Westport Students Earn Honors In 2026 Access Awareness Awards Video Contest

WESTPORT, CT — Students from Long Lots Elementary School and Kings Highway Elementary School in Westport recently received honors in the 2026 Access Awareness Awards, an annual student video contest sponsored by the Area 9 Cable Council and Optimum of Connecticut.

The contest recognizes original student video productions broadcast on Optimum's Educational Access Channel 78.

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Click here to view a compilation of the winning entries.

Long Lots Elementary School received the Elementary School John M. Repicky Award for best overall elementary entry for “Girls On The Run,” created by Ella Rossi under the direction of instructor Samantha Hubbard. The Repicky Award recognizes the top overall project at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Westport students received the following awards:

Elementary School – John M. Repicky Award

• "Girls On The Run," Ella Rossi, Long Lots Elementary School; instructor Samantha Hubbard

Elementary School – Animation/Stop-Motion

• First Place: "An Average Week of Robots," Chase Bittinger, Long Lots Elementary School; instructor Samantha Hubbard

Elementary School – School News Story

• "Girls On The Run," Ella Rossi, Long Lots Elementary School; instructor Samantha Hubbard

Elementary School – General Interest Story

• First Place: "Space Invaders! Look Out!!," Lucy Apton, Kings Highway Elementary School; instructor Tara Doyle
• Second Place: "Fall Favorites," Cora Lask and Layla Perkel, Long Lots Elementary School; instructor Barbara Eilertsen

Elementary School – Narrative Fiction

• First Place: "TOAST," Hazel Crockett and Charlotte Visconti, Kings Highway Elementary School; instructor Tara Doyle

Elementary School – PSA

• First Place: "KHS Goals," Cameron Kim, Ava Giambanco and Timothy Sheehy, Kings Highway Elementary School; instructor Tara Doyle

Natalie Carrignan, Westport Public Schools' director of technology, said student video production projects provide opportunities for students to communicate through digital media.

"Video production gives students a powerful way to communicate what matters to them," Carrignan said in a statement. "We are thrilled to see Long Lots and Kings Highway students recognized for work that is thoughtful, engaging, and skillfully produced. It is inspiring to see our students use digital media to inform, entertain, and tell meaningful stories. Their success reflects both their own imagination and the support of educators who help turn ideas into polished productions."