September 21, 2009
VISTA: Students' video nets high-tech prizes
A Veteran's Day news report created by students at a Vista school has earned two awards in a national video contest and netted the campus a package of electronic goodies, including a plasma television and new video equipment.
The students in the "Bulldog News" class at the Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts filmed the two-minute clip in November to mark Veteran's Day.
The clip was entered in the Kids Witness News Contest sponsored by electronics company Panasonic. The students' video won in two separate categories ---- one for highlighting a local hero and another for sound ---- and the prizes were recently delivered to the campus.
"It feels good to know that they're recognizing us for what we've done," said Hernan Delgado, one of the students who put together the video.
The report featured an interview with Peg Trout, a teacher at the school and veteran who recently wrote a book about women who served during World War II.
"It was just such an interesting topic that we had a hero so close to home," said eighth-grader Hayden Royster, who worked on the video.
Trout said she didn't realize that the interview was going to be part of a national contest. She said she was thrilled to be able to share stories about veterans.
There are 17 middle school students in Beth Duncan's journalism class at the eastern Vista campus. About 10 of them worked on the video last year.
Students from 10 schools across the country won awards as part of the annual contest. More than 200 school participated.
Though they've entered the contest each of the last 14 years, this is the first time students at the school won anything.
"It shows them that hard work pays off," Duncan said. "Winning isn't what it's all about, but gosh, it's fun."
The prize package they received last week included a plasma television, Blu-ray disc player, two cameras, a trophy and a banner to hang in front of the school.
The timing was perfect, Duncan said, as recent spending cuts have made it increasingly difficult to get arts or electronic equipment at schools.
With the new equipment, the students will be able to produce even better looking news reports, said Tanner Waite, who interviewed Trout on the winning video.
"It's going to help us immensely," he said.
The students produce a 10 minute news report every two weeks that is broadcast throughout the school.
"Our goal this year is to inform our campus and change our community," Duncan said.
Call N.C. Times staff writer Stacy Brandt at 760-901-4009.
return to www.vistata.org
A Veteran's Day news report created by students at a Vista school has earned two awards in a national video contest and netted the campus a package of electronic goodies, including a plasma television and new video equipment.
The students in the "Bulldog News" class at the Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts filmed the two-minute clip in November to mark Veteran's Day.
The clip was entered in the Kids Witness News Contest sponsored by electronics company Panasonic. The students' video won in two separate categories ---- one for highlighting a local hero and another for sound ---- and the prizes were recently delivered to the campus.
"It feels good to know that they're recognizing us for what we've done," said Hernan Delgado, one of the students who put together the video.
The report featured an interview with Peg Trout, a teacher at the school and veteran who recently wrote a book about women who served during World War II.
"It was just such an interesting topic that we had a hero so close to home," said eighth-grader Hayden Royster, who worked on the video.
Trout said she didn't realize that the interview was going to be part of a national contest. She said she was thrilled to be able to share stories about veterans.
There are 17 middle school students in Beth Duncan's journalism class at the eastern Vista campus. About 10 of them worked on the video last year.
Students from 10 schools across the country won awards as part of the annual contest. More than 200 school participated.
Though they've entered the contest each of the last 14 years, this is the first time students at the school won anything.
"It shows them that hard work pays off," Duncan said. "Winning isn't what it's all about, but gosh, it's fun."
The prize package they received last week included a plasma television, Blu-ray disc player, two cameras, a trophy and a banner to hang in front of the school.
The timing was perfect, Duncan said, as recent spending cuts have made it increasingly difficult to get arts or electronic equipment at schools.
With the new equipment, the students will be able to produce even better looking news reports, said Tanner Waite, who interviewed Trout on the winning video.
"It's going to help us immensely," he said.
The students produce a 10 minute news report every two weeks that is broadcast throughout the school.
"Our goal this year is to inform our campus and change our community," Duncan said.
Call N.C. Times staff writer Stacy Brandt at 760-901-4009.
return to www.vistata.org