The Grundy Area Vocational Center’s Computer Applications classes’ live-streaming has been so successful that this year they are covering volleyball and boys varsity basketball games in addition to football.
In September 2011, there were 25,000 viewers watching games online that month. A year later, the views are already halfway there and the month is not over. Plus, they are live-streaming more games than last year, Computer Applications teacher Joe Terrel said.
“And in the spring, we’re going to try and (live-stream) as much as we can,” he said. “We’re going to try and do baseball.”
Last year, the students only live-streamed football, boys varsity basketball and some wrestling for Morris. This year, they are doing all home football, volleyball and boys varsity basketball games for Coal City and Morris, as well as some girls basketball and wrestling for both schools.
In addition to footage from the press box, students also record from the field and will be making a highlights DVD.
Jerry Peterson, a senior at Morris Community High School, is one of Terrel’s more dedicated students attending all the football games and most basketball games to record.
“I love it. It gives me a chance to go watch all the sporting events,” he said. “Normally, I wouldn’t be able to get as involved.”
Peterson said he is thinking about a future in video editing.
“I like to do acting and do plays at school, and I am in the current play at the Morris Theatre Guild,” he said. “But I wouldn’t mind doing video editing and visual editing, too.”
Also new this year is the option to play commercials during the live-stream. The commercials are created, recorded and edited by the students.
The first two sponsors are D’Orazio Ford in Wilmington and Shantel’s Salon and Day Spa in Morris. If it wasn’t for those businesses, the students would not have some of the equipment and supplies they are working with today.
Terrel did the first sales appointments, but from now on the students will be handling the sales calls.
The students will practice interviewing and give the presentations they are going to give potential advertisers to their class.
“It’s all for the kids,” Terrel said. “The money goes to new equipment and to set up separate scholarships for (Computer Applications) students.”
In addition, the proceeds help the class purchase GAVC Video Production Team wear.
“What I didn’t know was going to blow up is the commercials and sponsorships. It’s really excited the kids,” Terrel said. “They’re getting real world experience.”
The live-streaming allows students who couldn’t attend that night’s game, school alumni and relatives to watch the games live.
“If parent’s can’t make it, they get to watch their kids play that night,” Peterson said.
And sports won’t be the only thing students, family and friends will get to watch online. This year, the class plans to do the graduation ceremony, as well.
For more information on sponsoring the live-streaming, contact Joe Terrel at (815) 942-4390, ext. 211.
