Video demonstrating Area 30 student creativity

Aliens from Area 51 recently invaded the Area 30 Career Center.

At least that's what the video depicted.

Several students in Jon Tesmer's Area 30 Career Center 3D Animation class were recently approached by center officials to create a promotional video for Area 30.

Feeling creative, the students put together the video to entice others to start taking classes at the center.

In the video, students portrayed Area 30 as a sister to the legendary Area 51. An alien from Area 51 escaped and penetrated the walls of Area 30.

Two students were in charge of capturing the alien in the video.

The students tracked down the alien to the Area 30 lunchroom, but accidentally blew up the room.

The video is just one of many the students in Tesmer's class have put together this year using Maya software.

Tesmer said the software is used by many in the entertainment industry, including film, television and computer and video games.

The origin of the name is from the Sanskrit word meaning illusion.

Tesmer said students using the software can create anything they want from a "blank canvas."

"We're just tapping a little bit of all the features," Tesmer said. "It's really unlimited with what you can do with Maya."

Currently, Tesmer said the students are creating animated objects with the software. On Tuesday, he offered a video students created to the Area 30 board.

The video displayed an animated feature of a character with a bouncing ball. After losing the ball and then regaining it, the ceiling suddenly falls, ending the video.

Tesmer said the video was the finalization of a lesson in his class on the dynamics of animation.

Tesmer said there are currently 19 students in the class.

Meanwhile, the board unanimously approved a measure to allow Adult Education coordinator Vicki Archer attend an Adult Education conference from March 17-19 in Anaheim, Calif.

Walton said the conference was paid for through the state's Professional Development grant for Adult Education.

North Putnam Community School Corporation Supt. Murray Pride and Eminence School Corporation Supt. Susan Phillips were not at Tuesday's meeting.

In other business, the board:

* Approved a measure allowing Area 30 to hire Porter Auction and Reality to auction off surplus items by a 4-0 vote. The auction will take place at Porter's on Jan. 13. No time has been set yet.

* Approved the hiring of Robert Worman as the center's new Auto Collision Instructor, effective Nov. 30.

* Approved the resignation of Charles Thompson as Auto Collision Instructor, effective Dec. 8.

* Approved financial reports for December.

The board meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month.

Its next meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Jan. 9.