EMP program gaining national reputation for excellence

Don’t look now, but OTC’s Electronic Media Production program is quickly becoming one of the best in the country, if the recent results at the national SkillsUSA Championships are any indication.

For the second straight year, the EMP’s broadcast news production and television video production teams earned gold medals as the best in the country among all others who came to Kansas City recently to compete.

More than 6,000 career and technical education students (all state contest winners) competed in 99 different trade, technical and leadership fields, including those in the electronic media field.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Dana Price, one of the EMP instructors who participated. “We are very fortunate to receive such an honor.”

The gold medal winners were: Broadcast News Production -Dylan Durrington, Kaitlyn Schumacher, Brandon Vanderstine and Nic Stogsdill; Television (Video) Production- Brandon Harper and Tyler Sederwall.

Durrington, a student from Springfield, said he was worried about how well he would do in the competition.

“I was a last-minute sub for someone as the floor director,” he said.” I was a little nervous. Everyone else was confident. I’m very, very excited.”

Jeff Johnson, another EMP instructor, said the wins show that the program taught at OTC is among the best, if not the best.

“One of the goals is to win at Skills,” he said. “But the ultimate goal is to get them employed. It’s great for the students and great for their resume.”

Johnson attended Hillcrest High School and was involved in the schools television program (HTV) that is a perennial national award winner and is often used as a model by other schools around the country.

The Hillcrest program blossomed under its founder, Dave Davis, whom Johnson studied under in high school and who used as the model for his approach in the classroom.

“I came from a program that was always successful and the reason was because of Mr. Davis,” Johnson said. “Having him was a plus.”

Davis said:” I love seeing former HTVers take their skills to the next level. Jeff is an example of that. He is so talented. OTC is lucky to have him.”

Johnson said the program and college are winners after the national competition.

“It lets everyone know we are preparing students the right way in EMP for the job market,” he said. “That should draw more attention and more students to us.”