Hardin County High Student Wins Top Prize in Final Keep It Real Video Contest
The winners of the ninth annual – and final – Keep It Real Video/Internet Contest were awarded a total of $3,025 in prize money at an awards program at the Kentucky Theatre.
Parker Young, three-time Keep It Real Best Picture Winner who is currently working with Disney Studios, was the special guest.
“Who Am I,” the top winner, was produced by John Hardin High student Darius Sessions. It will be aired on television stations throughout the region and shown in pre-show ads in local cinemas through National Cinemedia.
The People’s Choice Award as voted by the public went to an entry from Hubbard High in Ohio called “Don’t Let Alcohol Ruin Your Dreams” produced by Ryanne Fronzaglio, Brandon Harb, Karina Hayek, Marquette Gasser, Katie Wallwoff and Danny Madeline.
This year 3,208 individuals visited the Keep It Real website, and 7,176 votes were cast.
Keep It Real is a youth-driven community effort to educate young people concerning the risks of underage drinking. The guiding premise behind this campaign has been that youth are more likely to understand the message when it comes from peers.
This is the final year for the contest – funding will no longer be available through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Initiative and the Kentucky State Police.
Keep It Real Contest Winners
Grand Prize/Best Picture:
Winner: “Who Am I?” (John Hardin High): Darius Sessions
People’s Choice:
Winner: “Don’t Let Alcohol Ruin Your Dreams” (Hubbard High, Ohio):
Ryanne Fronzaglio, Brandon Harb, Karina Hayek, Marquette Gasser, Katie Wallwoff, Danny Madeline
Best Direction
Winner: “If You Could Take It Back” (Henry Clay High):
Augustus Logsdon, Ned Katz, Dylan Sarkisian, Jeremy Davis
Best Original Music
Winner: “Big Shots” (Eastside Technical Center): Shameer Atkins
Honorable Mention: “Face the Consequences Alone” (James Monroe High, Virginia):
Sarah Neubert
Best Graphic Design
Winner: “Social Host” (Clark County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Youth Network):
Nick Bailey, Blake Cartwright, Brooks Harrison, Emily Houston, Abby Houston, Allyson Ledford, Anna Omohundro, Jacob Omohundro, Matthew Omohundro, Ali Peterson, Chanda Schobee, Chelsea Scobee, Haley Tye
Honorable Mention:
“Terrifying Truth” (Harrison County High): Sarah Nichols, Anna Nichols, Breanna Skidmore, Logan Willis, Sarah Tanner
Best Depiction of Message
Winner: “Choices” (Clark County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Youth Network): Nick Bailey, Blake Cartwright, Brooks Harrison, Emily Houston, Abby Houston, Allyson Ledford, Anna Omohundro, Jacob Omohundro, Matthew Omohundro, Ali Peterson, Chanda Schobee, Chelsea Scobee, Haley Tye
Honorable Mention: “Make the Right Choice” (Johnson County High): Kristen Fitch, Maranda Ferguson, Shelby Curtis, Kimberly Spears, Paige McPeek, Ladonna Damron, Brooklyn Lowe, Jamison Mollett, Rebecca Fairchild, Katelyn Hager, Courtney Blair, Haley Adams
Best Art Direction
Winner: “Don’t Shatter Your Dreams” (Dunbar High): Logan Hill, Cameron Holland, Grant Herald
Honorable Mention: “Goals for Life” (Eastside Technical Center): Lainey Geddes
Best Comedy
Winner: “When Alcohol Finds You” (Dunbar High): Jay Bishop, Joe Samaan, Trent Bauer, Patrick Marlowe, Brandyn Duncan
Honorable Mention: “What are You Looking At?” (Henry Clay High): Alexis Jeanjaquet
Best Script
Winner: “Throwing It Away” (Clark County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Youth Network): Nick Bailey, Blake Cartwright, Brooks Harrison, Emily Houston, Abby Houston, Allyson Ledford, Anna Omohundro, Jacob Omohundro, Matthew Omohundro, Ali Peterson, Chanda Schobee, Chelsea Scobee, Haley Tye
Honorable Mention: “Priorities” (Dunbar High): Aubrey Walter, Alyssa Matano, Maddie Oberg
Best Editing
Winner: “Just Think Don’t Drink” (Eastside Technical Center):
Lequan Johnson, Erin Leitch, Mike Turner
Honorable Mention: “Friends and Family” (Augusta High):
Danielle Shackelford
Best Cinematography
Winner: “Sermon” (Eastside Technical Center): Shameer Atkins
Honorable Mention: “Spilling Over” (Mercer County High): Austin Williams, Travis Sims, Joshua Conover
Most Original
Winner: “Don’t Be Consumed” (Elkhorn Crossing High):
Braedon Nemeth, April Heifner, Caleb Wright, Sebastian Griffith
Honorable Mention: “Unfound Answers” (Dunbar High):
Payton Sword, Lauren Shields, Makena Wilcosxon, Daphne Scott