Lester Robinson interviews a vendor competition finalist at the Vendy Awards on Governor’s Island in September.
BRONX, NY – Four students from Truman High School’s Media Communications Program will head across the country on March 26th to participate in the Student Television Network’s National Convention in Anaheim, California. One of those students has been selected to be an on-stage presenter at the event’s award show and closing ceremony.
“I was very excited,” said senior Lester Robinson Jr. Robinson is one of only 12 presenters who will be on stage in front of more than 3,000 students from middle and high schools across the country. “I didn’t expect to be picked.”
Ebenezer Aboagye and Truman’s “official” photographer Abel Alexander Zewde.
The other three students attending include senior Ebenezer Aboagye, senior Matthew Malave and junior Abel Zewde. While at the event, they will take part in two major on-site competitions. The first, is known as the “Crazy 8” – where the team, along with teacher Mr. Dave Roush will have 8 hours to produce a television news magazine broadcast from start-to-finish. In the second competition, the students will have a total of six hours to plan, produce and edit a television commercial. The team also entered four projects into STN’s “Spring Nationals” competition, which allows them to submit work they completed as part of their regular school program throughout the year.
“I’m looking forward to the new opportunities and to compete against other schools,” Malave said. “I want to show off how passionate Truman is about what we do.”
Matt Malave
In addition to several professional training sessions the students will also be taking part in a workshop on how to fly a drone to collect aerial videography. Finally, as part of their trip to Los Angeles, the team will tour Hollywood, UCLA and they will be audience members at tapings of America’s Got Talent and The Price is Right.
Robinson added, “I hope to know something we didn’t know before. I know we’re going to learn a lot because we are going to be outside of our New York bubble.”
“We couldn’t have done this without the support of some very important partners,” Mr. Roush said. “Our principal, Ms. Alfano – no matter what crazy ideas I bring to her – she has always supported me and said ‘go for it.’ This is just another one of those great examples.” Roush also said that the team raised much-needed support through a GoFundMe page. JetBlue Airways sponsored the team with complimentary airfare certificates.
.
Lester Robinson