Lebanon County Students Awarded Funding from AT&T
to Help Combat Cyberbullying
Cedar
Crest HS Students will Join Kids from 9 States and Washington D.C. In Making
Short Films on Cyberbullying for the All-American High School Festival
HARRISBURG, October 4, 2016 — AT&T* and the Tyler Clementi Foundation awarded nearly $25,000 to help high school student filmmakers participate in the All-American High School Film Festival in New York City. This financial support package will go to 14 schools and organizations across 7 states and Washington D.C., including Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon County.
In total, more than 250 students from 28 schools and
organizations from across the U.S. will participate in this Film Invitational
Competition. (A full list of participating schools and organizations is below.)
The students will shoot, edit and produce an 8-minute film in New York City
addressing cyberbullying and the impact it has had on their lives. The festival
will take place from October 5 - 9, during National Cyberbullying Prevention
Month.
Cedar Crest High School’s team was selected to participate in the intense national competition.
“We need to raise awareness about the damaging effects of cyberbullying,” said J. Michael Schweder, president, AT&T-Mid Atlantic. “This financial support means local students and teams can compete who might otherwise not be able to do so. We believe this will help educate America’s youth and make the internet a safer place for all.”
"My son Tyler's story brought cyberbullying onto the national stage, but we know that he is unfortunately far from alone in experiencing its devastating impact. We need to educate teens and parents about cyberbullying, so that we can ensure what happened Tyler doesn't happen to anyone else," said Jane Clementi, Founder and Board Member of the Tyler Clementi Foundation. "The Tyler Clementi Foundation is proud to partner with AT&T on this issue and to support these student filmmakers. We know that peer-to-peer communication is the most effective tool to combat cyberbullying - these films will truly have the power to help save lives.”
The winning film will be announced October 9. Schools, youth organizations and parents will all be able to view the winning film free of charge through AT&T “Digital You.” The program helps people of all ages learn how to have a safe and secure online experience.
The student teams are competing for $26,000 in cash prizes,
which will be awarded to their schools or programs.
AT&T and the Tyler Clementi Foundation awarded the aid
based on demographic data, advisor interviews and case-by-case assessments. Many
participating schools (51%) received some form of financial aid.
“The goal of our video program at Cedar Crest High School is to prepare students to produce purposeful video professionally. This one-of-a-kind opportunity has helped these film makers see the important issue of cyberbullying through the lens of something they are passionate about – so you can see that it clicks. They get it and it has given them purpose. It is a win, win, win and the epitome of what education can accomplish,” said Mr. Schwalm, video production teacher at Cedar Crest High School.
AT&T has
made addressing the rise of cyberbullying a priority. This support of the All-American
High School Film Festival follows a first-of-its-kind poll commissioned with the Tyler Clementi Foundation this past March on
cyberbullying. The results compared and contrasted parent and teen perceptions
about cyberbullying as well as evaluated behaviors by perpetrators, witnesses
and victims, all in the New York City area.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and
affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About
The Tyler Clementi Foundation
The Tyler Clementi
Foundation, guided by the life and story of Tyler Clementi, works to end online
and offline bullying in schools, workplaces and faith communities. We promote
safe, inclusive and respectful social environments in homes, schools, campuses,
churches and the digital world for vulnerable youth, LGBT youth and their
allies.
Through educational
partnerships, research, public dialogues and awareness programs, the Tyler
Clementi Foundation fosters empathetic, constructive discussions of respect and
dignity for youth and families, at all levels of society.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high-speed internet and voice services. We’re the world’s largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S.
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