The Sports Video Group, Bexel Broadcast Services, Fox Sports, Speed, and Game Creek Video gave 23 electrical engineering and TV production majors from the University of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the University of Central Florida the opportunity for a first-hand tour of the Daytona 500 broadcast compound in the latest effort to find the next-generation of engineering talent.

Day-long tours of the Game Creek Video production trucks, Sportvision's graphics and telemetry trailer, the Daytona 500 facility, and related transmission and engineering vehicles were led by Michael Davies of Fox Sports, Ken Kerschbaumer of SVG, Kevin Callahan of Game Creek Video, and Bruce Shapiro of Speed. Bexel's Jim Richardson gave students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience with EVS replay systems and ENG camera systems so they could better understand the basics of televised sports production.

Sandi Andrews, senior program manager, career service office of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, located within a mile of the Daytona International Speedway, used the tour as an opportunity to give some of the schools students who are looking beyond aeronautical studies a chance to open a new career door. Given the university's close proximity to the NASCAR compound she expects Embry-Riddle students to work on future NASCAR events in Daytona as either runners or production assistants.

"At the top of the list of the Bexel / SVG advocacy activities is opening the eyes of engineering and broadcast students to the exciting opportunities in the sports industry," says Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG editorial director. "In the past 10 months more than 75 students and teachers have participated in these training sessions, giving sportscasters in North Carolina, New Orleans, and now northern Florida a fresh bed of talent."

During this Daytona 500 week, Fox Sports with the help of Bexel, will produce the first video interviews with leading sports broadcasting production and engineering executives "“ aimed at students looking to a career in broadcasting. "We believe that helping engineering students is a win-win for everyone: the students, the schools, the networks, and even our sponsors," adds Kerschbaumer. "Helping match up top-quality students with SVG member and sponsor companies is more important than ever."