Hermiston students recognized for broadcasting work

Published 7:00 pm Monday, February 6, 2023

A group of Hermiston School District middle school students recently achieved national recognition for their broadcasting skills.

The school district in a press release announced three Sandstone Middle School students competed in the Student Television Network Fall Nationals competition and received an honorable mention in the middle school promo video category.

In addition, four additional students received awards from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Sandstone students Aubrey Sandoval, Taylee Smith and Rayann Reddick were recognized for their student store promo video. The video highlighted what the student store offers, when it is open and how to purchase items at the store.

The students are in Andrea Cerrillo’s Broadcasting 3 class and produced the video from start to finish.

“Many students from all over the nation make videos and compete in these STN competitions,” Cerrillo said. “It is an honor for these students and Sandstone to now be nationally recognized.”

The students did their work on their own, according to the school district.

Hermiston High School freshmen Naima Velasco and Maggie Katin received fourth place in the 2022 Middle School Broadcast Story of the Year competition for “Assembly tradition makes a comeback.”

Velasco and Katin were eighth graders at Armand Larive Middle School when the video was submitted to the National Scholastic Press Association.

Former Armand Larive student Isabella Martinez and Sandstone student Mickenzie Marks received honorable mention for a submission in the same category, for a story on Sweet Potato’s Closet.

The Student Television Network’s purpose is to shape the next generation of storytelling. To this end, it empowers student voices through broadcast journalism, film and multimedia education.