James Cunningham is a proud graduate of Crete-Monee High School, Class of 2017. He previously attended Crete-Monee Middle School, Crete-Monee Sixth Grade Center, and Balmoral Elementary School.

James grew up in the Crete area and comes from a big family, being the oldest of six children. Much of his childhood was spent in the community, especially at the local library. Some of his favorite memories at the library include spending time with friends, attending programs, and playing Pokémon with others. As he got older, he began volunteering at the Crete United Methodist Church daycare on Main Street, which gave him a real appreciation for working with children and being part of something bigger than himself.

His time at Crete-Monee helped him grow in many ways—both academically and personally. Toward the end of high school, James took more challenging AP classes, which helped him build the structure, discipline, and work habits he still relies on today.

After high school, he created short films and web series, including EX, which he started in high school, and a live-action version of Air Gear. These projects helped him land an internship at Columbia News while attending Columbia College. He later transferred to Illinois State University, where he became the lead videographer for the football team. From there, he continued to grow in production and eventually began working at Intersport, a media agency, where he worked on a variety of projects, including long-form television, red carpet premieres, short-form content, PGA Tour events, and more, alongside an outstanding team.

All of that work led to his current role at Intel Gaming as a Senior Television Producer, where he leads the creation of content for global gaming campaigns—everything from commercials and media days to large-scale live events. A major part of his role includes working on Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), one of the world’s largest esports tournaments. Earlier in his career, James also worked as a red carpet producer for the James Beard Awards, which highlight top chefs from around the world. In addition, he runs his own creative business, Ex12 Films, creating content for local businesses.

Crete-Monee Warriors Alumni & Friends asked Debrell to answer a few questions…

Did you have a favorite class? Were there any teachers or other staff members who impacted you during your time in the district?
My favorite class was Show Choir with Mr. Mohr. Freshman year, I was pretty quiet in his class since there were a lot of seniors, and I kept to myself. Mr. Mohr kept encouraging me to join the Show Choir because they needed more guys, and eventually, my best friend and I decided to go for it.

That decision completely changed my high school experience. I made a lot of great friends, went on fun trips, and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Like any high school experience, there were moments where people weren’t always kind, but there was so much more good than bad. I don’t think my experience would have been the same without that push from him.

Mrs. Hathaway also had a big impact on me in 4th grade at Balmoral Elementary. I was always a bit more on the “nerdy” side, and she consistently supported me and made me feel confident in who I was. That kind of encouragement sticks with you.

Tell us about a memorable experience from high school.
One of my favorite memories was being a mentor for the Class of 2021. Others and I helped organize a community Christmas event, and it was really special to see everyone come together to create something fun for others. Being a mentor was absolutely one of the highlights of my high school career, and I keep up with my mentees the best I can on social media.

What was your favorite part of high school? Least favorite?
My favorite part of high school was creating my web series EX. That project is honestly a big reason I’m where I am today. Many classmates helped bring it to life, and it showed me what I was capable of creatively. My least favorite part was definitely having 7th-period lunch; eating that late was tough.

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
One of my biggest professional accomplishments has been producing the red carpet for the James Beard Awards for multiple years.

What do you miss about high school?
I really miss the sense of community — being able to see your friends every day. As you get older, life gets busy, and it’s harder to stay connected in the same way.

What is your fondest memory of your time in high school?
Some of my fondest memories were actually outside the classroom — walking to work after school, and eventually driving there. I worked at the Crete United Methodist Church’s Before & After School Program, and it was incredibly rewarding. It’s surreal now seeing some of those kids grown up, some are taller than me, and are in college now.

What advice would you give to Crete-Monee High School students today?
Apply yourself and try to find what you love as early as you can. And if you don’t know yet, think about what you could grow to love.

Life isn’t always easy, and opportunities don’t just appear — a lot of my success has come from consistency and putting in the work. You don’t have to burn yourself out, but it’s important to give your best effort. You never know who’s watching or what door might open because of it.