Before Will Clarke ’24 even attended orientation at the University of Wisconsin, he applied for a position as a Creative Video Student working in athletics. Not surprisingly, he got the job and started off his freshman year by diving right into community life at his new school. He’s a Communication Arts major in the School of Letters and Sciences and plans to apply to the School of Journalism as well, and possibly also tack on a business certificate. As a Xaverian student, Will exhibited much the same drive. He kept a busy calendar promoting Hawk athletics, often seen running down the sidelines at games with a camera in hand. He was active with the Communications Corps and Hawk News, provided photography for Xaverian’s magazines, created social media content, and even assisted with video projects for the Xaverian Gala. That’s on top of his activities in campus ministry and of course, his academics, which included seven AP courses and a full slate of honors classes. We recently checked in with Will to learn more about his love for video and photography, and to see how he’s using his gifts and talents now that he’s a Wisconsin Badger.

How did you get into video and photography?
I began taking photos in the fall of 2021 for one of my friend’s club basketball teams. My mother always had an interest in photography, so I had access to some of her equipment. I had the idea of pursuing photography, especially of sports, for years prior but never would’ve expected it to evolve into what it has become in my life now.

What opportunities did you leverage here at Xaverian to grow and learn?
Pairing my freelance business alongside working internally with the school offered me a great range of opportunities, from shooting photos for the state championship football team at Gillette Stadium to helping to create promotional videos for prospective students. Communications Corps and Hawk News were crucial to developing as a storyteller, creating meaning behind my photography and videography skills.

What was the most important takeaway from your Xaverian education?
My most important takeaway from my Xaverian education was collaborating with others. I don’t necessarily mean working with other students, rather communicating with faculty to fully grasp content, gathering their advice for how to succeed in a specific class, and hearing their stories to prepare myself for what’s to come in the future. The true bonds that exist between staff and students goes a long way in developing boys into prepared and responsible men.

How did you hear about the student video job at Wisconsin?
I knew that I wanted to continue this passion of mine in college and I was guided in the right direction through a social media connection. I reached out to a student who already had the role and he directed me to who I needed to talk to and how I should apply. There are only about 12 active student videographers and a few new freshmen were hired this fall.

What’s the work like?
This fall, I have been eased into the workload, shadowing experienced students to learn what is expected of me. I have, however, had the privilege to film volleyball, hockey, basketball, and football games already! With many of the juniors who cover men’s basketball going abroad in the spring, it is likely that I will take a large role in creating content for the team. A typical game looks like working with a team to get a variety of different angles, promptly labeling clips for efficient editing, and putting together highlights and reels for social media.

What do you miss most about Xaverian?
I miss the camaraderie that existed between everyone in the Xaverian community. Whether it was the day of a big hockey game or just saying hi to a buddy in the halls, I could always feel the communal energy. That’s what drove me to involve myself in all that Xaverian had to offer.

What would you tell current and future Xaverian students regarding taking advantage of the opportunities available to them?
For students interested in sports media, I recommend taking advantage of all the related clubs that Xaverian has to offer and get out and shoot as much as you possibly can. More generally for all students, you won’t regret trying out something new. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you, but at least you’ll know that you tried.