By: Erica Fatima
Recently, the Georgia Student Media Festival (GSMF) awarded 28 projects from 13 APS schools the prestigious 2016 Outstanding Media Production award. Additionally, four APS projects were bestowed the revered Best In Show award for receiving a perfect score of 100. Lastly, Autumn Allen’s (Adamsville Primary) project was granted the State Elementary GALILEO Award.
Since 1976, the Georgia Student Media Festival has supported and celebrated efforts to stimulate student interest and involvement in all types of media production from grades K-12. Student media projects such as live action video, website design, animation and photography foster learning across the curriculum and the GSMF festival provides an outlet for students to showcase their work.
Dr. Warren Goetzel, APS Media Services Coordinator said, “Student-driven project based learning is vital for today’s students to attain the 21st century skills needed to be successful in our rapidly changing technology-based learning and work environments. The GSMF is a perfect avenue for APS students to master the 4 C’s of 21st century learning: collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking.”
In classrooms across the globe, teachers and students are working together to infuse technology into their learning landscape. At the elementary and middle school levels, reading comprehension, writing and math skills are developed while producing these technologically advanced projects. High school students increase their ability to plan, analyze, and interpret results. Furthermore, cooperation and leadership flourish where student media is encouraged. Future academic and employment opportunities increase in relationship to the rise in technological proficiency. Student-created media, through its involvement in the world of computers, video, sound and photography, is a proven avenue to increasing student participation in the classroom.
See the list of winning APS projects: APS GSMF Winners
Overall, 93 projects from 22 APS schools were submitted to the 2016 GSMF. The 28 award winners and their sponsors will receive a custom, personalized plaque and all participants will receive GSMF certificates.
Congratulations to all of the 2016 GSMF student and teacher winners!
Valedictorian, STAR student and Georgia Tech Scholar Alexus Clark strives to excel in every aspect of sisterhood, scholarship and service. In addition to serving as president of Future Business Leaders of America, Alexus is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Beta Club, and a Project ENGAGES intern at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She contributes her academic success to a love of learning and her parents’ emphasis on the importance of education. “My mom instilled in me and my sister to get our education to set up a life for ourselves that is greater than where we came from,” she said. “She also stressed for me to stay focused and not allow superficial things to deter me from accomplishing my goals.” With plans to study chemical engineering at Georgia Tech, Alexus aspires to become a pharmacologist. She hopes to influence the world through researching and developing mental illness and allergy medications.
As The B.E.S.T. Academy valedictorian and 2016 Gates Millennium Scholar, Qwantayvious Stiggers credits his well-deserved academic success to his family. From his three younger brothers, his mother, who is “the cornerstone from which I built this life,” to his grandmother whose passing stimulated his interest in medicine — they all provide motivation for him to strive for academic excellence and to make an impact on the world. Qwantayvious’ honors include International Science Fair finalist, Atlanta Public Schools Top Scientist, Atlanta INtown Magazine’s 8th Annual Class of Atlanta’s “20 Under 20,” and a prestigious internship at Georgia Tech’s Project ENGAGES, where he researches the regeneration of articular cartilage. “Stig,” as he is affectionately known, is headed to the University of Michigan to study mechanical engineering with aspirations of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. His brightest moment of high school was meeting Superintendent Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen, who became his mentor when he was a junior. “That has been the best thing to happen, because she’s so supportive,” he said. “She always says she’s ‘Team Stig.’ She has helped open up so many doors for me. It’s pretty cool.”
Salutatorian Jessie D. Smith has been an honors student throughout his academic career. When he entered The B.E.S.T. Academy, he continued to make studying hard a priority to achieve his goal of becoming the No. 1 student in his class. He is determined, eager and responsible, which he credits for his academic achievements. Jessie says his parents are his greatest influence. “They always push me to be the best that I can be, and they never settle for anything less,” he said. “My mom always tells me to let your failures be your motivation to get back up and try again. This has been my mantra since I’ve been in high school. It’s made me stronger as a person.” With a 93.8 GPA, Jessie is a member of the National Honor Society, BETA Club, and an intern in the respected Georgia Tech Project ENGAGES program. He plans to major in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech.
