Student creativity applauded at Teen Video Awards
Advertiser Staff
The Hawaii Medical Service Association's first Teen Video Awards Contest winners have been announced, and winning videos are airing on Hawai'i TV stations and on HMSA's Web site.
Taking top honors:
• Best Anti-Drug PSA: "No Means No in Any Language" by St. Louis High School students Jhony Guzman Jr., Steven Yun, Nainoa Campbell, Isaiah Dela Pena, Camille Makita-Simon, Fale Laeli and Keao Monteilh. Teacher: Gordon Horiuchi.
• Best Anti-Underage Drinking PSA: "Photo Album" by Wai'anae High School students John Munoz, Sonny Dudoit and Nick Smith. Teacher: Candy Suiso.
• Best Anti-Smoking PSA: "Cigarettes Burn Your Life Away" by Kawananakoa Middle School students Michael Blickos, Jani Mishima, Nina Hung, Karmen Ferreira, and Tyrus Lum. Teacher: Charleen Ego.
• Best of Show: "Don't Smoke" by Roosevelt High School student Roberto Angel. Teacher: Steven Mun-Takata.
The winning PSAs will all be aired on local TV stations in May and June.
Special recognition was also given to:
• Most Comical PSA: "The Effects of Drugs" by Waimea High School, Kaua'i, students Tori Kagawa and Teddy Escobar. Teacher: Joyce Evens.
• Most Dramatic PSA: "Children of a Drug User" by Kamakahelei Middle School, Kaua'i, student Tessie Lumabao. Teacher: Kevin Matsunaga.
• Most Impactful PSA: "Alcohol Effects" by Radford High School student Amber Wilkinson. Teacher: Wayne Guevara.
• Best Computer Graphics/Animation PSA: "Fishing Life" by Mililani High School student Andrew Kerekes. Teacher: Shelly Bishop.
• Best Neighbor Island PSA: "Choices" by Kamakahelei Middle School, Kaua'i, student Amber Bail. Teacher: Kevin Matsunaga.
• Best Middle School PSA: 1st place, "Choices" by Kamakahelei Middle School; 2nd place, "Just Quit" by Highlands Intermediate School students James Pirtle, Ariel Rivera, Gianina Revilla and Rikki Rutt.
The contest challenged students to come up with creative PSAs to help address the problems of drugs, underage drinking and smoking among Hawai'i's youth.
The competition kicked off in February, which was Drug-Free Hawaii Awareness Month. The awards ceremony was May 6.
HMSA, the Hawaii Department of Education, Sassy/G magazine and Mothers Against Drunk Driving created the program in response to the growing substance- abuse problem in the state.
To view the top four winning PSAs, go to HMSA's Web site at www.hmsa.com.
