Southeast's SETV Shoots for 4th National Title

BRADENTON – The talented students of Southeast High's SETV – the Manatee County high school’s student TV station – recently won their 7th-consecutive SkillsUSA state championship in Broadcast News Programming. SETV students managed a clean sweep, placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the event, while Mike Sanders, Southeast High School’s Director of Television, was named the Florida SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year. 

SETV State Champions (L to R) Gillian Palino (Talent), Mallory Robinson (Director/Technical Director), Shakera Latimore (Talent), Kevin Weger (floor Director)

Southeast students Mallory Robinson, Gillian Palino, Shakera Latimore, and Kevin Weger will now represent Southeast and SETV at the SkillsUSA national competition in June in Kansas City. Southeast started competing in SkillsUSA Broadcast News Programming in 2006 and won the first of 7 state championships. At the national level, they've won the last three consecutive national titles, establishing the program as the premier of its kind.

The television program at Southeast was started 20 years ago by media specialist Robert Eichenberg. Back then it was housed in a single room in the media center, but grew quickly, while creating a culture of pride and success among student participants. Sanders took over the program in 2005 and today it is housed in a 5,000 sq ft, state of the art broadcasting facility in a stand alone building on the Southeast High campus. Students are given rare, hands-on experience in career television technology, using professional-grade broadcasting equipment.  

“Our program is extremely extensive and unique in the country,” said Sanders. “Very few high schools are educating students at the level we do.” Sanders explained that it's SETV's commitment to specificity that sets it apart. "Our program is very broadcasting based,” explained Sanders. “We don't do high school television. We do real world television. We're not a filmmaking program. Students are taught newscasting, talk shows, feature piece production, and sports broadcasting.”

SETV students were able further showcase their skills at the state championships by producing the broadcast for the opening and closing ceremonies as well, both of which are available on their website. A recent episode of SETV's Teen Talk Live featured an in-depth interview with new superintendent Rick Mills and school board chair Karen Carpenter. The high-quality production values and professional broadcasting skills that were on display bode well for SETV's chances in Kansas City. TBT congratulates Sanders and his students, while wishing them the best as they try to make it four in a row next month. 

SETV students competing at the regional level this February at MTI