Jackson Middle School eighth-grader Gabe Floyd, along with fellow After School Makers Club members Gabe Floyd, Judah Moore and Jonas Shahan introduces the group’s three-minute video they designed and produced highlighting manufacturing at Mister Bee Potato Chips Co. for a state competition. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

VIENNA — Students from the After School Makers Club at Jackson Middle School held a video premiere event Thursday to showcase their entry for a state manufacturing competition the group has entered with Mr. Bee Potato Chip Co.

“We could not be more proud of them,” Club Coordinator Cherish George said.

The club, consisting of eighth-graders Gabe Floyd and James D’Eramo and seventh-graders Jonas Shahan, Judah Moore and Kairi Matterson, meets weekly and has had success in the past, winning first place in their first year for an “innovative design.”

This year, George said the group of students faced some challenges in creating the video, as they had to adhere to strict criteria set by the competition, including a three-minute time limit and a required number of interviews.

“We took all the raw material, we saw how much time we had, just three minutes, and we just pieced it together to convey the best information,” D’Eramo said.

Jackson Middle School students designed a three-minute video highlighting manufacturing at Mister Bee Potato Chips Co. for a state competition the After School Makers Club entered. From left: Mr. Bee, Vienna Mayor Chad Emrick, Jonas Shahan, Judah Moore, Kairi Matterson, Gabe Floyd, James D’Eramo, Cherish George and the Mothman. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Despite the constraints, Floyd said the team was able to focus on showcasing the manufacturing process and incorporating interviews with staff members.

“We tried really hard to focus on the manufacturing process. So in this video, you’re going to see a lot about how these chips were made and what goes into them,” Floyd said. “We had a couple interviews, so you’ll also see what the staff members think about it.”

The group said they worked collaboratively to determine roles and responsibilities, with some focusing on filming, editing, and green screen setup, while others conducted interviews and took notes.

“Gabe (Floyd) and James (D’Eramo) are our morning announcement gurus, and when they’re on the announcements, as you can tell on the camera, they’re very confident, and they’re very poised, and they make it exciting and fun,” George said.

Vienna Mayor Chad Emrick attended the premiere and said he was so impressed with the students’ work that he extended an invitation for them to present the video at an upcoming Vienna City Council meeting.

People gathered in Cherish George’s classroom at Jackson Middle School Thursday to watch a three-minute video the After School Makers Club designed and produced highlighting manufacturing at Mister Bee Potato Chips Co. for a state competition. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“I would like to extend the opportunity for this group to come to city council and present their video, talk a little bit about it and the importance of manufacturing in our communities,” Emrick said.

The video has been entered into the regional competition, with the group hoping to win awards for best marketing/manufacturing message and the People’s Choice Award.

“I’ve seen three years of this now, you have gotten better,” Jackson Middle School Principal Jeffery Kisner said. “I personally believe this is the best video made. I think we’re going to be represented very well in our region.”

The video created by the group can be viewed at here.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com