The Digital Safari Multimedia Academy began in the fall of 2010.
The Academy was founded on a U.S. Department of Education grant to integrate vocational education with the core academic curriculum. The goal was to do this with professional multimedia design tools. Instead of using educational software, they would attempt to make it. Thus, as students studied earth science, they would create interactive programs about the universe or geology. As they studied English they would create interactive book reports or web sites about their favorite poets. As they studied social science, they would develop web sites for model e-businesses or a CD-ROM about World War II.
Since 1997, the Academy has won 2 awards in the California Student Media Festival. In the spring of 2001, the academy produced a seven day webcast of the International Science and Engineering Fair. The Academy, as of 2007, offers design services to businesses, non-profits and other community organizations. The Academy's project design methodology has been adapted by numerous programs around the country.
Since 1998 the Academy has graduated over 102 students from the Digital Safari. A large majority of graduates have chosen to continue their education beyond high school, choosing state and community colleges, graphic arts schools, or technical schools. The number of graduates in the multimedia and technical industries is growing, as more former students finish their career training. After 3 generations of seniors, the Class of 2007 is the first one to complete a 3 year program.
In 2011, Randy Depew announced that the DSA will be building an additional green room in the lab. This will help students in expanding their production of films for projects.