One of the cornerstones of Full Sail’s approach to education involves getting involved with the community, and 2018 saw students, faculty, and grads getting involved in lots of different ways. From volunteering to partnering up with other organizations on local and national projects, here are some of the highlights from another fantastic year of giving back.

Pollinators are an essential part of the food chain, and now more than ever their conservation is critical to the world. Full Sail partnered with The Nature Conservancy to launch “The Monarch Initiative,” a campaign to bring awareness to the importance of monarch butterflies and other pollinators around the globe. As part of the initiative, the university planted native milkweed plants throughout campus and unveiled a mural across the entire facade of Full Sail Live 3.

Full Sail partnered with Rollins College to provide students at both institutions with real-world learning opportunities. Each month, students from Rollins’ Department of Music head to the Full Sail Audio temple to record classical ensemble sessions with students from Full Sail’s audio programs. Aspiring sportscasters attending Full Sail’s Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting are lending their voiced to the Rollins College athletic department by calling all the college’s home sporting events.

Full Sail once again sponsored the Vans Warped Tour, marking the sixth year the university has been involved and the last year of the tour as a whole. Attendees could drop by the Full Sail tent for swag and autographs from featured artists Mayday Parade.

It was a big year for Full Sail’s professional development organization Pure Motivation. The group participated in dozens of events throughout the year focused on giving back to the community, including public cleanups, charity challenges, and Toys for Tots.

The university has a long history with DECA, a not-for-profit organization that prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and more. Entertainment Business and Media Communications students placed in seven events during DECA’s state competition.

The Florida Film Festival celebrated 27 years this April, and Full Sail was there as a primary sponsor. The festival featured appearances by acting legends Pam Grier and Ellen Burstyn, as well as several films by Full Sail graduates.