South Cook News

Brother Rice alumnus Jacob Wizgird recently produced a short film in support of the University of Missouri’s Homecoming. 

Mizzou is set for Homecoming on Oct. 21. The film is produced by Wizgird and narrated by KOMU sports director Ben Arnet. 

Wizgird, also known as “Wiz,” a South Cook County native, is a Creative Video Producer at Mizzou Athletics. He previously served as a digital media producer and completed a marketing internship at his alma mater, Brother Rice, and has worked in the community as a freelance videographer since 2021. Wizgird was also a member of Brother Rice's lacrosse team and was selected 1st Team All-Conference in 2022, his senior year at the school. He was awarded the Gold Medal for Media Communications by Brother Rice in his senior year as well. Wizgird is in his sophomore year at the University of Missouri where he serves as a creative video producer and Summer Welcome Leader.

Wizgird’s student profile notes he is a Business Administration major. 

“I got to be on the sidelines for football games. It was my first college football game ever, and I was in awe of the environment,” he recalled as one of his favorite memories at the university so far.

Wizgird previously served as the managing editor for Brother Rice’s newspaper, The Standard. Coming out of the pandemic, Brother Rice, unlike area public schools, reopened in August 2020. In a farewell column, Wizgird said at the time he made it a point to get more involved with student athletics and media production. 

“Coming out of the pandemic, I wanted to be as active as possible. Whenever BRTV had a basketball game, I made sure to sign up. I played lacrosse for the first time my junior year. I basically made my life all about sports (and academics, of course. Hi Mom.)” he said. “I realized how much I missed being around sports. They are so important to our school community and they bring everyone together in unique ways. You’ll see kids with totally different interests coming together to watch the football games on Friday nights.” 

That is when he began shooting sports and producing videos surrounding athletics. Wizgird also noted how the school had made a difference in his life. 

“I can’t forget about going to school at Brother Rice, literally. I live directly down 99th Street from Brother Rice and I have driven the same 10 minute route probably thousands of times by now,” Wizgird wrote. "Brother Rice changed me greatly. From my first semester through my 7th semester, I have improved my GPA immensely and I can credit that to the great teachers I have had. I’ve been truly blessed by what Brother Rice has to offer. It has been sad for me, knowing my time at Brother Rice will be over soon. Brother Rice has truly changed my life.” 

Wizgird said it was when he started at Brother Rice that he realized his true passion for media work and during his last few months, he has been able to get real-world experience that will help put him ahead in college.