BOARDMAN, Ohio - Monday, four students from Boardman will head to Columbus to accept a statewide award. They produced a video to showcase public schools and in the process picked up a deeper appreciation of their own.

It started out as a video project, part of a state-wide competition with the theme "Stand Up for Public Schools." Boardman's entry won first place and the $750 prize that comes with it.

"I remember getting the email and I actually kind of had to do a double take because it was kind of amazing to see. We actually got first place," said Boardman teacher and media director Chris Clones. "That's pretty incredible."

Four students put it all together, part of BSTN, Boardman's media program. The video interviewed several students, focusing on their unique experiences thanks to some of the classes and extra-curricular activities at the school.

One of the best parts about the video, they got a chance to showcase some of the cool things they get to do at school, like BSTN where they have an actual studio.

"Boardman, they have a lot more programs than most schools which some people don't know unless they go here," said senior James Valentin. "And if you do go here you don't realize that other schools don't have stuff like BSTN, Wood. Some schools don't even have a band or an orchestra."

"We have the planetarium in the science wing that's actually pretty cool," said senior Matthew Welton. "I don't know of any other school that actually has a planetarium."

But it all starts with the program these four know so well.

"BSTN is basically a fully production. We go from Friday broadcasts where the kids get to come into the studio, run everything on their own, all the way to football games. We run the jumbotron out there. Every graphic, every video," said Clones.

"Having BSTN and everything that we have in this class, I think that's all given us an opportunity to really open our eyes to see that Boardman has a lot to provide for us," said senior Megan Frye.

A lot of the equipment's been donated and now, that $750 prize will do even more to ramp up a production that is more on a college level than high school.

"To find this anywhere, you're going to have to go a long way, so we're very fortunate to have all this equipment," said sophomore Sam Holter.

Even if they don't plan on a career in TV or film, it's a program that still has a big impact.

"They're learning communication skills. They're learning a lot of those soft skills that they're going to need for any job that they go into, any career that they start. And they're learning to work as a team," said Clones.

Teamwork that's made this an award-winning program; one that stands out just as much as the students