In the months of March and April, students with a passion for photography and cinematography have worked to create highlight videos showcasing individuals or groups with disabilities at Windsor High School who are breaking stereotypical barriers. These contestants are making short highlight reels with hopes to win over the hearts of the contest judges and the public.
“Everybody’s (scrolling through reels). It’s what’s catching our attention in today’s society, so … that stuff is infiltrated into what we’re actually watching and looking at,” Lori Couch said. Couch is the director of development for the Arc of Northeast Colorado, an organization that protects the rights of individuals living with intellectual disabilities. The Reel Impact Showcase is being put on by the Arc. Couch is also the head coach of the WHS Unified Basketball team.
Kinley Thorne (10) and Bentley Weaver (10) worked together to submit an entry. The pair decided to focus their video on the WHS Unified Basketball team. The Unified Wizards were the Colorado state champions in 2023, the first in the program’s history.
“I went to the Unified City Showcase … I knew it was going to be a super fun time, and make a super great highlight video … me and my group edited the photos (we took) and made them into a highlight video,” Thorne said. Thorne entered the Reel Impact Showcase after hearing about it in her Introduction to Journalism class.
“The City Showcase was easily one of the most fun games of the whole season,” Torin Schleiger (12) said. This was Schleiger’s third year participating in the sport.
Videos submitted in the competition are judged on content, impact, quality and how well they hold audience attention.
All of the videos submitted to the Reel Impact Showcase had a central theme of inclusion and empowerment for individuals with disabilities in the school and community.
“(Inclusion) comes down to having a sense of belonging and value within your environment … it’s more than just having a seat at the table — it means that you have a voice at the table, and when you’re not at the table, people miss you,” Couch said. Couch was part of the team that first brought unified sports to WHS.
The top three finishers earn $300, $200 and $100 in cash, respectively. The top three selected reels will be showcased in advisory on April 25. Interested students can submit a video here.
