LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i students captured first-place awards at the 2010 Hawai‘i Medical Service Association Teen Video Awards ceremonies on O‘ahu Thursday. Duke Wellington, a Kapa‘a High student, won for “Minors & Drinking Don’t Attract,” which topped the best underage drinking
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i students captured first-place awards at the 2010 Hawai‘i Medical Service Association Teen Video Awards ceremonies on O‘ahu Thursday.
Duke Wellington, a Kapa‘a High student, won for “Minors & Drinking Don’t Attract,” which topped the best underage drinking prevention public-service announcement category. Michelle Rundbaken in his teacher.
Gabriel Abrams, a home-schooled student whose mother is his teacher, Meryl Abrams, won in the category of best fitness and nutrition PSA, for his “Apple vs PC.”
State Rep. Hermina “Mina” Morita, D-Kapa‘a-Hanalei, attended the ceremonies, and said the Kaua‘i student work is top-notch.
Wellington and Gabriel Abrams each received $1,000 for video equipment or software for their schools, and their PSAs will be aired on a variety of local TV channels.
See hmsa.com/tva to view the winning PSAs.
The statewide competition encourages teens to create compelling video messages about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of living a healthy life, states an HMSA press release.
This year, 157 videos were submitted by students from public and independent middle schools and high schools. At the ceremony at Consolidated Ward Theatre in Honolulu, the top 68 PSAs premiered, and the very best, including those by the Kaua‘i students, were honored.
The Thursday event was attended by teachers, students and family members from across the state, as well as influential guests and celebrity presenters.
Presenters included radio personalities KC and Taka, TV sports anchor John Veneri, morning talk-show host Lina Girl, television host Chris Latronic, and University of Hawai‘i sport stars Inoke Funaki and Kanoe Kamana‘o-Ka‘aihue.
Sponsors included HMSA, state Department of Education and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawai‘i.
The Hawai‘i Meth Project provided collaborative support. HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
