David Vogel profiled on KPSP Local2

After a storied career in Hollywood, former President of Walt Disney Studios David Vogel has spent the last three years working with Cathedral City High School teacher Matt Hamilton in the Digital Arts Technology Academy's Digital Storytelling Class.

Even though he is "retired," Vogel spends every day in class with the students and can often be found on weekends working with these same students at different events around the Coachella Valley.

Recently, KPSP Local2 profiled Vogel for their Eye on the Desert program.

Fiesta Days in Palm Springs, Day 2

Cathedral City High School Digital Arts students Spencer McQuinn, Jennifer Juarez, Tanya Sanchez, Lupita Fuentes, and Sandra Behana documented some of the performers in last weekend's Fiesta Days celebration in Palm Springs. The festival, Sept. 19-20, celebrated the Latino culture and heritage. The students are in Matt Hamilton and David Vogel's digital storytelling class at CCHS. In an interview conducted by the students, La La Romero talks about being a female singer for a new demographic and MC Magic talks about his introduction to the talk box.

Fiesta Days, Palm Springs from Matt Hamilton on Vimeo.

Fiesta Days in Palm Springs

Los Fabulocos was just one of the musical groups that performed on stage at the Fiesta Days in Palm Springs, Sept. 19-20 at O'Donnell Golf Course. The pictures in this audio slideshow were taken by Cathedral City High School photojournalists Gabe Jimenez and Denny Keat. Fiesta Days was a celebration of Latino heritage and culture. The group includes accordian player and vocalist Jesse Cuevas, legendary blues guitarist Kid Ramos, drummer Mike Molina, and bass player James Barrios.

Fiesta Days, Los Fabulosos from Matt Hamilton on Vimeo.

Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet on a Green Economy

It might be summer, but that doesn't mean digital storytelling at Cathedral City High School is stagnant. With DATA student Spencer McQuinn manning the camera, Richard Byford of Byway Entertainment interviewed Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet in late July about his views of a greener economy.

Pougnet is challenging U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack for her seat in Congress. The two will debate Aug. 19. The debate will be broadcast on KPSP Local 2, streamed live on mydesert.com, and simulcast on KNews radio.

Interview with Mayor Steve Pougnet from Matt Hamilton on Vimeo.

mhamilton@psusd.us dvogel@psusd.us

DATA Student Wins $2,000 in KESQ PSA Contest

Aaron Armstrong, a senior in Matt Hamilton and David Vogel's Digital Storytelling Class at Cathedral City High School, won $2,000 for a public service announcement he created for KESQ Television. For more information mhamilton@psusd.us,davevogel@mac.com. You can view the video below.

Teen Depression PSA from Matt Hamilton on Vimeo.

DATA Students Continue Holocaust Interviews: George Jacoby

Beginning in the Fall and as part of an ongoing project, DATA students have been interviewing Holocaust survivors at the Tolerance Education Center in Rancho Mirage, California. With the help of Anne Phillips, Director of Programs/Education at the Center, our students have stood face to face with the courageous people who had the will to survive one of most horrible acts in human history.

On this day, DATA student Jocael Suarez interviewed George Jacoby, who survived several concentration camps, including one in which he was forced to watch his father beaten to death. Click on the picture below to listen to the entire 19 minute, 26 second audio interview.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: GEORGE JACOBY from Matt Hamilton on Vimeo.

Jacoby is married to another survivor, Goldie Jacoby. "We met on on a boulevard in New York City in 1948 after the war," he said. "We just happened to walk into each other. We went steady from that day. I consider myself the luckiest guy on earth, despite the mess I went through. We've been married for 56 years. I really lucked out. Without her, I would be the loneliest man on earth."

One of the most dramatic things that George said during the interview was that he had lost his faith in God. "How can there be a God when he allows such horrible things to happen?" he asked during the interview.

DATA Students Shoot Stills For EA Video

DATA photojournalists Spencer McQuinn, Gabe Jiminez, and Matt Aguilar recently conducted a photo shoot with current WBO World Light Welterweight Champion Tim Bradley for the Entertainment Arts (EA) boxing video game.

Bradley will next fight July 27 at the Agua Caliente Casino against Marcos Rene Maidana. Bradley, a Cathedral City High School graduate, is 25-0 with 11 knockouts. Maidana of Argentina is 28-1 with 27 knockouts.

EA is the world's leading independent developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for personal computers and advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation®2 Computer Entertainment System, the PlayStation®, Xbox? video game console from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube? and the Game Boy® Advance. Since its inception, EA has garnered more than 700 awards for outstanding software in the U.S. and Europe