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3 Rivers Supports Students Showing Local Spirit [Rural Telecommunications](Rural Telecommunications Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) There's a friendly school rivalry brewing in rural Montana, and it has nothing to do with sports. Students taking multimedia classes in various schools throughout 3 Rivers Communications' (Fairfield. Mont.) service area are putting their skills to the test to take on the telco's video challenge. The company launched a fun. video challenge to encourage local students to use technology by creating five-minute video segments that showcase their towns, local businesses, scenery and residents. Classes that participate receive a pizza party, bragging rights and a chance to have their video appear on the local channel. Don Serido, marketing manager at 3 Rivers Communications, said the challenge has been well received. "Schools want an outlet for that sort of content," he said. "The students get a charge out of producing something that airs on TV, rather than just putting it up on YouTube and the Internet." Supporting Schools Two years ago, 3 Rivers Communications roiled out a new technology initiative. Using unclaimed capital credit funds that must be used toward educational purposes, the cooperative created a video equipment grant program that provides schools up to $15,000 to purchase equipment and materials. Schools can apply for the funds by explaining what they hope to achieve. Serido said. 3 Rivers Communications provides the schools with a suggested list of equipment and materials, and the cooperative's data network supervisor, Tim Hodges, is available to help them. While some schools are starting from scratch, Serido noted, others are more knowledgeable and may purchase equipment based on their specific needs. Reflecting on a grant that Augusta High School received, Christy Hendricks, a business/computer teacher at the school, stated, "Last year, our school received a big surprise from 3 Rivers, and it changed our school overnight. Our little school of 86 students K-12 received a $14,ODD video equipment grant!'" The school purchased lighting equipment, a Panasonic camcorder, tripod, Canon Rebel camera and lenses, HP desktop computer. Sony Vegas software for editing, green screens, a NewTek TriCaster production switcher, an external microphone, and a TV and OVD recorder. "My biggest fear was that we wouldn't know how to use the equipment and it would just sit there and collect dust," Hendricks said. "That was definitely not the case! My students were so excited about the video equipment they started filming and editing right away!" Keeping lb Local Although it's too early to gauge customers' viewership, Serido believes the programming has been well received based on word-of-mouth, Facebook posts and emails. "We're committed to providing this service to the communitg and supporting our schools he said. "its also a great wag to promote our video producC E By Tenaille Shields, NTCFI Senior UJriter/ Editor (c) 2014 National Telephone Cooperative |