With 65,000+ views on Instagram, over 30 hours of footage captured, and more than 20 members, PV Media Team has established itself in the district as a source for high-quality student produced media content.
The Media Team originally began in 2021 as PV Editing Club, with the aim of teaching students how to edit videos. Meetings included editing competitions and editing showcases. While these meetings were fun and lighthearted, they lacked substantial impact on the school.
In 2022, sophomore Bennett Teitle and Junior Nehal Agrawal decided to reform the club, continuing the mission of teaching photography, videography and editing skills while also aiming to increase school spirit. Teitle had always been interested in starting a club dedicated to school event coverage, and Agrawal was already well experienced with photography.
The club rebranded in 2022 and began providing media coverage for Spartan Athletics and student organizations. Although the group lacked any soft or professional camera equipment and often captured video on “family” cameras or even iPhones, they edited and posted their videos on social media, which quickly caught the attention of many students.
At first, responses were mixed. “We put a lot of effort into our videos, but we lacked the right equipment needed to make them better quality. This was reflected in our videos, as many people shared the same feedback with us,” Agrawal said.
In late 2023, Teitle and Agrawal realized the club’s need for new equipment and began a fundraising campaign. They met with leaders of a local nonprofit to secure a $2,500 matching grant, and then raised another $2,500 through local donors and businesses. After coordinating a purchase order with administration, the Media Team has used this money to improve their equipment with the addition of two Canon Rebel T8i cameras and a Canon Vixia HF G70 4K camcorder.
Senior Becca Hahm joined as Vice President of the club last school year as well. “I always felt that the school lacked a dedicated organization to capture school events,” said Media Team President Bennett Teitle. “I knew that many others including Becca had the same interest in photography that I did, and students like her who already have interest in what we do make great additions to the team.”
These purchases have proven to be worthwhile, and as of 2024, the Media Team boasts over 20 members and can be seen at almost every major school sporting event. By selling their high-quality photos on their Pixieset page, the group also has a way to continually fundraise throughout the year.
The Media Team decided to take advantage of the upgraded scoreboard in Spartan Stadium, newly installed this fall. The big screen is capable of custom videos and images, which aligns with the ideas on which the club was founded. Members of the PV Media Team filmed, edited and created a video highlight of the Spartan football team which is now played on the scoreboard just before kickoff.
Media Team is not just limited to athletic coverage; they feature many other clubs and student organizations at PV. So far, the team has made videos of Model UN and Spartan Assembly. Currently, the club is also creating a video for the Ceramics Club set to release soon.
The newly founded Media Team has helped students like sophomore member Jack Belby discover their passion for photography and videography. “I’d always thought taking photos was cool, but I never had the opportunity or equipment to take pictures. After joining the media team, I was trained and given access to high quality photography equipment,” expressed Belby.
Looking forward, the Team will complete various ongoing projects throughout the year including providing coverage for the Spartan Band, PV Robotics and winter/spring season sports. Currently, the club meets on Tuesdays at 3:30 in Mr. Keemle’s room (264), and Thursdays during 8th period in Mr. Schaeffer’s room. Their work can be viewed on their Instagram page (@pvmediateam), with updates for the club posted on their X account.
The success of PV’s Media Team gives other clubs and communities hope that they can become widely respected organizations within the school. “Many clubs have thanked us for bringing attention to their organization, and we hope to extend our outreach and continue to make an impact for years to come,” Teitle says. A small editing club has been transformed into a well-known group that captures school events and fosters relationships within the school’s community. The PV Media Team’s story shows students that they can have impact within their school and communities.
