Ohio University Southern hosted more than 200 high school students from 13 schools on April 7 for the annual EMPixx Awards. In its 18th year, the experienced-based programming and awards event gives participants a chance to hear from industry professionals in Electronic Media about key topics during a variety of workshops.

Dr. Nicole Pennington, dean of Ohio University Southern, said, “[EMPixx] is an outlet where local high school students could showcase their talents. Students compete in sports, band and academic teams, but we wanted to recognize those students with artistic talent in video, audio and multimedia areas.”

Associate Professor and Director of the Electronic Media Program Don Moore said that he was honored once again to highlight area high school media talent. “We saw a wide range of projects this year, from a comedic cow turned super hero to the seriousness and depth of a breast cancer story,” Moore said. “Our Best of Show winner not only shot most of his video, but edited, wrote and recorded the music for his entry — no small feat.”

A graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, keynote speaker Amanda Barren anchors First at 5, 5:30 Edition, NewsChannel 3 Six O’Clock, and NewsChanne 3 Tonight on channel WSAZ.

Barren recounted her time as a student and her experience with one class in particular that focused on how to search the Internet. “I never stopped to think about what was going to come next.

I thought the Internet was just for chat rooms,” Barren said. “Then, I get my first job and realize that I have to post my story on the Internet. As a broadcast journalism major, I didn’t think I had to worry about anyone reading any of my papers.”

Suddenly, grammar and punctuation became extremely important to Barren and she was reminded of another influential class, Precision Language. “I wish I could take that class again,” Barren said. “Lessons learned in that class are vital to my work every day.”

Barren told participants that she wanted them to remember that every day is important. “Everything is important. Every person that you talk to is important. Every moment is important — whether you think it is or not, there’s something valuable in each element of your day,” she said.

Southern Campus 2017 EMPixx First and Second Place Winners
Animation
• 1st Place – Cabell Midland High School – “A Wheely of a Day” – Drew Taylor, Peyton Sovine, Corton Rider
• 2nd Place – Lakewood High School – “PAC’s Ghost Attact” – Garvin McIntosh, Allen Spicer, Milly Cline

Audio Production
• 1st Place – South Point High School – “Iconical”
– Osiris Kessinger
• 2nd Place – Fairland High School – “Cloudy Day Lulliby” – Jake Wheeler

Digital Photography
• 1st Place – South Point High School – “Abandoned Coal Grove Public School” – Jake Helton
• 2nd Place – “Lakewood”
“Become It” – Jess Burson

Entertainment
• 1st Place – Fairland High School – “All Noir” – Gunnar McClung, Connor Lacroix, Brandon Bowman
• 2nd Place – Cabell Midland High School – “Old School Dropout” – Josie Pratt, Rachael Caudill, Cody Czuk, Mason Elam

Independent
• 1st Place – Fairland High School – “Cowbell Man, The Utter Avenger” – Shane Taylor, James Gardner, Caleb Kretzer
• 2nd Place – Dublin Jerome High School – “This Little Light of Mine” – Rachel Hiller, Lauren Hiller, Ry Heath

Multimedia Print
• 1st Place – Lewis County High School – “Minutemen logo” – Sarah Flesher
• 2nd Place – Fairland High School – “Walk on By” – Brandon Bowman

Multimedia Web
• 1st Place – Ironton High School – “IHS Cooking Class” – Zoe Bass
• 2nd Place – Ironton High School – “IHS German Class” – Anthony Bazell

News Cast
• 1st Place – Chillicothe High School – “CAVS News 3/9/17” – Parker Tracey, Carli Frey, Hannah Barnes, Tito Garcia, Jason Adkins, Caroline Bradburne, Darian Anderson, Jakia Ray, Ryan Beardsley, Jasmine Roper, Jauhna Watson, Pat Corbin, Maggie Detty, Andrew McCallum, Trent Murray, Daniell Thompson, Merissa Segura, Scarlett Watson, Ben Spindler, Pacey Arledge, Makhi Jackson, Noah Hiles, Dylan Grubb, Ryan Kincaid, Jarrett Seebohm, Sara Harness, Jaki Cousins
• 2nd Place – Chillicothe High School – “CAVS News 2/17/17” – Ryan Kincaid, Sara Harness, Pat Corbin, Carli Frey, Andrew McCallum, Jasmine Roper, Tito Garcia, Hannah Barnes, Parker Tracey, Jason Adkins, Caroline Bradburne, Darian Anderson, Jakia Ray, Ryan Beardsley, Jauhna Watson, Maggie Detty, Parker Tracey, Trent Murray, Daniell Thompson, Merissa Segura, Scarlett Watson, Ben Spindler, Pacey Arledge, Makhi Jackson, Noah Hiles, Dylan Grubb, Jarrett Seebohm, Sara Harness, Jaki Cousins
News Feature/Story
• 1st Place – Southeastern High School – “Coffee with a Cause” – Noah Hatfield, Hailee Strawser
• 2nd Place – Fairland High school – “Suicide Prevention” – Collin Marcum

Radio Commercial
• 1st Place – Chesapeake High School – “Rewindenator” – Alaina Collins, Mikayla Lykins
• 2nd Place  – Chesapeake High School – “The Twister Watch” – Megan Godfrey, Kaetlyn Ross, Mariah Ramey

Sports News Feature
• 1st Place – Southeastern High School – “Pair of Panthers Score 1000 Points” – Lexy Stauffer, Matthew Skeens, Hunter Adams
• 2nd Place – Southeastern High School – “Southeastern Football Breast Cancer Awareness” – Lexy Stauffer, Mandy Morris, Rachel Collins

Video Commercial
• 1st Place – Southeastern High school – “Buying Time” – Larson Stauffer, Dawson Steele, Hunter Adams
• 2nd Place – Dublin Jerome High School – “Fair Trade” – Rachel Hiller

Best of Show
• South Point High School – Osiris-Vortex – Osiris Kessinger

Judges’ Choice
• Fairland High School – “All Noir” –  Gunnar McClung, Connor Lacroix, Brandon Bowman

Scholarships
• Best of Show – $1,000 – Osiris Kessinger
• Multimedia – $750 – Jake Helton
• Audio Production – $750 – Jake Wheeler
• Video Production/Judges’ Choice – $333 (each)
– Gunnar McClung, Connor Lacroix, Brandon Bowman