LHS grads compete in national video competition
LANCASTER – Two of Lancaster High School’s most recent graduates, Tori Kyer and Ryleigh Klaaymeyer, have been able to extend their senior year by representing the school nationally.
They are representing Lancaster High School’s broadcasting class in the Skillsusa National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, June 2024.
In May, Kyer and Klaaymeyer competed in the Tv/video production category at the Ohio
Skillsusa competition in Columbus. Skillsusa is a nonprofit national education association for students interested in trade, technical and skilled service professions.
As students in Lancaster High School’s Broadcasting program, Kyer and Klaaymeyer were eligible to compete in the competition. Each having two years’ worth of knowledge from the class, Kyer and Klaaymeyer brought experience, confidence and determination to the competition – which proved to be vital in their success.
During the state competition, Kyer and Klaaymeyer’s most pressing opposition was time. The duo had six hours to brainstorm a video idea that aligned with the assigned prompt – “being you”– write a script, shoot footage, edit and add sound and visual effects.
Devising the production plan in a time crunch was one of the most challenging aspects of the entire competition, Kyer and Klaaymeyer said.
“Tori and I had a notebook in front of us and we had about 10 pages ripped out front and back of ideas of what we could do,” Klaaymeyer said. “We sat there giving each other constructive criticism and it was hard coming up with something.”
Eventually, the pair settled on making the theme of the video empowerment, leadership and inspiring others. Klaaymeyer starred as a professional businesswoman and Kyer edited the shots of Klaaymeyer to create a cohesive video.
Despite pressure-inspired arguments that arose during the production process, Scott Burke, the LHS broadcasting teacher, said he knew Kyer and Klaaymeyer would work well together because of their complementary strengths.
“I think their strengths ended up going together and if they had weaknesses, they bounced off each other, and … their final video (had) good shots with a good message,” Burke said.
After submitting their video to Skillsusa judges, Kyer told Burke she thought they had a shot at placing, Burke said; however, Kyer and Klaaymeyer’s
optimism did not prepare them for the announcement that they had won first place – an honor that no one in Burke’s class had ever received.
“I was shaking, I was so overwhelmed,” Klaaymeyer said. “They had announced third place, then announced the second place and we were like, ‘oh, well we didn’t get either of those, we’re not getting anything at all.’ Next thing you know, first place is Tori Kyer and Ryleigh Klaaymeyer. I was so shocked; it was amazing.”
As first-place winners, Kyer and Klaaymeyer each received $5,000 in scholarship money to attend the International School of Broadcasting in Dayton, Ohio. However, neither will be accepting the offer due to their predetermined future plans.
Kyer will attend Ohio University Athens this fall to study media arts. She said the Lancaster
High School broadcasting class and her experience with the Skillsusa competition has heightened her interest in TV and video production.
“Every time I do something in (class) it’s definitely made the love stronger and made me want to go into (broadcasting) more and … learn everything that I need to know,” Kyer said. “I want to stay in TV and video production and definitely keep expanding my skill.”
Although Klaaymeyer said her interest in broadcasting has been heavily influenced by Burke’s class and success in the Skillsusa competition, her future plans have less to do with the technical aspects of broadcasting and more with implementing the confidence the class has given her within her other passions.
“This class has helped me find confidence within myself, and I think it would be awesome to help others do that, so I’m thinking about going into cosmetology,” Klaaymeyer said. “I’d like to open up my own hair salon; I just want to help other people be confident in themselves.”
Once again, Kyer and Klaaymeyer will not receive any information about the national Skillsusa prompt until the competition begins. Despite the challenge ahead, both Kyer and Klaaymeyer said they are excited for the opportunities the competition has, and will continue, to give them.
“I was very sentimental throughout this class,” Klaaymeyer said. “You create a lot of friendships, a lot of bonds, and I think that Skillsusa nationals is definitely going to give Tori and I that little opportunity to just have one last moment in high school.”
Kyer and Klaaymeyer are optimistic as they prepare for the national competition and hope to do well enough to qualify for the Worldskills competition, which will take place in Shanghai, China in October.