by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 16/98) - St. Patrick high school students are about to hit the big time.

A new partnership between the school and Northwestel Cable called Video Links allows students to create their own television programming and learn the basics of the business.

Last night, St. Pat's students held a talent show called Artery -- Kwalitee Expose, parts of which will be inserted in a community television program, "SPHS Live," to be aired on Cable Access Television, Channel 17, later this year.

"Just looking at this is amazing," said Owen Chan, one of the student organizers at a dry run of the talent show Wednesday night while technical crews began to set up their equipment.

"To write it on paper is one thing and to see it actually working, it is totally different."

Chan, who is also one of the talent show's emcees, along with fellow student Jessica Simpson, said Video Links will allow students to produce a variety show with a format similar to that of Saturday Night Live or Mad TV.

"The partnership centres around joining our communications technology curriculum with NorthwesTel Cable's television production department," said Kern VonHagen, principal at St. Pat's.

"However, the students plan the productions, including concept development, story-boarding, writing, recording, directing, acting, editing and producing, so the benefits of this partnership reach into all facets of our curriculum."

Cathie Bolstad, customer service manager for NorthwesTel Cable, said they are excited about the partnership and what it means to community access television.

"This project involves youth in the community, expands the base of qualified volunteers for community television programming and ultimately this means we can feature more of our community and our youth on television in Yellowknife," she said.

Video Links will continue to do other programming with St. Pat's students at the school in addition to the SPHS Live program.

Students have to come up with a format for coverage of the Arctic Winter Games, including a mix of live sports action, commentary, interviews, athlete features and profiles and sports news.

Following the games, in June, students will produce a graduation project with such content as grad profiles, interviews, live action of grads, actual ceremonies, dance and dry grad.