Santa Margarita High School creates a professional-level, student-run experience.

Santa Margarita Catholic High School, in Orange County, California, transformed its historic gym into a modern and immersive venue thanks to Daktronics digital signage. The renovation enhances athletic and school events while empowering students to lead media production, giving them real-world experience in a professional-grade environment.

This school is recognized for its academic, athletic, and student life excellence. With 1,800 students and a gym dating back to 1987, the school saw the opportunity to modernize its space to enrich the student experience.

The result? A fully renovated gym featuring a Daktronics curved display that brings professional-level production to a school environment. From basketball and volleyball games to school masses, dances, rallies, and guest speakers, the display has become a centerpiece of campus life.

A vision of immersion and impact

“We wanted something immersive”, said Sammer Darwazeh, Assistant Principal of Campus Life. “Whether you’re a student-athlete, a coach, or a fan, you feel like you’re in the middle of the action”.

Installing a curved display was a bold decision, especially for a school gym without the infrastructure of a professional arena.

We didn’t have rafters or the luxury of large-venue wiring. However, Daktronics supported us at every stage: from design to installation to post-launch training, explained Darwazeh.

Student-run and student-led

Santa Margarita’s digital display technology is entirely student-operated. They manage the displays, create content, and run game-day entertainment.

Brenten Kelly, Assistant Director of Activities, emphasized the educational value: “We strive to be as professional as possible in everything we do, and that’s exactly what we teach our students”.

Students are enthusiastic about their roles. Here’s what they had to say:

• “At rallies, I run the lights and screens. I love sports, and this is a great way to get into the production side” — Connor Matthews, Sophomore.

• “I’m Game Day Entertainment Commissioner. We plan the games, design graphics, and coordinate the show. It’s amazing to see everything come together on screen” — Charlie Drymalski, Junior.

• “Sports are huge here, but the tech side is just as exciting. I work on starting lineup graphics and football games, and it really feels like working with a professional team” — Talon Clark, Junior.

FrameWrx software makes it easy

The school uses Daktronics FrameWrx software to streamline content creation and approval.

My students share their designs and I give feedback instantly. The process is simple and ensures everything stays true to the school’s colors and identity, explained Kelly.

Students also highlighted the software’s ease of use. “I came from using Premiere Pro and After Effects”, said Clark. “FrameWrx was much easier to learn. Even students with no prior video experience were able to start creating right away”. Drymalski agrees: “Daktronics programs are very easy to use, especially for beginners. They’re not complicated, but they still make you feel like you’re working on something important”.

Professional-grade support and service

Darwazeh noted that Daktronics’ service was a key factor. “It wasn’t just another sale. They were invested in making this project successful. Even after installation, they sent trainers to make sure we were operating properly”.

The impact is already evident: event setup times have been significantly reduced, advertisers appreciate seeing their content on screen, and students are gaining hands-on experience that will serve them well beyond graduation.

This isn’t just a transaction, it’s an experience—and our students are the ones who benefit most.