Waukee CSD Students Involved in Congressional Debate
On Oct. 8, Waukee Northwest High School hosted a KCCI debate featuring Iowa’s 3rd District congressional candidates: Republican Zach Nunn and Democrat Lanon Baccam. Though the event was closed to the public, Waukee Community School District students had a front-row seat to the political action.
Behind the Scenes
Waukee High School (WHS) students Luca Jenkin and Xavier Lago and Northwest High School (NWHS) students Miles Norton and Andersen Ross got hands-on experience in event production, assisting KCCI staff behind the scenes. The students, who are all involved in high school theater or video production, were selected by their teachers for the opportunity.
Arriving seven hours before the event began, the students helped with setup, running cables, adjusting lighting, and participating in rehearsals. During the live broadcast, they operated cameras and served as backstage runners.
“The KCCI team was really helpful in teaching me,” Xavier said. “I’ve been thinking of going into broadcast journalism and was on the fence, but after today I know for sure — I want to do this every day.”
“It was a surreal experience getting to be on the other side,” Andersen added.
Democracy Up Close
While the auditorium did not have a live audience, 20 high school seniors currently studying U.S. Government were invited to watch the debate. Prior to the event, KCCI staff provided them with an insider’s tour of the staging area, control room, and debate stage.
Hearing from the moderators, news directors, and fact-checkers, the students learned about the debate preparation process, the challenges of managing public disinformation, and the regulations around political advertising.
KCCI President and General Manager Brian Sather explained to students the importance of bringing political forums to their audience.
“I love the fact that you are all here and get a bird’s eye view,” he said to the group. “This is a meaningful night for us, we’ve invested a ton of hours and energy into this. What you guys get to be part of — this is what it means to be a licensed broadcaster and journalist.”
Student Voices
Chief Political Reporter Amanda Rooker and anchor Jodi Long moderated the debate, which was broadcast live on KCCI. After opening statements, Rep. Nunn and Baccam discussed topics such as abortion, inflation, immigration, the Farm Bill, and school safety.
During the event, two Waukee CSD students went on stage to ask the candidates questions on behalf of their respective student bodies.
WHS Student Council President Alexis Moore explained that when writing effective arguments, students are taught to address opposing viewpoints. She asked, “When considering your opponent’s perspective, in which aspects do you agree with them?”
Citing low voter turnout among young people, NWHS Student Council member Anisha Choudhary asked, “How do you plan to increase youth participation in civic activities?”
Anisha said she was excited to personally engage with the candidates about this important topic. “I feel like people don’t really know about opportunities to get involved. So I wanted to know how the candidates plan to increase participation, encourage voter registration, and make sure young people actually show up to vote,” she said.
Reporting Live
Additionally, students from the high school publications teams — Charlotte Blakley and Tanner Lehtinen from WHS and Krista Giltner from NWHS — were on hand to take photos and document the event. After the debate, they asked the candidates questions alongside local media reporters.
Tanner explained that watching the debate live is a different experience than watching it on TV. “Usually you’re on the outside looking in. But being in-person gives you a unique perspective and reminds you that they’re human too.”
Krista agreed. “It’s easier to judge things on TV. This experience helped in my reporting, showing me how to include everyone’s opinions and write unbiased.”
An Evening to Remember
All the Waukee CSD students gathered onstage after the event for a final opportunity to engage with the moderators and candidates. For NWHS senior Haylie Zinkula, the debate was relevant to her current classroom studies on government and the election.
“I’ve always been interested in politics, but I’ve never been to a debate before. It was cool to actually hear from the candidates and not just read about it online,” Haylie explained.
Alexis agreed it was a great experience. “I learned a lot — it was a great opportunity to become informed and learn about the candidates’ viewpoints. I feel very grateful to be here.”
