RIPLEY, Ohio | An international contest to promote safe use of the Internet by teens was won by a local school.
The “What’s Your Story?” contest is an international, award-winning video contest that empowers youth to be leaders in educating peers about being safe online. The contest provides youth an interactive platform to showcase not just their creative talents, but how they have harnessed the power and connection of the Internet in a positive way through creative storytelling, officials said.
Winners were kept a secret until Thursday morning, sort of.
“We found out we won about a week ago, but had to keep it a secret until the company had the official announcement ready,” said Patty Ream, digital video instructor at Ripley Union Lewis Huntington High School. “We are very excited. It was a good way to end the school year.”
While the individual grand prize of $10,000 went to a team of Canadian students, the $10,000 grand prize for best school entry went to RULH.
“We had entered in the past and even placed, winning $500, but not the grand prize before,” Ream said.
Inspired by a popular action-adventure video game series, Ream’s students, seniors Jarrod Meyer and James Setty created the video “Legend of the Responsible Gamer,” taking viewers through several “quests” that illustrate the basic tenets of digital citizenship, contest organizers at Trend Micro Incorporated said on Thursday.
“They did an interesting take on the topic,” Ream said. “Jimmy (James Setty) is an excellent actor.”
Go to http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com/vote-entry/720#.UZ4bo4fqn2s to view the winning video from RULH.
How the winnings will be used has not been decided, Ream said.
“We need video equipment, I have a lot of students and we can always use cameras and software,” she said.
Both student producers are part of the 21st Century after school program at RULH, Ream said
“We meet a couple times a week for production,” Ream said. “The boys were into gaming, so the theme appealed to them. Jimmy wrote the script in about 30 minutes and it took about two weeks to film and edit.”
According to Trend Micro, 7.5 million kids under 13 use Facebook , 30 percent of apps on parents’ phones are downloaded by devices connected to the Internet by children and Trend Micro is providing a creative way to get students involved in the education, she said.
“The responsible use of technology is a recurring issue in both homes and schools – 50 percent of kids between the ages of 0-8 use,” said Tara Frankel, contest spokesperson.
The 2013 contest received entries from both individuals and schools across the U.S. and Canada that answered the question — “What does the good side of the Internet look like?” — for a chance to win one of two $10,000 grand prizes, said Frankel.
Sponsored and supported by Trend Micro Internet Safety for Kids and Families and a number of participating organizations, “What’s Your Story?” was created to empower kids, parents, teachers and schools around the world to use technology in safe, responsible and successful ways.
“We even went out and rented costumes because I believe so much in what they were creating,” Ream said.
Using video contests, over the last few years, Ream’s classes have been successful in infusing thousands of dollars into RULH programs, she said.
“It all goes back into the program,” she said. “We have a lot of students who want to participate and it helps a lot.”
To view all the winners of the 2013 “What’s Your Story?” contest go to http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com
