Santa Margarita Catholic High School Went Beyond the Display to Transform Their Gym Experience

Santa Margarita Catholic High School strives for excellence in academics, athletics, arts, and co‑curricular programs.  With a campus serving 9^th-12^th-grade students, the Eagle community takes pride in offering opportunities that elevate every student’s experience.

But their gym – original to 1987 – needed an upgrade. The facility needed more than new flooring and bleachers; it needed a technology upgrade that would match the school’s reputation and enhance every event held inside its walls.

They turned to Daktronics as their one trusted source for LED video boards, video scoreboards, sound, control, content creation, curriculum, and long‑term support.

How Can a High School Gym LED Video Board Create an Immersive Experience for Every Eagle?

Assistant Principal of Campus Life Sammer Darwazeh shared that the school’s vision extended far beyond aesthetics.

“One thing that really stood out to me was creating something that would basically have an immersive experience – whether they're a student‑athlete or someone cheering on the Eagles. Whatever their role is, they feel like they’re right in the middle of it.”

The gym remodel, paired with a new Daktronics LED video board, became a centerpiece for school pride and storytelling. Instead of a display that sits in the background, the video board now energizes the entire gym with:

• Fan prompts
• Student‑created hype videos
• Custom starting lineup intros
• QR codes to drive engagement and communication
• Coordinated lighting tied to game‑day content

As Assistant Director of Activities, Brenten Kelly explains,

We’ve already seen more fan interaction. The starting lineups are a big hit, and the lighting syncing with the videos adds a huge effect.

Students Learning Behind the Screen: A New Pipeline into Sports Production

Students at Santa Margarita are learning how to run their new high school LED video board, gaining skills and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

Sophomore Connor Matthews shared, “I love sports – all sports – so this is a really cool way to get integrated into the sports world, doing the production side of it.”

Students now create content, run equipment, manage game‑day prompts, and help craft the immersive experience fans feel the moment they walk into the gym.

An Integrated High School Video Display System for Sports, Masses, Rallies & More

What makes a high school video board and video scoreboard system work seamlessly?  
One trusted source.

Santa Margarita chose Daktronics because they needed a unified solution that supported everything that happens in their gym:

• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Wrestling
• All‑school Masses
• Dances & pep rallies
• Guest speakers and assemblies

A Long‑Term School Investment That Benefits Every Generation of Students

When schools consider major upgrades, cost is always part of the conversation. Darwazeh encourages schools to consider more than the price.

Look at more than just your dollar. I understand wanting to be conscientious of budget, and Daktronics does a great job working within those means. But if I could sum it up, it’s about the experience. Students graduate, and someone else is going to learn the Daktronics software and utilize these displays. The experience is the whole thing.

A High School Gym Display Upgrade Strengthens Community Connection

The impact is already visible: more energy, more engagement, more celebration.

1. Students can share their work with friends and family.
2. Fans feel more connected to the game‑day experience.
3. The school can highlight everything from athletics to campus life.
4. The gym has become the central hub for every major gathering.

 It’s already amplified everything,” says Kelly, “and it’s just going to get bigger and bigger throughout the season.

Schools across the country are discovering how a high school LED video board becomes more than a screen – it’s a platform for celebrating students.

Watch Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s full video and explore more success stories powered by Daktronics.