Members of the Tyler High School film crew smile for a photo on the football field. The school’s Student Media and Broadcasting program has been named a finalist for the Dave Campbell’s Texan Live Student Multi-Media Program of the Year Award.

Students from three East Texas schools have been named finalists for the Dave Campbell’s Texan Live Student Multi-Media Program of the Year Award.

Dave Campbell’s Texan Live has selected Student Media and Broadcasting programs from Tyler High School, Whitehouse High, and Jacksonville High School among the top 10 in the state to be recognized with its Student Multi-Media Spotlight Award presented by VCRNOW.

As a part of the recognition, each student broadcast program will receive a $500 donation.

“Student media and broadcasting programs do so much work behind the scenes to make game day special and this is our way of celebrating them,” said Kimmie Gooding, Sports in Action — Dave Campbell’s Football operations intern.

Voting for the winner, who will receive a $2,500 donation presented at the 2023 UIL State Championships at AT&T Stadium, will begin Nov. 1.

Coach Phillip Callier, of Tyler High School, said the Student Media and Broadcasting Program allow students the opportunity to learn more about digital video productions.

“Our media production crew allows young adults the opportunity to prepare and complete a series of digital video productions that would meet the criteria of the television and but most importantly get our student athletes recruited,” he said. “Through this voluntary program students will have a further understanding of the various techniques that one creates when trying to prepare a movie.”

Calllier said it also gives students an “opportunity to pursue college and career opportunities in their future endeavors.”

Callier said college scholarships are available for media production and he is proud of the hard work the students do behind the scenes.

“Many colleges are looking for media crew members and scholarship opportunities are available,” he said. “It feels amazing to be recognized for all of the hard work completed behind the scenes.”

Whitehouse High School Audio Visual Production and Graphic Design teacher for the CTE department Shelley Young said she was excited to get the news.

“It was exciting. The kids really do a good job running the press box and all it entails,” she said. “These kids are learning a trade, something that they can use for the rest of their life either as a hobby or possibly a career.”

Young said awards like this are important to helping school programs and allowing students to learn through additional financial assistance.

“This recognition means the world to these kids; they work hard at what they do,” she said. “Video equipment is expensive and any money awarded to the program would help us with obtaining better computers, more cameras, tripods, basically any audio visual need you could think of.”

Jacksonville High School Audio and Video Production teacher Lee Traylor said there are currently 140 students enrolled in the Audio and Video Production program.

“Students that reach the third year of the program have the opportunity to take the Adobe Certified Professional exam, an industry-level certification that helps them stand out to potential employers,” he said.

On average, there are 20 students working at an event running cameras, directing, running graphics and instant replays, and more.

“We produce in-stadium video and a live stream broadcast for all events that occur in our stadium,” Traylor said.

Traylor said it feels great to see his students recognized.

“It feels great. I feel like we’ve worked incredibly hard to have the best student broadcast in the state,” he said. “Having my students recognized for their effort makes me extremely proud.”

“It means a lot to see our A/V students in the spotlight. They work around 70 games each year in our stadium, a bunch of games at our gymnasium, and even more on the road for playoff contests,” Traylor said. “The amount of time they volunteer and effort they put in is incredible.”

“I feel extremely lucky to work with two other JHS A/V teachers to steward the immensely talented pool of students we enjoy at Jacksonville High School,” he added.

Traylor said it was also important to note these programs would not be possible without the backing of the school administration.

“I’d like to thank the Jacksonville Independent School District Administration and JHS Principal Dr. Ben Peacock for seeing the value in our program and for their constant support,” he said. “While we’re extremely lucky to have the talented students that we do, we wouldn’t be able to put together the quality of program that we have without the backing of the administrators of JISD.”

For more information, visit the Dave Campbell’s Student Multimedia Spotlight Award webpage.