GAHANNA, Ohio — For the first time, students at Gahanna Lincoln High School made a name for themselves on the national stage when it comes to journalism.
What You Need To Know
- Students won awards for Best Newscast in the U.S., Best Sports Program and Best Video Essay on a candlelight vigil for Dwayne Haskins
- The awards placed the school in a tie with a school in California for the most wins in the country
- Students said being part of Lincoln Live and Lincoln Sports Zone has changed their lives
- The awards are a part of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
When students learned they won National Student Production Awards for their work on Lincoln Live, Lincoln Sports Zone and Best Video Essay, they couldn’t believe it. They won awards for Best Newscast in the U.S., Best Sports Program and Best Video Essay on a candlelight vigil for the late Dwayne Haskins, a former Ohio State University quarterback.
“Wow, we made it this far,” said Rei Tedoco, 17.
The soon-to-be first-generation college student said the achievement is important because of who it helps her represent.
“As a woman of color, it’s amazing to know that I’m able to represent diversity at that level and to be able to go at the national level, it’s a great feeling,” she said.
Set to go to college, Tedoco plans to major in broadcast journalism at Arizona State University. Anchoring one of the award-winning shows was special, but it’s about making a difference.
“It’s not about ‘oh, I’m anchoring.’ It’s about the people that I meet and the differences that they’ve made to me and the difference I can make to somebody else,” said Tedoco.
As the first freshman to take Intro to TV and the first sophomore to take part in Lincoln Live, Tedoco is no stranger to making history. Still, winning and being a part of the program has changed her life. She said it’s been a blessing.
For students like Jillian Sanders, it also changed her life.
“I always knew that I wanted to be in this field since I was in sixth grade,” said Sanders. “I wanted to be a sideline reporter for the NFL.”
Since then she’s been covering sports, producing and directing.
“I have developed a love and a passion through this,” she said.
That passion and what she’s been able to learn has now opened the door for her to impact others.
“Now I feel I can teach someone else,” said Sanders.
She’s also been able to reflect on the awards.
“It’s just crazy to see that everyone can come together and produce something so special,” she said.
While winning is like icing on the cake, Sanders looks forward to heading off to college too at Ohio University, where she’ll study broadcast journalism.
In the meantime, students are hoping they won’t be the only ones who are adding hardware to the school’s collection.
Lincoln High School’s football team is playing in the state semifinals for the first time since 1982. If they win, they’ll head to the OHSAA Division 1 State Championship.