GALWAY–Here in Galway, we have a lot of things to be thankful for. This is an especially good thing to think about around the holidays. We have GTV and Eagles Media Center and technologies that other schools may not have readily available to their students. But wait! There’s more!

The Eagles Media Center applied and received a grant from the Dockstader Trust. The Dockstader Charitable Trust was established to benefit the greater Galway community in accordance with the last will and testament of Clayton R. Dockstader. Clayton R. Dockstader was a 30-year resident of Galway and left behind $3.55 million that was intended to help Saratoga Hospital and other local nonprofit groups. Dockstader’s fund has helped the district with various projects over the years such as new fencing for the elementary playground and  new scoreboards. Dockstader was a truly remarkable man and was known to be very humble and caring. The Galway community is very thankful for all he has done.

This year, he has helped us out once again. The teachers involved in GTV and Eagles Media Center applied for a grant and received the funds for three iPads, two tripods, and two cases. This new equipment will be used to make commercials for GTV and will facilitate students writing articles for Eagles Media Center. The teachers involved are very excited and had a lot to say:

“The generosity of the Dockstader Trust is overwhelming. They have supported the Eagles Media Center right from the beginning,” says Mrs. Ostrander. “We are so grateful to them and the opportunities they have afforded our students.”

Mr. Mulroy was equally enthusiastic:

“I think that the iPads are a great addition.  Having them on the tripods makes filming commercials and other videos extremely simple.  Most students know how to use the iPad instantly so now anyone can film with ease.  Eventually we are going to get an app installed where we can edit the video right after taking it and have a video completed quickly.  We are very privileged at Galway. We have the technology to offer computer classes, create our own news program, and now with the iPads we have the ability to easily take video or pictures at any school activity.”

And they aren’t the only ones. These new additions will not only help out Mrs. O. with GTV and Mr. Mulroy with EMC and his marketing and business classes, but will also help out Mrs. Decker and her journalism students who work hard and are always working on articles for the website:

“I hope to get the iPads in students’ hands so they can become more efficient as far as collecting and editing footage.  Such ease will hopefully prompt students to become more ambitious when news-gathering and prepping material for broadcast and/or print publication.”

So make sure you check out the new articles and enjoy the new commercials that will be made with this new equipment. This Friday, a group of students will use the iPads to record a national bobsled and skeleton competition at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, so keep your eyes on the Eagles Media Center and GTV!