Eating healthy, anti-bullying, diversity, exercise and safety were a few of the topics high school students from across the state chose to share messages about making great choices.
Students from across the state took home $21,000 worth of prizes for their 30-second public service announcements filmed to share a positive message in the sixth annual Meijer Great Choices Student Film Festival.
The 60 trophy winners and 18 award winners, selected from 280 entries, were invited to the festival recently at Celebration Cinema North.
The students submitted films promoting positive choices in the areas of Character Education, Healthy Lifestyles, and/or Celebrating Diversity. There are two different audiences that the A/V students targeted in their PSAs: Kindergarten through 6th, or 7th through 12th grades.
Local winners from Kent ISD included students from Byron Center Public Schools and Forest Hills Public Schools.
Actor Steven Ford, son of U.S. President GeraldR. Ford and native of East Grand Rapids, delivered a keynote speech at the event, saying it was perseverance that led him to success in his career. He has had roles in the soap opera “The Young and the Restless and movies including “When Harry Met Sally,” “Contact,” “Black Hawk Down.”
He told the young filmmakers he loves their craft and “so many creative little 30-second spots.”
“Storytelling is just a wonderful thing. It helps people re-think their lives,” he said.
The Meijer Great Choices Film Festival was designed for Michigan high school student filmmakers to exhibit their creative talent in audio/visual communications and to share their messages with K-12 schools throughout Michigan.
The festival was developed by staff at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, in partnership with Meijer Inc., the Meijer Family Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Chemical Bank, and Celebration Cinema North.
The 18 first-, second- and third-place winners received prizes of $2,000, $1,000, or $500 in the form of a gift card to Apple or Meijer. DVDs with the PSA’s will be sent to all schools in the state for their use.
|
Student Name |
School |
Video Name |
Video Category |
Place |
|
Aspen Comar, senior |
Byron Center |
Share the Flame |
K-6 Building Character |
First |
|
|
|
No More Princes for me |
K-6 Celebrating Diversity |
Third |
|
Jessica Hofman, junior |
Byron Center |
The Lone Wolf |
K-6 Celebrating Diversity |
First |
|
Erik Lauchie, junior |
Forest Hills Northern |
Beautiful |
7-12 Celebrating Diversity |
First |
|
Dylan Malberg, junior |
Forest Hills Northern |
Consequences |
7-12 Healthy Lifestyles |
First |
|
|
|
A Child Lasts a Lifetime |
7-12 Healthy Lifestyles |
Second |
|
Max McCaffrey, senior |
Forest Hills Eastern |
Be a Friend Today |
K-6 Building Character |
Third |
|
Jordan Sperlik, senior |
Byron Center |
You’re You |
K-6 Celebrating Diversity |
Second |
|
Zachary Zawacki, Senior |
Byron Center |
Healthy Food Choices |
K-6 Healthy Lifestyle |
Third |
CONNECT
Visit the Meijer Great Choices website by clicking here
