The Eisenhower Middle School Viking Media program received a $500 grant to improve our broadcast studio and create a more professional space for students to produce our school news show, Ike Time, along with interviews, announcements, and other video projects.

Before receiving the grant, our broadcast set was very basic. We had a couch, chairs, a rug, pillows, and a coffee table, but the area still looked more like a corner of a classroom than a broadcast studio. The grant allowed us to purchase materials to improve the set, including furniture, décor, lighting, storage, and items that helped us create a more intentional background for filming.

The project was completed during the 2025–2026 school year, and students were able to use the improved studio for Viking Media productions. The approximately 15 students enrolled in broadcast were directly involved in using the space, but the impact reached beyond those students because the videos they create are shared with the Eisenhower Middle School community.

One of my goals was to give students a space that felt like an actual production area rather than simply a place in the classroom where we happened to point a camera. I feel that we accomplished that. Having a dedicated set changed the way students approached filming. They began paying more attention to what was visible behind the person on camera, lighting, camera placement, framing, and how the overall shot looked.

Students rotate through many jobs in our program, including writing, interviewing, camera operation, lighting, audio, editing, producing, directing, and appearing on camera. The studio gives them a consistent place to practice those skills while producing content for a real audience.

One of the most positive outcomes has been the sense of ownership students have in Viking Media. They enjoy creating videos and seeing their work shared with other students and teachers. They also understand that when they create something for Ike Time, they are representing our program and our school. Having a space designed for that purpose has helped reinforce that idea.

The project also supported skills that go well beyond broadcast production. Students have to communicate with one another, meet deadlines, solve problems, accept feedback, take care of equipment, and work as part of a team. Some students are comfortable in front of the camera, while others find that they enjoy editing, operating a camera, working with audio, or helping behind the scenes. There is a place for many different personalities and strengths in a broadcast program.

One lesson I continue to learn is that students need opportunities to practice. They are not fast when they first begin, and their first videos are rarely their best videos. The more they interview, film, edit, and produce, the more confident and independent they become. We also learn very quickly in broadcast that something will eventually go wrong. Technology does not always cooperate, a shot may need to be filmed again, or a plan may need to change. Students learn to find a solution and keep moving.

Going forward, we will continue using the studio with future Viking Media classes. We will maintain the set, adjust it as needed, and continue teaching students how to use the space responsibly. Because the materials purchased through this grant can be used from year to year, the $500 investment will continue benefiting students beyond the original project year.

I am very thankful for the support we received for this project. In education, $500 can make a significant difference when it is placed directly into a program where students can use and benefit from it. This grant helped us take something we already had and make it better for our students.

Most importantly, it gave Viking Media students a space they can be proud of and a place where they can practice real communication, production, leadership, and teamwork skills while creating something for their school community.