Winter Park, FL May 16, 2008 --Two faculty members from Full Sail University have been named "Teacher of the Year" by the annual awards for the 2008 Career College Association (CCA). Brian Smithers, Department Chair for Audio Workstations, and Hunter Menning, Director of Audiotronics, were both recognized for their passion and dedication as outstanding educators.

Smithers, a classically trained musician, conductor, composer and recording engineer has been performing and teaching music technology for over 25 years. Students and peers credit Smithers as an excellent communicator of technical information. His experience and dedication as an outstanding educator are what led to his recent appointment to Department Chair.

Menning is an education professional with over 20 years of service. Serving as the faculty advisor for Full Sail's Audio Engineering Society, he helped to bring the membership from 20 to 260, making it the largest student chapter in the world. Menning has also been a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences since 2001 and is currently the faculty advisor for the Full Sail GRAMMY U Chapter.

"The Career College Association focuses on the needs of both students and employers along with education and skill development," said Dana Roun, Program Director of Recording Arts, Full Sail University. "We are extremely proud to have two of our faculty members be honored for their accomplishments by such an established association."

The CCA is a voluntary membership organization for private, postsecondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that focus on the career oriented sector of higher education. With over 1,400 members, career colleges educate over two million students each year.

Since 1979, Full Sail University, located outside of Orlando, FL, has been an innovative educational leader for those pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. With over 27,500 alumni, graduate credits include work on Oscar, Emmy and GRAMMY-winning projects, best-selling video games, and the #1 grossing U.S. concert tours. Full Sail's 180-acre campus proudly welcomes over 6,000 students from 50 states and 47 countries.

Full Sail currently offers a total of thirteen degree programs including: Associate of Science Degrees offered in Graphic Design, Recording Arts and Show Production & Touring; Bachelor of Science Degrees offered in Computer Animation, Digital Arts & Design, Entertainment Business (online and on-campus), Film, Game Art, Game Development, Music Business and Web Design & Development; and a Master of Science Degree in Education Media Design & Technology (online) and Entertainment Business (online and on-campus).

Students on-campus experience a real world education with a professional class structure of 8-12 hours per day and a 24-hour around the clock schedule which earned Full Sail the Most Innovative Program Award by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges. The university has also been named: The Harvard of Game Schools by Tips & Tricks Magazine; one of the top three New Media Schools by Shift Magazine (alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University); one of the Top Five Game Degree Programs in the world by Electronic Gaming Monthly; one of the Best Music Programs in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine; one of the Best Music Business Departments in the Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide; and one of the Best Film Programs in the country by UNleashed Magazine.

For more information about Full Sail, please visit www.fullsail.edu.