Wayne County Public Schools recognized for 'Coaches Corner'
By From staff reports
Published in News on January 31, 2018 5:50 AM
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Wayne County Public Schools received a North Carolina School Public Relations Association Blue Ribbon Award for its high school football show "Coaches Corner." Pictured are, from left, Chris Fuller, North Carolina Public Relations Association director; Ken Derksen; Steve Smith; and Patricia Hollingsworth, North Carolina Public Relations Association vice president.
In January, Wayne County Public Schools received a North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) Blue Ribbon Award for its high school football show, "Coaches Corner."
The district's 30-minute cable/web sports talk program was launched this past fall.
Each week, the district's six varsity football coaches were given the opportunity to discuss the prior week's game as well as the upcoming game that week. The interview show was designed to highlight each high school's athletic programs, bring recognition to student athletes and their coaches, and promote upcoming games to get more fans involved.
"'Coaches Corner' host Steve Smith did a great job capturing the ups and downs of high school football, while at the same time offering viewers much more than just information about athletics," said Ken Derksen, Wayne County Public Schools communications and public relations officer. "In looking at the episode which earned this show a Blue Ribbon Award, the entire first segment centered around one team's dramatic loss and the strong character qualities which student athletes demonstrated on the field as a result."
The district received the award during a special reception held in Greensboro. NCSPRA President Todd Hagans said entries of the award winners rivaled the best work of public relations practitioners in any field.
"Blue Ribbon Awards are the highest honor in our organization and they validate the superior work done by my colleagues this year," stated Hagans. "This roster of excellence is tangible evidence that NCSPRA's public relations professionals are among the nation's finest and that they are producing cutting edge communications and products that support their schools and school systems."
WCPS was one of 38 school districts to receive a Blue Ribbon Award. Derksen states that the award could not have been made possible without the support of the high school athletic programs and Smith, who single-handedly produced, videotaped, edited and hosted each show as part of his regular duties as the district's part-time video and digital marketing specialist.
"Coaches Corner" was aired on Spectrum Cable's Channel 18 and on the district website.