The challenge

With four colleges serving California’s capital region, Los Rios needed to cut through the noise of everyday life and shifting priorities. Career education programs offered life-changing opportunities, but the people who could benefit most weren’t seeing or considering them. The question: How do you inspire attention and action in a skeptical, overstretched, and often overlooked audience?

The approach

We brought together spectacle and strategy. As part of a broader community-focused enrollment campaign, 3fold orchestrated a 12-minute drone show at the Sacramento Republic FC’s final home game of the season—an event attended by over 11,000 local residents, including families and young adults.

Our goal wasn’t just to dazzle. It was to deliver a clear, compelling message: Los Rios is the place for people ready to build a better future. The drone formations featured student icons, graduation caps, and program highlights—all set to music, all designed to make the audience feel that possibility was within reach.

The impact

Within 48 hours of the drone show, organic traffic to the Los Rios website jumped by 2.4%. More importantly, the campaign contributed to a 5.21% increase in enrollment—a powerful result in a time when higher ed institutions across the country are struggling to hold ground.

Why it worked

This wasn’t just a flashy stunt. It was a targeted, community-centered activation that met people where they were—literally and emotionally. By showing up in a place that mattered to the community, with a message that spoke to their hopes and realities, Los Rios became more than just another option. It became the one that made them feel seen.