BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo, from left: Daniel Farris, PHS Principal; Austin Lucas – New broadcast media class teacher; Grace Rupinen – Senior in the program; Senator Clyde Chambliss; and Stacy Mills.
Over the years, Stacy Mills of Prattville has worked with what he had in order to help broadcast Prattville High School sports and promote broadcasting education to young minds wanting to learn a new skill. In fact, for the past 15 years he has run the broadcast for 190 consecutive football games, not missing a single one in all that time.
It isn’t about the money. In fact, much of the equipment he uses, he purchased on his own. When times were tough trying to use old equipment, he would resort to whatever measures he had available to keep it running. “I would use duct tape and chicken wire if I had to,” Mills said with a laugh.
However, Senator Clyde Chambliss has presented a $20,000 check to help fund the broadcasting program and Media class at Prattville High School.
Mills is over the moon with excitement about what this could mean for the expansion of the broadcasting program at the high school.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what Senator Clyde Chambliss has done for the Broadcast Media program I helped get started at Prattville High School seven years ago,” Mills said. Thursday at the ACBOE meeting Sen. Chambliss presented Prattville High School with a check for $20,000 to support the class. A new teacher for the class, Austin Lucas, started at the first of the school year and is about to take the program in an exciting new direction. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the class. I’m also looking forward to teaching a class myself once a week down the road featuring guest speakers from various fields of broadcasting. It is an exciting time.”
It has been 15 years since Mills first dipped his toes into the broadcasting waters. He had no formal training, and is mostly self-taught. But he is passionate about sharing information, and teaching others a new skill.
Each year Mills said there would be a handful of students who would volunteer to help with the broadcasts. “I supplied the equipment, and we would just do what we could.”
One of those students was present for the check presentation Thursday. Grace Rupinen is a senior at PHS and Mills said, “She has been my four-year starter in the program. She has been a big part of holding the program together for the past four years. And she is a pretty dang good archer on the archery team.”
The Broadcasting/Media Class at PHS is gaining attention, new participants, new energy and Mills is pretty excited about the future.
“Prattville’s Principal Daniel Farris is absolutely behind this, as well as Superintendent Tim Tidmore,” Mills said. “With this money, and the enthusiasm of those involved, something that started small has the potential to grow into something so much bigger.”
Mills spoke of the broadcasting program at Central Phenix City where around 120 students compete to see which ones will do the broadcasting for games. He wants to see that kind of enthusiasm come to Prattville High School.
He also said that it is possible that this can be expanded in not just PHS, but the Autauga County Technology Center as well. There have also been discussions with Central Alabama Community College about future programs. “The potential is unlimited as to where this could go,” Mills said.
Mills’ family history in Autauga goes back for generations. He loves the community, sharing positive information about the schools and the community, and is the administrator for Prattville Alive, a popular Facebook page.
“Not long ago I had the chance to tour the East Memorial Command Center with Will Reeder where they handle the broadcasting for church services. It is amazing, and definitely gave me some ideas,” Mills said.
He praised Seth Carpenter, who first started working with Mills on PHS football broadcasts. Seth went on to school at Troy University to further his studies, and today is a cameraman for WSFA.
Mills is a busy man, with a lot on his plate. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. Aside from helping with broadcasting for PHS sports, and Prattville Alive he is also the producer for the radio broadcast for the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
But his love of broadcasting today goes back years when he talked with Doug Amos and Chip Powell about broadcasting Prattville football games.
“I knew nothing about radio,” Mills said. “Whenever Doug was absent doing his other job as Faulkner’s SID, I went up to the booth and ran Doug’s equipment that I taught myself how to use. That’s how I really got started in all this craziness. Because I had a background in computers, I just worked to figure it out. Eventually we began livestreaming the football games and it has just gone from there.”
Mills was one of the first people to video live stream high school sports in the state.
Then about five years ago he met with Mike Reynolds with Dixie Country Radio and the two began working together. Within a year he was hired at the radio station. There are plans in that arena as well to begin using students to create and produce radio shows.
Mills also partners with the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce for weekly or bi-weekly shows featuring Chamber members and promoting local businesses. Currently he is working to help the Autauga County Historical Society transfer old VHS tapes to digital.
So, he is a little busy. But he is passionate about supporting/mentoring students in any way possible.
“This funding is a shot in the arm, and hopefully just the beginning of something really great. It could be something that helps students find their path,” Mills said.
Looking back Mills said he is amazed at all that has gone into the effort on a shoestring budget, and a lot of great people who have stepped up to volunteer over the years.
“Nothing has been easy, and there were some really big frustrations along with the way. A lot of growing pains,” Mills said. “But now a plan is coming together, and I am waiting to see what can come out of this now.”
