MIA Students Put Their Spin on Marco Then and Now

They had less than two weeks to pull it together with an August 10 school start date, but Marco Island Academy principal Melissa Scott made sure her students answered the call with a Marco Island Then and Now photographer display at their sparkling new campus. Four MIA students, Piper and Charli Noyes, Zoie Swift, and Caitlyn Sadofsky made their creative photography and drawing instructor and principal very proud with their entry in the City of Marco Island’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Eder and student models Piper Noyes and Caitlyn were on hand Wednesday afternoon, August 24, to answer questions and pose for photos with participants who came by the school.

“Zoie Swift is a 12th grader. She is an amazing digital image manipulator,” Eder said of his student. “It’s almost like breathing for her. She’s so talented." Swift put a pair of black Converse high tops on Saloma Olds, a Marco Island pioneer, in a picture from the turn of the century.

Melissa Scott was beyond proud of her students and their teacher.

“Mr. Eder is amazing,” Melissa Scott said. “He’s so talented and he’s been with the school so long. I thought about how talented the kids are. I used to serve on the board of the historical society. I was thinking about how awesome the museum is. So I thought we could collaborate with them. I thought, ‘Why don’t we take pictures of the past and bring them into the present. I talked with Rob and he said, ‘I’m going to make this work.’ The kids, Rob and Hilary Noyes did all of this. I think people misjudge teenagers a lot. Kids are really special when they’re focused on a common goal, and when it’s important to them. Obviously, Marco Island and the school are important to them. To see the community come together to support and come see it, I’m just really proud. To see the kids so proud of themselves, and to glow when they see these pictures, makes me happy to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the City of Marco Island."