OCALA, FL (352today.com) – For more than 20 years, the Marion County Student Media Festival has given young storytellers a stage to shine, and on Friday, April 11, the tradition continued with a celebration of the county’s top student video and audio creators.
Held at Marion Technical Institute’s Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium, this year’s festival showcased more than 200 student-made videos from 18 schools, representing all grade levels from elementary through high school. Projects were judged by media professionals across a variety of categories, including Public Service Announcement, Animation, and Music Video.
Sullivan Hogan, director of video communications for the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, took the mic as this year’s emcee. She applauded the students’ creativity and encouraged them to keep exploring digital storytelling.
“My favorite part of the Marion County Student Media Festival is the spark that ignites when students walk across the stage and are recognized for their hard work,” said Travis Bennett, Digital Video teacher at Lake Weir High School. “The pride they take in their school and achievements is truly amazing.”
The festival is made possible each year by a team of dedicated local educators and community partners, including Cox Communications and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.
First Place Winners by Category and Grade Level
Grades K–2
- Advertisement: Seat Supervisor – Shady Hill Elementary School
- Animation: Turtle Trouble – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Book Trailer: My Mouth is a Volcano – Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
- Comedy: Punny or Not, Here We Come! – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Documentary: World’s Fair 2024 – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Drama: Giraffe’s Adventure – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Instructional: Cup Stacking 101 – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Music Video: Read a Book – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- News Feature: TIE Turkey Day @ MSA – Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and Storytime with Albie – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- News Show: Kindergarten Bug News – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Public Service Announcement: Read to Win – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Public Service Video: It’s Cool to be Kind – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
Grades 3–5
- Advertisement: Come on out to Science Night – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary
- Animation: Little Ghost – Anthony Elementary School
- Book Trailer: MR. S – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary
- Comedy: Mr. Excuses – Shady Hill Elementary
- Documentary: National Tree Lighting Ceremony – Shady Hill Elementary
- Drama: Where’s Colty? – Shady Hill Elementary
- Instructional: How to Catch a Leprechaun – Madison Street Academy
- Music Video: TIE Sock Bunny – Shady Hill Elementary and How to Make a Paper Dragon – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary
- News Feature: Ask Me About Axolotls – Anthony Elementary School
- News Show: SWE’s Morning Show: World’s Fair Edition – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary
- Public Service Announcement: Kindness Chain Reaction – Shady Hill Elementary
- Public Service Video: Centegix – Shady Hill Elementary
Grades 6–8
- Advertisement: Hop to It, Order a Yearbook – Dunnellon Middle School
- Animation: Soccer with Friends – Dunnellon Middle School
- Book Trailer: Hear Me – Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks
- Comedy: Drama Queen – Dunnellon Middle School
- Documentary: Mr. Kunz – Dunnellon Middle School
- Drama: Out of Time – Dunnellon Middle School
- Instructional: Why You Should Never Eat in Class – Dunnellon Middle School
- Music Video: Is it Love? – Dunnellon Middle School
- News Feature: Holiday Meal – Dunnellon Middle School
- News Show: The Morning Show – Osceola Middle School
- Public Service Announcement: TIE Teens & Binge Drinking Don’t Stack Up – Dunnellon Middle School and Heavy Burdens – Dunnellon Middle School
- Public Service Video: Let’s Help Our Youth – Osceola Middle School
Grades 9–12
- Advertisement: Lucky Coin – North Marion High School
- Animation: Out of Time – Vanguard High School
- Book Trailer: Hatchet – North Marion High School
- Comedy: The Act– Forest High School
- Documentary: A Day in WCAT – Forest High School
- Drama: In a Flash – Forest High School
- Instructional: How to Market Steer Project – North Marion High School
- Music Video: The Scarlet Ibis – Vanguard High School
- News Feature: Ocala Gets Lit! – Lake Weir High School
- News Show: Storm Surge: Holidays in the Horse Capital – Lake Weir High School
- Public Service Announcement: Sugar – Forest High School
- Public Service Video: The Catch – Lake Weir High School
Terri Hartley Effort in Media Education (THEME) Award
- What if Teachers Did That? East Marion Elementary School
Joel Hartley Achievement in Cinematography Award
- In a Flash – Forest High School
Best of Show
- Elementary School: Kindergarten Bug News – Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
- Middle School: Out of Time – Dunnellon Middle School
- High School: The Catch – Lake Weir High School