Students’ Dreams Are Alive At Ben Davis TV StationIt has been five years since teacher Dennis Goins developed curriculum that created the Ben Davis High School TV-Station. Goins is using the TV station as a medium to drive kids to college. “This is no joke. This is the nicest opportunity in the country for high school students,” Goins said. Although the students are receiving local and national attention for their productions talents, Goins’ sense of accomplishment comes from guiding them into an academic path beyond high school. “The most satisfying part of my job is knowing that 90 percent of these students will go to college. For some students, it means they’ll be the first family member to attend,” he said. The students are doing more than fluff pieces of news. The students’ TV productions are receiving local and national attention including winning awards for their TV production. The 2006 Emmy definitely validates the TV crew’s talents and their dedication to video production. Their assignments require research and interviews. They have touched on some of the pulsating issues like civil rights and immigration. The students produced a video for the Human Relations Banquet to inform the audience that Wayne Township has 40 different nationalities, speaking 40 different languages. In 2007, the students won an award for a civil rights documentary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s effect on local residents. The students interviewed residents that knew Dr. Martin Luther King. This documentary research took students back in time of over 40 years. The students found someone that had actually marched with Dr. King. The Indiana Commission on Civil Rights honored the students at the Indiana State House. Goins, who has traveled the world himself doing camera production, makes the program as real as possible. He sends the students out into the field for actual video coverage. One of the most recent video coverage was the immigration march at the around Monument Circle. They learn production, editing, as well as writing the news. “It is a like a dream come true,” student Brad Gray said. Cody Aees, a part-time student from Avon, explained he initially enrolled with the intentions to develop skills for the video game industry. “When I saw the TV room, something drew me. I knew I was suppose to be here,” he said. Now, Aees’ goals have changed. His ambitions revolve around developing photography skills so he can shoot video for the Discovery channel. “I have learned a lot of technical information by going into the field, but what has really helped me the most personally is confidence,” Lance Watkins said. Watkins discussed that his self-confidence has grown by leaps and bounds since he entered the program. He expressed gratitude to have gained this confidence because it has helped in all aspects of his life. Watkins serves as an on air anchor broadcasting the news and weather. He develops his own weather graphics and watches multiple weather reports to develop his own weather forecast. Watkins is honing his skills to be a weather broadcaster. The students now are working on “BDTV Idle,” based on “American Idle”. It’s back by popular demand from the students. The students are busy auditioning their talents before the TV cameras and a panel of judges. This year even the singing custodian competed for the title. “This year it was open to students and staff. She has a beautiful voice,” Goins said. |
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