Simsbury High School Students Win PSA Contest

Editor’s note: We published this story earlier in the week, but here it is again in case you missed it.

Three Simsbury High School students were recently selected as first place winners in the Hartford Area Cable Televisions Advisory Council’s (HACTAC’s) 2015 Public Service Announcement contest.

The contest was open to all public and private school students in grades 9-12 from the towns of Simsbury, West Hartford, Bloomfield, Windsor, East Hartford, and Hartford. Contest themes were Internet/Cell Phone Addiction or “Give Me a Break!”

Junior Victoria Davis and freshmen Lauren Cassot and Grace Kyd’s winning entry, entitled “The Morgue,” utilized the high school’s biomedical science facilities to create the backdrop for a scene in which a forensic scientist encounters a not-so-dead body.

The victim of a car crash continues to try to text her friend to let her know that she won’t be in class.

“You didn’t make it to class,” said the doctor, “You killed everyone else, too.”

HACTAC Advisory Council Vice Chairperson Penny Leto wrote in a congratulatory letter to the students and their teacher, Mark Harutunian, “Your video was distinctive, creative and funny but delivered a powerful message! Mr. Harutunian should be very proud!”

The first place winner was awarded a $500 Apple iTunes gift card. Second and third place winners received $250 and $100 iTunes gift cards, respectively. The students were honored during an awards night on May 20 at the Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford.

HACTAC is a volunteer board mandated by the Connecticut State Legislature. Its mission is to advocate the best possible services for cable television customers within the six town Hartford franchise and to support the services of public, educational, and governmental access.

To view the winning video, visit www.hactac.org. The video will also be available on Simsbury Community Television (SCTV).

Photo Caption: Simsbury High School Lauren Cassot, who played a doctor in the HACTAC PSA winning video entry, zips up a body bag containing Grace Kyd. Victoria Davis filmed the video. Photo courtesy of Simsbury High School.