When you ask Brianna MacNaught and Brandon Pruitt to describe
the Student Television Network Convention in Orlando they just
returned from, the Nease High School seniors take a moment before
answering.
It's almost as if they are steadying themselves before the
onslaught of descriptive adjectives rush out of their mouths. And
right before their mouths open, they both smile slowly and proudly.
And when the rush of words begin, it starts with a simple
statement.
"We're number one."
MacNaught and Pruitt are students in Nease High School teacher
Jaime Combs' TV Production class - they act as executive producer
and technical producer for Wired, the daily student-produced news
show for the school.
On March 12, Wired was named best daily taped newscast in the
country. It was the first time Nease was able to bring home such a
distinction from the Student Television Network - an organization
which recognizes excellence in scholastic broadcasting, creative
video and filmmaking, and media convergence.
"When they called our name [as winners], we were running and
jumping the whole way up there," said Pruitt of the award
ceremony.
MacNaught said the experience was amazing.
"I started crying," she said.
Wired is part of the Nease Communications Academy Television
Production program. More than 160 students work on the newscasts
each week under the direction of Combs.
Every year, schools are invited to participate in the Student
Television Network Excellence Awards. There are a variety of
different categories of awards, all of which are judged by industry
professions. In addition, students who attend the awards convention
participate in a week's worth of competitive events.
In addition to earning best daily taped newscast, Nease High
School students brought home honorable mentions in the Stand Up and
Movie Trailer categories.
More than 1,400 students from across the country participated in
the 2011 conference.
"It's really exciting," said Combs. "It's the proudest moment in
my professional career."
Both Pruitt and MacNaught said they plan to study television
production in college. MacNaught said she plans to attend the
University of Central Florida and hopes to be a sportscaster.
Pruitt said he plans to attend Flagler College and wants to be a
news producer.
sarakaufman@pontevedrarecorder.com
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