firm believer in introducing careers to students at an early age, he has helped to launch the careers of numerous students into the film and television industry, some directly out of high school. He is often able to place high school students in internships in local television stations, doing this by enabling students to get hands-on experience through multiple television programs the school produces for broadcast on local cable. This propels them ahead of college students who lack such experience.
Before teaching, Britt had a successful 30-year career in film and television. His last stint in television was as an executive producer for Georgia Public Broadcasting, where for 12 years he was responsible for a variety of programming including: directing live events such as state political debates and the annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards; producing more than 500 episodes of Georgia’s Business and Georgia Business Report; documentaries including a nationally distributed program about the Georgia Aquarium; and many other programs. He is a multiple Emmy nominee, Society of Professional Journalists Award winner and multiple Telly Award winner, among others.
Britt was invited to an award dinner and reception at the college. While on campus, he met the advisors and managers of the Park School’s own nationally acclaimed student media outlets and learned about the Park Scholar Program, which provides full-cost-of-attendance scholarships for communications students.
“The S’Park Media Mentors visit is always one of my favorite events. We share with these outstanding high school teachers and advisors a passion for media and for lighting that passion in young people who will go on to use communications concepts and tools to make a positive difference in society,” said Diane Gayeski, dean of the Park School. “Each year I’m amazed to hear the sophistication of the work they are doing with high school students and to create relationships that result in great students being guided to apply to Ithaca College.”
Student-operated media programs in the Roy H. Park School of Communications include a weekly newspaper, “The Ithacan”; radio stations WICB-FM and VIC Radio; television station ICTV; Park Productions, a media production unit; and Park Design House, a graphic design unit.
In the above photo, Michael Britt receives his S’Park Award from Park School Dean Diane Gayeski.
