![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
With the help of the Jumbotron, no one misses a touchdown at the Children’s Health Stadium. Behind the scenes, the stadium’s student crew ensures fans never miss a play.
Students from both Prosper and Rock Hill manage all that goes on behind the scenes of every home game.
“I am (both) the technical director and show director,” senior Kace Spears said. “I choose what camera goes on the Jumbotron, and I choose the graphics and the music.”
From cameras to music to mics, students manage it all, spending hours learning, practicing and executing new technological skills.
“We get here about four to five hours beforehand, depending on what role you have,” Spears said. “(We have to) really go through the entire script and make sure everything is spot on and good.”
Through this program, students from both high schools learn how to work with industry-level equipment, operating cameras, switchers, graphics and more.
“You have to make sure that you’re on top of it,” junior Kross Nickerson said. “You can’t get distracted very easily, because you could be distracted, and a really good play just happened and then you (missed) it because you weren’t paying attention.”
Advised by PHS teachers Micheal Logan and Micheal Hatch, students with a passion for technology are able to gain hands-on experience, building their resumes and preparing them for a future in the industry.
Not only do students in this program gain real-world experience and accomplishments, but they also earn financial compensation.
“We get $100 a game,” Spears said. “But it’s not really about how much you get paid. It’s really (about) the experience that goes on behind the stadium.”
Student motivation for this program goes far above the financial aspect, as these students find value in the learning, the experience, and the joy of being a part of this crew. While this season’s crew is set, students interested in joining the stadium crew next year can contact advisers Logan or Hatch for more information.
“My favorite part is probably working with all the people,” Nickerson said. “It’s really fun because afterwards, we all go eat, and during the show, we’re all like – not messing around, but the people make it less boring.”
This story was originally published on Eagle Nation Online on September 23, 2022.
