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Pictured with Tom McHugh, first row, left to right, students Clare Weinberger, Corey Justave, Sindhu Kollati and third grade teacher Zita Fisk. Second row, Diane Lenahan, Board Member of Abington Heights Educational Improvement Organization (AEIO); Sandy Dana, PTA President; Steve Aquilina, principal; McHugh, video producer; Matt Warner, 3rd grade teacher.
Waverly Elementary School, part of the Abington Heights School District, was recently presented with a National Telly Award for the program “Penn’s Sylvania,” an educational video documentary highlighting the history of the Keystone State.
The project was presented as part of an Artists-In-Residence program, sponsored by the school and the Northeast Educational Intermediate Unit #19. As part of the program, 3rd and 4th grade students from Waverly Elementary worked with Greater Pittston native Thomas J. McHugh, a three-time Emmy nominated video producer. McHugh, who graduated from Pittston Area High School and holds a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology, is chair of the Broadcast communications/Journalism Department at Luzerne County Community College.
Students studied the history and people of Pennsylvania. Their research included places of interest and important figures in Pennsylvania history. They also learned about the technology needed to produce a video presentation. Students helped to write, produce and perform a script, with the end result being a TV quality production.
The 15 minute documentary recently aired on Electric City Television and is being submitted to other broadcast outlets for airing.
The Telly Awards were founded in 1980 to showcase outstanding non-network and cable TV programming. The awards also honor local, regional and cable TV commercials as well as video and film productions.
Previous winners in the programming category include Walt Disney Studios, ESPN, The History Channel, MSNBC, National Geographic and others. The Artist-In Residence program was supported by the Abington Heights Education Improvement Organization (AEIO) and the Northeast Educational Intermediate Unit (NEIU).