Daktronics High School Video Summit Unites Educators, Students, and Industry Professionals for Annual Learning Experience
Daktronics (NASDAQ: DAKT) successfully concluded its 2026 High School Video Summit, bringing together educators, students, and live production professionals from across the United States for two days of education, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Designed specifically for high school video production programs, the annual event combined expert-led virtual sessions with immersive on-site experiences, giving participants valuable insights into the rapidly evolving world of live event production.
The Daktronics hybrid summit continues to grow as one of the industry’s premier educational opportunities for schools looking to strengthen their broadcasting and video production programs. By connecting classrooms with experienced professionals and showcasing successful student-led production teams, the event equips educators and students with practical knowledge they can immediately apply to their own schools.
Building Skills Beyond the Classroom
As live video production becomes an increasingly important part of school athletics, performing arts, and community events, educators are seeking new ways to prepare students with real-world broadcasting experience. The Daktronics High School Video Summit was created to support that mission by providing access to industry experts, production best practices, and peer collaboration.
Unlike traditional conferences, the Summit focuses specifically on the unique needs of high school production teams. Participants not only learn about the latest production technologies but also gain practical strategies for managing student crews, creating engaging content, improving fan experiences, and building sustainable production programs.
This year’s event once again demonstrated how schools of all sizes can create professional-quality productions while giving students meaningful opportunities to develop technical, creative, and leadership skills.
Learning from Industry Leaders
The Daktronics Summit began with a full day of virtual presentations featuring professionals from sports broadcasting, live event production, education, and entertainment. Throughout the day, speakers shared insights into modern production workflows, storytelling techniques, audio integration, live event execution, and career pathways within the media industry.
One of the event’s highlights was the keynote presentation delivered by Francisco Castillo, whose impressive production career includes work with some of the country’s most recognizable sports organizations, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, LA Galaxy, LAFC, USC, UCLA, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Drawing from years of experience in professional sports production, Castillo discussed the importance of preparation, teamwork, creativity, and continuous learning. His presentation offered students a firsthand look at the fast-paced world of live event production while encouraging them to pursue careers in broadcasting and sports media.
Additional presentations featured respected professionals from across the industry, including:
- Keith Brown, producer, operator, and educator at Perry High School
- Lucas Dahlberg, event producer and promotions specialist
- DJ Griff, ESPN College GameDay DJ and music educator
- Chad M. Ekren, director of broadcast and media operations
Together, these presenters explored topics ranging from technical production workflows and audience engagement to content creation and professional development. Interactive question-and-answer sessions gave attendees the opportunity to engage directly with speakers, ask technical questions, and gain valuable career advice.
The Daktronics virtual experience also fostered networking among educators and production teams from different schools, encouraging participants to exchange ideas and share solutions to common production challenges.
During the event, Daktronics also announced the latest DakClassroom Showcase winners, recognizing outstanding student-created video content and celebrating excellence in high school production programs across the country.
Educators Leave with Practical Ideas
For many attendees, the Summit’s greatest value lies in its ability to provide practical ideas that can be implemented immediately.
“The information and the content covered was very helpful,” said Charnelle Woolegd, teacher and video display operator at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“I also participated and attended last year’s summit. This year was even more helpful and offered different ideas for me to try for more fan engagement with our boards during volleyball and basketball games.”
Feedback like Woolegd’s reflects one of the Summit’s core objectives: helping educators continually improve their production programs while creating more engaging experiences for students, athletes, and fans.
Seven Schools Open Their Doors
The second day of the Summit shifted from virtual learning to hands-on experiences as participants visited seven host schools across the United States.
Each host school welcomed educators and students into its production facilities, offering an inside look at successful student-led video operations. Rather than simply showcasing equipment, these visits highlighted the people, processes, and teamwork behind effective live event production.
The seven host schools included:
- Archbishop Spalding (Maryland)
- Centennial Public School (Nebraska)
- Council Bluffs Community School District (Iowa)
- Eagan High School (Minnesota)
- Midlothian High School (Texas)
- Neenah High School (Wisconsin)
- Saraland High School (Alabama)
Throughout the site visits, attendees toured production control rooms, video board operations, and broadcasting facilities while observing how students manage real-world event productions.
Live demonstrations showcased camera operation, graphics creation, replay workflows, audio management, directing, and communication between production crew members. Participants also explored equipment integration, staffing strategies, game-day preparation, and techniques for producing engaging live broadcasts.
Perhaps most importantly, attendees were able to learn directly from fellow educators who have successfully built sustainable production programs within their own schools.
At one location, students themselves presented their experiences working in live production, sharing how participation in school broadcasting programs has helped develop confidence, teamwork, communication skills, and career aspirations.
These peer-to-peer conversations reinforced the Summit’s collaborative spirit while demonstrating the powerful educational impact of student-led production programs.
Learning Without Geographic Barriers
Recognizing that not every participant could travel to a host location, Daktronics also provided additional virtual programming covering its production technologies and integrated video systems.
This flexible hybrid approach ensured that schools across the country could benefit from the educational content regardless of travel limitations.
Following the Summit, participants also receive access to recorded presentations, allowing educators and student teams to revisit sessions throughout the school year and use the material as an ongoing training resource.
This extended access transforms the Summit from a two-day event into a year-round educational tool that continues supporting classroom instruction and student development long after the event concludes.
Strengthening High School Production Programs
Beyond teaching technical skills, the Daktronics High School Video Summit focuses on building stronger educational communities.
By connecting educators with experienced professionals and successful peer programs, the event encourages the exchange of ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches to live event production.
Students gain exposure to career opportunities in broadcasting, sports media, communications, and digital storytelling while developing practical skills that extend well beyond the production room. At the same time, educators return to their schools with new instructional strategies, production techniques, and creative ideas that enhance learning opportunities for future student crews.
The Summit also demonstrates that outstanding production programs are possible regardless of school size or available resources. Through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and student involvement, schools can create professional-quality live productions that enrich school spirit while preparing students for future careers.
Continuing to Grow
Since its launch, the Daktronics High School Video Summit has evolved into an important annual resource for educators and students involved in live event production.
Each year introduces new speakers, expanded educational content, additional networking opportunities, and fresh perspectives from professionals working throughout the sports and media industries.
As schools continue investing in video boards, broadcast systems, and digital storytelling initiatives, the Summit serves as an invaluable platform for learning, collaboration, and professional growth.
Looking Ahead
Building on the success of the 2026 event, Daktronics plans to continue expanding the High School Video Summit in the years ahead, providing even more opportunities for educators and students to learn from industry leaders and one another.
Schools interested in future Summit events can stay connected with Daktronics to receive announcements, access educational resources, view recorded sessions, and explore participation opportunities.
Through initiatives like the High School Video Summit, Daktronics remains committed to empowering educators, inspiring students, and helping schools create engaging live event experiences that prepare the next generation of production professionals.
Source link: https://www.daktronics.com