(DURHAM, May 15, 2014) — Anyone can take a stand, we can all follow Martin Luther King’s dream, fight peacefully for what you believe in – those were all messages in videos submitted by students for New Hampshire Public Television’s I HAVE A DREAM VIDEO CONTEST. Students were asked to produce an informal one-minute video that described what Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, life, work, or words meant to them. For many people, Dr. King’s iconic "I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 provided the inspiration to consider wide possibilities and to dream of a better world. The contest was open to students in grades K-12, and the videos were judged within four divisions. Students could submit as a class, a group, or as an individual. The contest was underwritten by the Citizens Bank Foundation. The videos were created with a mobile phone, tablet, flip camera, or video camera. “Dr. King’s dedication to creating freedom and equality for all continues to inspire each generation who hears his message,” said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire and Vermont. “We are proud to partner with New Hampshire Public Television on this creative initiative that engages young people in celebrating his legacy.”The videos which won awards include:DIVISION II: GRADES 3-5 Gold - Lafayette Regional School, Franconia (Mr. Ferguson’s 4th grade class, group 1): “I Have a Dream” video incorporated children’s art, students stating their dreams and statistics highlighting issues like homelessness, hunger, having a woman president, and access to a college education.Silver - Lafayette Regional School, Franconia (Mr. Ferguson’s 4th grade class, group 2): “We Have a Dream” video featured the students speaking to the dreams they had for society in the future, like being kind to each other, protecting our environment, and looking out for one another.Silver - Hampstead Academy students (Mr. Field’s 5th grade class): Led by drama teacher Candace Gatzoulis, their video “It’s Never too Late to Make a Change” explored how we all can make a difference .Bronze - Hampstead Academy students (Ms. Leen’s 5th grade class): Led by drama teacher Candace Gatzoulis, their video “Freedom for All” looks at what Martin Luther King, Jr. accomplished and looks forward to the future. Bronze - James Mastricola Upper Elementary School, Merrimack: Student Simon August produced the video “MLK Inspires Me.” DIVISION III: GRADES 6-8 Gold - Lucas Schroeder of Durham produced the video “I Dream, I Dare” which looked at how Martin Luther King Jr has inspired him to make films about problems we face today and ask himself the question, “Do I dare disturb the universe?”Silver - Upper Hollis Elementary School student Abby Tighe produced the video “Dreams” that featured kids sharing their personal dreams like being the first woman president, becoming a doctor, a policeman, and running in the Olympics.Bronze - Upper Hollis Elementary School student Genevieve Oetjens produced the video “Our Heroes” that featured ground-breaking figures like Jackie Robinson, Ruby Bridges, and Rosa Parks and spoke to how we should all be judged by who we are, not the color of our skin.Bronze - Barnstead Elementary School (Mrs. York’s Social Studies and Language Arts Class): A silent black and white video that looked at the challenges African-Americans faced in getting equal access to transportation.DIVISION IV: GRADES 9-12 Gold - Littleton High School, Hugh Gallen Career and Technical Center (Mark Fiorentino’s Broadcast Technology Class – Dylan Hartford, Eric Schafer, and Walter Berg): “A Living Nightmare” spoke to how many of our veterans are not getting the support they need when they return home.
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