Case Study: Hawai'i Preparatory Academy achieves authentic, student-driven storytelling with Finalsite

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy - Customer Case Study

Finalsite featured Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) and Webmaster Aaron Schorn, who faced the challenge of making the school’s website more authentic and student-centered. Rather than polished adult-driven messaging, Aaron wanted the site to showcase real student voices and projects that bring HPA’s mission and island setting to life while fitting into students’ busy schedules.

Aaron solved this by creating two student-focused courses—an independent digital media research class and a digital journalism and media class with industry guest lecturers—and by publishing student-conceived multimedia projects (drone research, campus tours, alumni interviews) directly to the site. The result is a more genuine, engaging web presence: student work now drives HPA’s storytelling and has achieved notable recognition, including a student’s piece appearing on the front page of the Travel section in print.

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy

Aaron Schorn

Webmaster and Faculty Member