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PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK, February 28, 2013 – Shauna Mackey, a Telecommunications Major at the University of Florida in Gainesville, took the top prize of $2,000 in The Christophers’ Twenty-Fifth Annual Video Contest for College Students for her news magazine-style entry, “Noah’s Story.” The video highlights the work of a non-profit organization called “Noah’s Endeavor,” which provides recreational activities for young people with disabilities. The organization was inspired by the late Noah Voelker, who had cerebral palsy, and is now run by Noah’s parents.
“Shauna’s talent and skill in producing this moving piece about the inspirational work of the Voelker family shows she has a bright future in television,” said Mary Ellen Robinson, vice-president of The Christophers. “Both Shauna and the Voelkers are lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness on behalf of all young people who struggle with disabilities.”
Kyle Wall of the University of Texas at Austin won the $1,000 second prize for “Bob Makes a Difference,” his profile of Bob Maindelle, a local youth pastor and fishing guide who provides a fatherly presence and fun fishing trips for children whose parents are deployed overseas in the military.
Andrew Aiton from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, earned the $500 third prize for his animated fable, “Anansi and Turtle,” which provides an entertaining story and lesson about the importance of sharing our blessings with others.
Three $100 honorable mention prizes were awarded to Jordan Tarquino from the University of Central, Florida, for his entry “The Jacket;” Yasmine Arrington from Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, for her entry “The Tassel is Worth the Hassle;” and German Torres from the University of North Texas for his entry “It Only Takes One.”
The annual competition asks entrants to create short films of five minutes or less to convey The Christophers’ message that one person can make a difference. The videos will be posted online soon.
The Christophers, a non-profit organization founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, M.M., uses the mass media to encourage individuals to use their God-given abilities to change the world for the better. The Christopher motto, adopted from the ancient Chinese proverb, is: “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
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