ASU Preparatory Academy received a new technology center in “extreme makeover” fashion from the Pacific-12 college football conference last week.
The charter school’s media center underwent an ASU-themed upgrade with new computers, iPads, a smart TV, a PlayStation and a digital recorder. The media center was also painted in maroon and gold with ASU memorabilia.
Since the beginning of the league championship game three years ago, the Pac-12 has been building a technology center in the community of the university who earns the chance to host the game.
“We wanted to start a tradition of leaving behind a legacy in the community,” said Pac-12 public affairs vice president Erik Hardenbergh. “Technology is one of the pillars of the Pac-12, and we thought this is a great way to give back to the community.”
The idea for the media centers came from the need for technology in education today. Hardenbergh said it seemed like a good way to promote education, especially considering the Pac-12 is a group of higher-education institutions.
“ASU, Tempe and Phoenix did a lot for the championship game, and it’s gratifying to know we can give back to them,” Hardenbergh said. “I thought this really was the highlight of the week.”
There wasn’t much time to renovate the media center, as the host wasn’t chosen until after ASU defeated University of Arizona. The Pac-12 chooses the host university based on the team with the best league record, and the win over University of Arizona gave ASU the best record in the Pac-12.
“We only knew the championship game would be here in the Phoenix area about a week ago, so (it was) a quick turnaround, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Pac-12 deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg said in a press release.
The Pac-12 works with the host university to determine who receives the media center. A Boys and Girls Clubs of America and a family shelter received the first two media centers when Oregon and Stanford hosted the Pac-12 championships.
ASU Prep was the obvious choice to receive the media center this year, Hardenbergh said.
Because ASU Prep’s Mesa campus already had state-of-the-art technology from its close ties to ASU’s Polytechnic campus, ASU Prep’s Phoenix campus was chosen for the media center, said ASU Prep Phoenix chief academic officer Deborah Gonzalez.
The media center will be open for use by students’ families before and after school, Gonzalez said.
Hardenbergh said he thinks the media center is a great space for the school and the improvements will help bring the community together.
The upgrade not only helped students with learning but also brought them closer to ASU, Gonzalez said.
“Parents and students alike are overwhelmed and proud of the center,” Gonzalez said. “As one of our fifth-grade students said, ‘I really feel like a Sun Devil now.’”
Contact the reporter at amsorrel@asu.edu
