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Teacher: Hogue an example of a hard worker

The Jonesboro Sun - 4/23/2018

JONESBORO Rees Hogue loves to edit videos for his friends, teachers and online customers, and his cerebral palsy has never slowed him down.

Hogue started editing videos when he was 12 years old as a hobby. Now, as a senior at Valley View High School, people will come up to him with a flash drive and ask that he edit their videos for them.

"I like it because it's like putting all the pieces of a puzzle together," Hogue said. "You have to arrange the photos around."

Hogue has currently been tasked with a video at Valley View showcasing the seniors. This will be Hogue's second senior slideshow, and he usually puts together highlight reels from sporting events and his own creative projects.

Hogue has also been an active member of the EAST program at Valley View High School for four years, said Lee Ann Graddy, the program's facilitator.

"He enjoys video work, and he is our go-to person in EAST for that," Graddy said. "He is a great resource for other students, and it is powerful to see him interact with the other students and for them to appreciate the skills he has."

Hogue has been an example of perseverance to the other students in the EAST program, Graddy said.

"I think his work ethic and his drive are particularly inspiring, and he is always willing to research and find a solution when he does not have a solution," Graddy said. "Sometimes people will bring some videos in a different format, and while he does not always find the solutions immediately, he will take it home and come back in the next day with a thumbs-up. He's a problem-solver, and we have learned as much from him as he has from us."

Hogue will graduate from Valley View on May 5, and he earned an academic excellence scholarship to study computer engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship at Mississippi State University.

While he will study computer engineering in the fall, Hogue said he still plans on continuing videography as a hobby and maintaining his website, reeshogue.com. Hogue uses the website to connect with customers who would like their footage edited, and he has a blog containing updates for the website and personal content.

"It's neat, all the doors that have been opened because he is willing to work hard and the friendships he has created through the projects," Graddy said. "I'm excited to see what he does on his next adventure."