BY RACHAEL GRAY

rgray@gctelegram.com

It was the first night for some to see the inside of the new Garden City High School facility.

And the students in the Arts and Communications Academy made sure it was memorable.

From glitzy and glamorous hand-made dresses, to tasty desserts and eye-catching art, the students showcased the talents and skills they have been perfecting during the first semester in the new facility.

Monday night marked the first broadcast for BBS-TV in the new building. The station had been offline for more than two weeks leading up to the launch.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday, the station went back on the air, with broadcasts from the new facility.

Shelby McNutt, broadcasting instructor, previously had been running the taped newscasts to the old high school building, Horace Good Middle School. He would then broadcast the show from there, where equipment was still set up.

"I was making about three trips daily. I was tired of driving," he said.

The students appreciate being able to do everything in-house, too.

Junior Molly Petersen, 16, co-anchored a broadcast Monday.

"I like the new studio a lot better. I can see and hear what is going on," she said.

Petersen has been in broadcasting for two years. It's been enjoyable, and the new studio makes it even better, she said.

"I just wanted to do something different and be involved in something other than sports — something out of the ordinary," she said.

Junior Tara Butler, 16, helped edit Monday's broadcast.

"It helps me a lot, having the new equipment and the studio right there. I like being able to see and hear people in the control room. Plus, it's a lot bigger here," she said.

The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting Monday night to mark the event.

Gwen Tietgen, chamber ambassador, presented McNutt and the students with a plaque after the ribbon was cut.

Several school officials were on hand for the event.

James Mireles, GCHS principal, said the students and staff have put in a lot of work.

"It's been a lot of work, planning and organization. This has been a long time coming, and it's finally here," he said.

Mireles said the technology and potential at GCHS is unmatched.

"There's probably not another high school TV station in the state with this technology, equipment, room and facility," he said.

Monday night's showcase featured a performance by the orchestra; forensic performances; a performance by Scott Glass, who sang The Element Song with students; a fashion show, a performance by the modern show choir and a jazz band concert for the finale.

In addition to the performances, the event showcased art and photography from students, a pottery wheel demonstration, a display from the Sugar Beet, which is the GCHS newspaper, and food sampling from the culinary arts students.