Watertown High School’s ArrowTV Wins National Best Overall Production Award in DakClassroom Student Showcase
- Steve Jurrens
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Daktronics has 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 Showcase highlights work produced through DakClassroom, a turnkey curriculum designed to give high school students real‑world experience in live production, digital media, and audiovisual technology.
Watertown High School Wins Best Overall Production
Watertown High School earned one of the competition’s top distinctions, taking home Best Overall Production. ArrowTV, led by instructor Austin Thompson, was recognized for delivering a complete, professional‑level production environment — managing video board content, livestream operations, and replay with the coordination typically seen in collegiate or professional venues.
The award places Watertown among the nation’s strongest student media programs and highlights the growing sophistication of local student production work.
During Monday night’s Watertown School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen said, “I call it the MVP award.”
2026 DakClassroom Student Showcase Winners
Best Hype Video – Haughton High School (Louisiana) A 10‑student digital media team led by Joshua O’Nishea earned top honors for a high‑energy hype video featuring multiple camera angles and advanced editing techniques.
Best Student Athlete Feature – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School (Kansas) Students in Tony Rosales’ broadcasting class produced a broadcast‑style athlete feature with polished visuals and flexible weekly update design.
Best Sponsored Feature – Bishop Carroll Catholic High School (Kansas) The school also won the sponsored feature category for a branded “Play of the Game” segment demonstrating strong collaboration with a sponsor.
Classroom Impact and Leadership Award – Lake City Public Schools (Minnesota) Kalyn Merten’s Media Makers program was recognized for its impact on school culture and community engagement through student leadership and storytelling.
Hands‑On Learning With Real‑World Tools
Daktronics says the Showcase reflects DakClassroom’s mission to provide standards‑aligned curriculum paired with professional tools and workflows. Students create content used in real school events, building skills in video production, design, and storytelling.
“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.
Haughton High School instructor Joshua O’Nishea said the program has transformed his classroom. “This was our first year with all things Daktronics, and we have loved every bit of it,” he said. “Winning the award just makes it that much sweeter.”
How Schools Can Participate
Schools using DakClassroom are eligible for future competitions. The program includes implementation‑ready curriculum, hands‑on production experience, and opportunities for national recognition.
More information is available at daktronics.com/DakClassroom.
About Daktronics
Founded in 1968, Daktronics is a global leader in LED video displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, audio systems, and control systems for sports, business, and transportation applications.
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