A student-produced video from Calera High School was recently named an Honorable Mention winner in the Alabama Association of School Boards’ “Road to Success” video contest.

Guidelines for the video contest were for middle and high school-aged students to produce a 30 to 60-second video commercial or Public Service Announcement (PSA) which focused on how their school prepares them for the many different roads to success, whether that path leads straight to the workforce, the military, or to a two or four-year college/university and beyond.

Calera’s video tells the story of a student-athlete from the perspective of his entire school career, from his first day of elementary school to high school graduation and the role his teachers had in providing the support needed to help him succeed. It ends with Calera High School’s tagline of “What You Do Matters.”

The video was produced by 11th-grade Business Education students Brandon Arroyo-Ambriz, Emma Carstensen, and Anya Long. It featured students Noah Clayton, and Kingsley Staggs portraying the role of the student-athlete.

“I am so proud of what the students were able to put together – primarily the fact that they were able to do so 100% on their own (with a bit of guidance) in the midst of a year like no other,” said Business Education teacher, Cole Pevey. “I am very excited that the students received recognition in our first year submitting an entry to this contest, and it just further fuels the fire going forward into next year.” 

Calera High School will receive $250 in prize money for their video submission. Other winning schools included: 1st place, South Girard Middle School (Phenix City Schools), winning $1,500; 2nd place, Central High School (Phenix City Schools), winning $1,000; and 3rd place, Section High School (Jackson County Schools), winning $500.

The presentation of prizes and certificates to each of the four winning schools, will take place December 4 at 8:30 a.m. during the closing general session of AASB’s Annual Convention at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

The student-produced videos are also expected to be shown at the August 12 State Board of Education meeting at the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery. They will also be posted on Alabama Public Television’s website, www.aptv.org, and on AASB’s website, www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org, and social media platforms.

“Your school’s video is wonderful and reminds us of AASB’s mission to develop excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services,” wrote Dana Vandiver, Director of Public Relations for AASB in a memo to school board members and Dr. Lewis Brooks.