Mundelein broadcast team riding in style

Mundelein High School's broadcast team once rolled in an old conversion van that was too small for all the equipment and personnel needed for assignments.

Fast forward to today as the team rides in style in a truck that rivals what the professionals use.

The broadcast team has been a staple at high school events for six years, and several students spent countless hours this past summer revamping the truck to make it their own.

"It's a pretty unique thing that the high school has this truck," broadcast team adviser and teacher Kent Meister said. "It's the only one I know of (in the area)."

Meister said the former carpentry truck was purchased for $500 from a Mundelein High School alum this past summer. The broadcast team raised money for the truck by creating and selling DVDs of the events they covered.

The team consists of about 40 students, all of whom are taught to use the video equipment in the truck, he said.

"(The team) draws kids who love computers and technology and kids who love sports," Meister said.

Senior Cayleigh Holland, a broadcast team member and director since her freshman year, said she spent most of her summer getting the truck ready to begin operating this school year. Her father works for a vinyl company and provided the van with its "bright red vinyl," Holland said.

In the old conversion van, only three students could fit, she said, but the new truck sits eight.

Holland, who wants to be a cinematographer someday, said she thinks her experience on the broadcast team will help get her into the film department at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale next fall.

"Hopefully, this experience will give me a better experience in the future," Holland said. "I just have a passion for this. I have been into TV production and filming since the fifth grade."

Mundelein High School Principal Lauren Fagel said the truck provides the team with real-life exposure to broadcast equipment.

"I think it is a great addition to an already great broadcast team," Fagel said. "It definitely ties to the classroom experience."

The students cover a variety of school events from the homecoming dance to basketball games and chess tournaments, Fagel said. The team shoots video that is used on daily campus morning news broadcasts.

Meister said the students cover 30 to 40 events a year and the truck will provide more opportunities to add events and more students to cover those events.