The cameras will be rolling again for some lucky high school students in Central Louisiana as The Rapides Foundation announces its 2012 Video Challenge.

The Rapides Foundation is looking for one team from each high school in Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes to create a 60-second video on the importance of students getting training and skills to prepare for a career after high school. The winning video will be incorporated into the communications campaign used to promote the Cenla Work Ready Network.

Each school that enters the competition will receive $500 to assist in the production of their video. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning schools as follows: $10,000 for the first-place video; $5,000 for the second-place video; $2,500 for the third-place video; and $2,500 for the People’s Choice Award winner. In addition, the Foundation is awarding $2,500 cash prizes to schools with the highest percentage and numbers of students participating in Career Ready 101; and highest percentage and numbers of students receiving the National Career Readiness Certificate.

“Once again, we’ll be looking for some innovative and creative work from high school students in Cenla,” said Joe Rosier, president and CEO of The Rapides Foundation. “Last year’s focus on healthy lifestyles generated a lot of interest, so we can’t wait to see what the students come up with this year.”

Rosier said that as students conduct research for their videos, they will learn how the components of the Cenla Work Ready Network – Career Ready 101, WorkKeys and the National Career Readiness Certificate – can help students prepare for and measure “real world” skills that are valuable for any occupation – skilled or professional – and at any level of education.

“The research process and the video concept are both important components to this challenge,” Rosier said. “High-tech equipment and school video facilities are not needed to enter this competition. Any method of filming, from hand-held video equipment to cell phones, will be accepted.”

Rosier said The Rapides Foundation is seeking local employers to become involved in the challenge by partnering with local high school teams. Students will interview employers about the challenges of finding and hiring skilled employees.

Entries will only be accepted from the school principal or the teacher assigned to the video challenge. The deadline for schools to send in their Participation Agreement is Friday, Feb. 10.

To select the winner, the Foundation will use expert judges. The winner will be revealed at the Video Challenge Film Festival on Wednesday, May 2. Contest rules, video submission dates, the School Participation Agreement and other details can be found at www.rapidesfoundation.org Print