Videos Projects that Help

Blending a passion with a service project became a reality for University View Academy Junior Josiah Sketoe of Schriever.  He belongs to the Houma-Thibodaux Area Homeschool Key Club and to be in good standing; members have to do a service-oriented project each month to build leadership skills. So, Josiah and his 14 fellow club members decided making awareness videos would fulfill the requirement.  It just so happens he wants to study film and photography when he enters college.

Josiah Sketoe (left) with club members Shaye Lirette and Justin Keel standing on an outside staircase

This is Josiah’s first year with University View Academy, having spent his elementary years in traditional brick and mortar schools and homeschool.  He says he likes the flexibility University View Academy offers, “not so much time in class” and removes the bullying factor found in many schools. His younger brother Justus also attends UVA along with Kristen LeBouef and both are members of the Key Club and have starred in some of the videos.   

 Josiah says the first video “…was okay, mediocre…” but there’s been a lot of progress and the latest one the club is working on “will be good.”  It has a medical theme like many of the previous ones, looking at chronic and rare diseases. It’s a pretty formidable topic for a group of young people, but not out-of-the-ordinary.  Some of the club’s other videos have profiled dental health and the effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, the obstruction of lung airflow. It’s a condition Josiah’s grandmother has.  

It sounds like the group would need an entire professional production facility to produce the videos.  But the projects are shot with an iPhone and edited with an easily downloadable program. Take a look at their video called “Germs on the Hands.”  Here’s the link for download.

In the “Germs” video, shot at the Bayou Children’s museum, Josiah wears a protective suit, the one without the hat.  Other members of the cast are Justin Keel, Shaye Lirette, and Justus Sketoe. Even mom, Barbara Sketoe, and club advisor Gina Gonzalez have roles.  Sophia Gonzalez, Gina’s daughter, was the Director and Videographer. Josiah says shooting the videos is “a lot of fun”, especially the acting and trying to stay in character.

The unique service project has drawn praise, earning “Club of the Year” honors from the Bayou Area District of Key Clubs. Some of the other clubs in that district are from high schools which have larger budgets and memberships. The Homeschool Key Club has fewer resources and does smaller fundraisers in order to compete.  The club meets at the library in Gray every two-weeks and anyone who wants to join is encouraged to contact the club through the Houma/Thibodaux Homeschool Key Club Facebook page.

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