Email
Print
CCTL students, teacher display talents for United Way
Bruce Matlock
When the United Way of Iredell County needed a video for its 2009 fund drive, it turned to the Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership students program. The project involved a commitment from Digital Media class instructor Tony Lellie (left), Jessica Lellie (voiceover), John Mairs (producer) and Bryan Porter (camera).
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: September 2, 2009
The United Way of Iredell County's new community campaign video is a high-quality, professional production.
But it didn't cost thousands of dollars to produce thanks to the time and talents donated by three Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership students.
The seven-minute video is shown at just about every United Way function and used by various participating companies to build support for the campaign.
CCTL students Jessica Lellie, 18, John Mairs, 17, and Bryan Porter, 15, were responsible for the outcome of the video.
"I appreciate the opportunity to help the community," Mairs said. "In these hard economic times it's great we can be a resource for organizations to come to."
Each student played a role in the production of the video. Lellie served as host, Porter taped and edited, and Mairs produced it.
The team is elated to have had the opportunity to make a video viewed by the community time and time again.
"It's a real honor," Lellie said. "If I was at another high school, I wouldn't be able to have chances like this. To be able to say I was a part of it is a big deal."
When cutting its budget became necessary, one way United Way officials reduced administrative costs was by finding someone to produce the video for free.
Porter said the experience was great.
"They don't have to spend the money. We can do it for free," he said. "We also gained experience on how to do it."
The students worked on the video with CCTL teacher and Jessica's dad, Tony Lellie, during their summer break.
He said making the video was a great opportunity for students to get involved in their community.
"This is a service-learning school so we encourage students to serve the community as part of their leadership training," Tony said.
To glean ideas, the students met with United Way staff and previewed past videos.
"We wanted to do something a little bit different than they did before," he said.
In the video, many of the 23 member agencies were highlighted along with interviews with Pat Stewart, executive director, and Douglas Eason, board president.
This year's video took on a different feel from previous years with only one family featured, Mark and Sarah Wilkinson. The family talked about utilizing the services offered by member agencies like LifeSpan Circle School and the American Red Cross.
Their daughter, Clara, 7, suffers with a host of complications including cerebral palsy, asperger syndrome and sensory processing dysfunction. She wears braces on her feet.
After birth, Clara had five platelet transfusions.
"If someone hadn't gone to a Red Cross office to donate blood, I wouldn't have a child," Sarah said.
She was glad to share their story.
"If one person can hear our story and it makes a difference for them then that's all the more reason to share it," Sarah said.
Wilkinson said working with the CCTL students was a joy and they knew exactly what they were doing while conducting the interview at her home.
"It was very well done and I was very impressed," she added.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
