DakClassroom Student Showcase Celebrates Student Creativity and Career-Ready Skills in Live Event Production

BROOKINGS, S.D. – July 22, 2026 – Daktronics (NASDAQ: DAKT) of Brookings, South Dakota, announced the winners of the 2026 DakClassroom Student Showcase, a national competition recognizing outstanding student achievement in media production, storytelling and live event operations.

The DakClassroom Student Showcase highlights the creativity, technical skills and real-world experience students gain through DakClassroom, a turnkey curriculum designed to prepare high school students for careers in live production, digital media and audiovisual technology.

2026 DakClassroom Student Showcase Winners

Best Hype Video
Haughton High School – Haughton, Louisiana
Digital Media Class led by Joshua O’Nishea
A team of 10 students produced a high-energy video using multiple camera angles and advanced editing techniques to enhance school spirit at live events.

Best Student Athlete Feature
Bishop Carroll Catholic High School – Wichita, Kansas
Broadcasting Class led by Tony Rosales
Students created a professional, broadcast-style feature that elevated the game-day experience with polished visuals and flexible design for weekly updates.

Best Sponsored Feature
Bishop Carroll Catholic High School – Wichita, Kansas
Broadcasting Class led by Tony Rosales
This project demonstrated strong collaboration with a sponsor, integrating branded content seamlessly into a live “Play of the Game” feature.

Best Overall Production
Watertown High School – Watertown, South Dakota
ArrowTV led by Austin Thompson
Students delivered a complete production environment, managing video board content, livestream and replay with professional-level coordination and execution.

Classroom Impact and Leadership Award
Lake City Public Schools – Lake City, Minnesota
Media Makers led by Kalyn Merten
This program demonstrated meaningful impact on school culture and community engagement through student leadership and creative storytelling.

Showcasing Real-World Learning
The Student Showcase reflects DakClassroom’s mission to provide educators with a ready-to-use, standards-aligned curriculum while giving students hands-on experience with professional tools and workflows. 

Through the program, students don’t just learn theory; they create content used in real school events, developing skills in video production, design and storytelling that directly translate to career opportunities.

“The DakClassroom Student Showcase celebrates more than just great content – it highlights the dedication, collaboration, and innovation students bring to their schools every day,” said Daktronics High School Market Manager Kyle Sydow.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Creators
"This was our first year with all things Daktronics, and we have loved every bit of it,” said Joshua O’Nishea, media instructor at Haughton High School in Louisiana. “It has been a great opportunity for the students and me at Haughton High School. Winning the award just makes it that much sweeter in recognizing this special group of students for their hard work and dedication throughout the year!”

By combining curriculum, professional-grade tools and real-world application, DakClassroom helps schools build programs that engage students and prepare them for future careers in media and production. 

How to Participate
Schools using DakClassroom are eligible to participate in future Student Showcase competitions. The program provides:

• Implementation-ready curriculum for educators

• Hands-on student production experiences

• Opportunities for national recognition through competition

To learn more about DakClassroom, visit www.daktronics.com/DakClassroom.