Arlington Career Center Students Win Nationwide Video Contest

Arlington Career Center TV Production student Ethan Eccker (11th grade) and Arlington Tech students Lauren Sproles (12th grade) and Tony Madigan (12th grade) have won First Place in the NOCTI 2026 National Video Competition. Their winning 60-second video, “Fast Track to Your Future,” was selected from entries submitted across the United States and announced on the official NOCTI website.

NOCTI, the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute, is a leading U.S. organization that provides industry-standard, skill-based credentials for career and technical education (CTE) students and professionals. The 60-second video highlights how hands-on, career-focused learning can give students a head start on their future.

“This is an extremely competitive contest, so winning first place is a tremendous accomplishment,” said television and multimedia production instructor Tom O’Day. “The students invested a lot of time in research and even chose to film on their own time. Because of the snowstorm closures, they also had to finalize and submit the project independently, which makes their achievement even more impressive. I’m very proud of their initiative and dedication and they can now say that they are national champions.”

The team’s first-place prize includes $500 for the Television Production program and a pizza party for the students.

“We’re grateful for the award funding,” O’Day added. “With program budgets tighter this year, it will help support our students as they enter additional competitions.” Programs like Television Production rely on community and partner support to help students participate in national competitions and real-world learning experiences.

Student Filmmakers

• Ethan Eccker — Arlington Career Center (11th Grade)
• Lauren Sproles — Arlington Tech, Governor’s STEM Academy (12th Grade)
• Michael “Tony” Madigan — Arlington Tech, Governor’s STEM Academy (12th Grade)