Alexandria TV Production Students Thrive In 2 Competitions
ALEXANDRIA, VA — TV production classes at Alexandria City High School are helping students prepare for careers beyond high school and succeed at two competitions.
Leo Dienstfrey, Lashelle Sakyi and Marisa Vidal got an honorable mention at C-SPAN’s StudentCam competition with their entry “Modern Day Slavery,” a production focusing on human trafficking. In addition, Gryphon Magnus, Mia Mervis, Ben Delnegro and Sarah McBurney placed first at the district level and second in the state in the broadcast news category at the SkillsUSA television and media production competition.
Students got involved with the competitions through classes with Vilma Zefran, the television and media production teacher at Alexandria City High School.
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For the C-SPAN StudentCam participants, they were one of nine teams in Virginia that received awards, Dienstfrey told Patch. Students were tasked with creating a video production on a topic while doing the research, writing, interviewing, videotaping and editing.
“It [gave] me an idea of what this work would be like in a real world setting,” said Dienstrey. “It gave me a new understanding and appreciation for people who do this on a regular basis.”
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The “Modern Day Slavery” involved going through hours of footage from C-SPAN and documentaries that they could use on their human trafficking video. They also reached out to anti-human trafficking organizations to conduct interviews, including with a human trafficking survivor.
The SkillsUSA team from Alexandria City High School had to put together a news segment with a time limit. Since the students were familiar with doing this for the high school’s morning announcements, they went to the competition feeling prepared, McBurney told Patch.
Both teams were able to participate in the competitions with the skills they learned in class and equipment from the school.
McBurney is a junior who is now considering TV and media as she starts her college search process.
“I took TV media [classes] because I’ve always been interested in film and movies,” said McBurney. “I’m now in the third year of the program. I’ve learned more there in these three years of TV media than in other classes.”
Dienstrey said he was accidentally enrolled in TV media classes but that it was “one of the best accidents to happen to me.” He plans on pursuing TV media as a career after high school.
“It’s something I love doing, and it’s something I’m passionate about,” said Dienstrey.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the high school’s program and Zefran, their teacher.
“I think it’s really incredible the opportunities this school can give,” said McBurney. “The TV and media program is just one example of this.”
For other students thinking about taking TV media classes, the students say it’s a worthwhile challenge.
“It’s challenging but challenging in the way that you want to keep getting better and improving,” said Dienstrey.
McBurney added, “If it’s something that you’re passionate about, this class will give you the resources you need to pursue a career in TV and media.”
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