For immediate release
December 3, 2007
Cheshire, CT – With students coming from all over the real world, Cheshire Academy has now opened an outpost in the virtual world. Today marked the ribbon cutting of the Cheshire Academy Admission Center in Second Life, an online 3-D social networking environment that allows people to interact in an entirely digital realm.
“As one of the oldest independent college preparatory schools in the United States, it’s only fitting that we blaze new trails with this electronic frontier,” said spokesperson Colleen Reilly. “This venture will allow prospective families from all across the globe to all across Connecticut to visit and talk with our staff face-to-face. It’s an exciting way to introduce Cheshire Academy and all we have to offer.”
The Virtual Admission Center is two stories tall and allows visitors to watch videos, download files, and even take home a free t-shirt. Anyone coming for a campus tour can get an actual t-shirt that reads, “I visited Cheshire Academy in Second Life!”
The design of the virtual center allows visitors to view exhibits about Academics and Athletics on the first floor, and Student Life, School History and Living in Connecticut on the second floor. At each exhibit, there are .pdf files to download and links to the Cheshire Academy website. Each station has a video screen showing students talking about the specific aspect of interest a of the school.
According to its online developer, Linden Lab, “Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely created by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by over 10 million residents from around the globe.”
Cheshire Academy’s Admission Center started out as a class project in a Graduate Class in Interactive Communications at Quinnipiac University. The “School Designers” team put together the concept and final product in less than six weeks and got a really good grade for their effort.For more information, please email: SL@cheshireacademy.org
