Whitefish High School’s performing arts and technology wing has a new image to match its current transformation into a state-of-the-art facility.

Introducing the Center for Applied Media, Arts & Sciences, or CAMAS.

The Center for Applied Media, Arts & Sciences will be the epicenter of music, visual arts, theater arts and technology studies at the revamped school.

The $2.89 million facility covers approximately 12,000 square feet and is located next to the gym.

A team of administrators, teachers, students and community members brainstormed over several days to come up with a name that would be memorable. 

The acronym CAMAS is significant in that it is the name of a hardy flowering plant native to Montana. 

In a press release, Whitefish High School teacher Dustin Herbert commented on the symbolism on the concept.

“We like the fact that this plant has a single stem, but supports a very diverse flower presentation. In much the same way, the technology capabilities that are designed into the high school’s new Center for Applied Media, Arts & Sciences will ground and support all of the disciplines of the high school, from art, computer science, and music to English, math, and the sciences,” Herbert said.

Shawn Watts, who was part of the team and serves as a Whitefish School District trustee, said the group wanted a name that will be easily recognized in the public. 

“We want to get students out working with professionals, and get professionals in the school,” Watts said. “The whole philosophy of CAMAS, and district efforts in teaching, is to engage with the community.”

One of the first collaborations between a student and working professional began with creating the logo and website — whitefishschools.com — for the Center for Applied Media, Arts and Sciences.

Pete Thomas, design director for The ZaneRay Group, and high school student Bergen Carloss worked together with a small team over the summer to create a logo and website for the center. The logo features five multi-colored overlapping petals. 

The district had budgeted about $558,000 to remodel existing music classrooms. That money was added to about $2.3 million being raised from private sources to fully fund the Center for Applied Media Arts & Sciences.

Several donors recently pledged $500,000 to the project and have challenged the community to match the amount. Earlier in the year, the district also received $1 million in donations for the center.

Without the donations, the center would have remained unfurnished.

A fundraiser event is planned at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 18, at First Interstate Bank, 306 Spokane Ave., Whitefish. Whitefish High School music students will provide entertainment.

For information about donating to the Center for Applied Media, Arts & Sciences, call Carol Atkinson at 862-7591.

Donations may also be mailed to Whitefish Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1060, Whitefish, MT 59937 at the attention of “Whitefish High School Performing Arts and Technology Wing.”

The entire Whitefish High School construction project has evolved since voters approved a $14 million bond request in 2012. 

With millions made available through donations for the center and the completed Jim Campbell Fitness Center, the construction project has increased in cost from an initial $19 million price tag to approximately $23 million.

A tour of the new building is scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 22.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].