The Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) is a learning community within Apex that focuses on technology, specifically in the areas of Adobe Design and/or computer programming. Students apply for the program in the Spring of eighth grade and if accepted are in the program from ninth through twelfth grade. AOIT students follow a different track and curriculum than other students. In addition to completing all North Carolina required for graduation courses (four English credits, four social studies credits, four math credits, three science credits, and one healthful living credit), students must also complete AOIT required courses. This can include Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, Adobe Visual Design I and II, AP Computer Science, and more. 

AOIT also focuses heavily on career development and to graduate from Also the AOIT program students must complete an internship before their senior year. Internships can be paid or unpaid, but must be at least 120 hours and incorporate at least some technology. The main objective of this internship is to allow students the opportunity to use the skills they have learned in AOIT in the workforce. Students should have an internship that has been approved by AOIT coordinator, Ms. Robinson, and complete journal entries regarding their work experience. In the fall of their senior year, students will present the work they completed in their internship at the AOIT Expo. 

Senior AOIT student Kate Shepherd completed her internship over the summer at Lenovo. On most days she spent time learning from guest speakers and networking with other high school interns. She says her main project was, “creating badges for the new badging system. I was able to create badges by hand and then create them digitally using Canva.” Kate says she used the soft skills she learned in AOIT like public speaking and networking often as well as her technology skills, especially her certifications in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. 

Senior AOIT student Lindsay Taylor completed her internship with the Apex Police Department. She says, “each day was something different. I listened with dispatch…I got to talk with detectives and hear about what they do. I got to work with drug and vice…and hand out subpoenas and file parking tickets…I also got to go on ride alongs with different officers and respond to calls.” As for the technology aspect of her internship, she used Adobe and PowerPoint to create social media posts and a presentation which was given to the Board of Directors. 

All of AOIT’s seniors have their completed internships and will present them later this month. The AOIT internship requirement is intended to provide students with work experience and allow them to apply the technology, problem solving, and other business skills they have learned in class to the real world. AOIT’s class of 2024 will display their work and accomplishments from their internships at their Senior Expo on November 14 from 5-6:30pm.