Although touchdowns may be scored, beyond the field and within the student section, there has been a sign that has most notably made its way around the Charter crowds. Usually, the sign reads as “Kiss Cam” where students are able to capture fun memories while still being able to cheer on their school team. It wasn’t until the beginning of their sophomore year when Kassandra Smith and Sophia Ryan decided to bring to life what is now known as the “Jag Cam.”
It all started with a ‘click’ of an idea that Smith and Ryan hoped to be able to implement within Charter. “I saw another school in another state do it on social media,” Smith full heartily reveals. Although it started out as just an idea, it quickly grew to be something so much more than that. She additionally expresses that “[Since] Sophia was injured [at the time,] she couldn’t cheer, so we were like, we need something to do during the games.” Just the thought of creating signs for their friends to be able to kiss someone on the spot seemed so creative and appealing to young Smith and Ryan.
Fast forward to now their senior year, after doing this board for over three years Smith has realized that “I wanted to [start this cam] because it kind of gives you something to look forward to for [all our] home games.” There has been one goal that Smith along with her two assistants, Sophia Ryan and Elyse Temes, have hoped to accomplish over the course of their very last year at Charter. Essentially, just like anything in life, they just want their account to continue to flourish and grow more as the year progresses. These girls also love seeing new faces each time they ask for a picture, and more recently, even parents and family members want to participate as well.
For most events that students and families attend, the Jag cam will be there. “Normally [we attend] the school-sponsored events such as football games, [senior activities,] seasonal festivals, and themed school days if possible,” Temes includes. The senior also feels that this idea has lasted as long as it has because “[It] promotes school spirit and gets everyone together to take fun pictures [so they are] able to look back at [them] for years to come.”
With the help of Temes and Ryan, Smith is guaranteed to get a lot of planning and preparations done before any game or event. Each one of the ladies has their responsibilities when being at the school functions. Temes and Ryan are in charge of getting or spotting the people that they think would be good candidates for the picture, while Smith runs the Instagram and creates the boards. Additionally, “Elyse started to take pictures with her professional camera,” Smith recalls, which has elevated their feed.
As each board is made out of regular styrofoam and lots of craft materials, Smith exaggerates that “I make each board unique, so every board is unique, not one is the same, and they’re never repeated.” Similarly, Temes believes “My favorite so far has [to be] the Senior Sunrise [board].” These boards create a sense of happiness and butterflies, however, they also form deeper connections and memories with new people.
There are still countless events that Jag Cam has to cover, but the thought of this account ending soon is something that has not crossed these seniors’ minds yet. While anything can change, Smith and Temes think it would be best to “[Recruit] some underclassmen to work with us through the remainder of the year,” or “Leave it with a club who’s responsible enough to continue it and who has the time to do it.” Regardless of what happens, the Class of 2025 will always leave a legacy within Charter’s history.
