OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The year was 1989. I was entering my senior year at Dunnellon High School (DHS). My courseload contained the usual suspects, but there nestled among English, Jazz Band, and Journalism was a new class never-before offered at DHS: TigerVision.

TigerVision allowed aspiring journalists and serial talkers an audio/video outlet for our creative energies. Every aspect of audio/video media was explored in its charter year. We did everything from manning the cameras and editing the tapes to writing and producing an orange juice commercial and anchoring live morning announcements.

To some, TigerVision was just another credit toward their graduation goal; to others, like me, it opened the door to a future in writing and reporting news, and in radio.

A teleprompter was provided, but it’s nice to have a paper backup – just in case. Courtesy: Kathy Dugan
The quiet at MTI before the winners started filing in with their families and friends. Courtesy: Kathy Dugan

Each year, for the past 23, Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) has presented the Student Media Festival, an event founded by Teri Hartley who was a champion for student media before losing her battle with cancer in 2013.

In past years, I have served as a presenter at the elementary school level. This year, I had the honor of hosting the show, live from the Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium on the Marion Technical Institute (MTI) campus on Fort King St. in Ocala.

Travis Bennett, Digital Video Technology instructor at Lake Weir High School, had several of his students working the festival (and taking home trophies).  I noticed that Bennett had a bag of neckties with him. He told me they were for his students who would be attending the festivities because he told them that “we dress for the job we want.”

Bennett also wrote the evening’s script and could be seen onstage handing envelopes containing the winners’ names, as well as certificates and trophies, to the presenters.

Presenters included:

Rashad Jones, the man behind Big Lee’s Serious About BBQ, and Hunter Wallace from Wind-FM were excited to present together at the MCPS Student Media Festival. Photo: Hunter Wallace

“This festival was created 23 years ago to honor students for their dedicated efforts. Video production is no easy field to master; however, when training starts early and students have time to advance their skills, the results are remarkable,” says MCPS Director of Public Relations Kevin Christian. “Many of this year’s entries can stand their own ground in today’s competitive video marketplace. Our Best of Show winners could easily be on any commercial TV station without a doubt.”

The first half of the festival is dedicated to grades K-5. There is a brief intermission, and then the middle and high school students are presented with their awards. This year, students submitted 232 entries from 20 different schools. In March, those entries were judged online by nearly three dozen industry experts in 12 categories and four age groups.

93.7 K-COUNTRY/352today’s Kathy Dugan was honored to emcee the 23rd annual Marion County Student Media Festival on Friday. Courtesy: Hunter Wallace/Wind-FM

Best of Show honors were awarded to:

  • Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary K-2 for “Holly Jolly”
  • Shady Hill Elementary 3-5 for “The Lost Eye-Tems”
  • Dunnellon Middle School 6-8 for “The Set Up”
  • Forest High 9-12 for “Spooky Boo”

Best of Show winners are awarded trophies plus the schools receive $500 cash prizes.

This year’s Teri Hartley Effort in Media Education or THEME Award, named for one of the show’s founders, was presented by the show’s co-founder, Miriam Needham, to Anthony Elementary for “Knight Owl.”

The Joel Hartley Achievement in Cinematography Award, named for district photojournalist/videographer for 18 years whose passion for audio/video direction played a huge part of the festival’s ongoing success, went to Lake Weir High School for “Now That I’ve Found You.” Mr. Hartley passed away in 2021 due to complications from COVID-19.

The next step for students whose videos placed first at the local level is advancement to the regional level and then on to the state-level Jim Harbin Video Production Awards where Christian says Marion County students have led those efforts year after year.

If you would like to view the show, it is available on the Marion Education Channel throughout April, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.  You can also watch it at the YouTube link below: