Video contest seeks creative entries from Mahoning Co. youth

By Denise Dick | January 6, 2012 at 12:05a.m.

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The next George Lucas, Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese may be living in our midst.

A contest sponsored by the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center could let that talent shine.

The Student Digital Video Contest is for seventh- through 12th-graders in Mahoning County and runs through March 5.

Each two-to-four-minute video must be about creativity and what inspires the student to be creative. The contest is a first for MCCTC.

“It’s kind of two-pronged,” Ralph Sandy, MCCTC assistant principal and contest organizer, said of the contest’s goals. “I have two kids myself and they’re always on YouTube — looking at videos, trying to do their own videos. We have a lot of creative kids at school, and this seems to be the thing right now that all kids are into. And it will allow them to show their talent and creativity.”

First- through fourth-place winners will be chosen from both the seventh- and eighth-grade and ninth- through 12th-grade divisions. First place in each will receive a $250 gift card. A portion of the money for this year’s prizes has been donated by Engler and Associates. Atty. David Engler is a member of the MCCTC and Mahoning County Educational Service Center boards.

If the contest continues, organizers might select a theme for the videos, but for this year, students can just “wing it,” the assistant principal said. It’s all about them demonstrating their creativity, he said.

The contest also provides the opportunity for parents and students from all over the county to see the Palmyra Road center.

“We have a pretty good facility here ... and this will allow people to see not only this program, but all of our different labs,” Sandy said.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at 6 p.m. March 26 at MCCTC’s Joyce E. Brooks Conference Center. Winners must be present to claim their award.

All entries must be uploaded to YouTube by midnight March 5. For entry forms and more contest details, visit www.mahoningctc.com, enter the high- school page and click on the news tab. All entries should be submitted via email to Ralph.Sandy@MahoningCTC.com.