"Thoughts: The Environment and Me," a film by Brashear High School senior Christopher Boehm was awarded with the top honor - the Grand Prize - in this week's fifth annual C.A.U.S.E. Challenge High School Film Festival, presented by Bayer Corporation, Carnegie Science Center's Regional SciTech Initiative and Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

 

C.A.U.S.E. stands for Creating Awareness and Understanding of our Surrounding Environment.

Other winners announced during the festival's award ceremony, held at the Carnegie Science Center's Science Stage and emceed by astronaut, physician and environmental studies professor, Dr. Mae C. Jemison, hailed from Hampton, Moon Area, Mount Lebanon and Quaker Valley High Schools.

 

As Grand Prize winner, Boehm received a $1,000 cash prize. In addition, he went home with a digital video camera and case, a Pittsburgh Filmmakers' class voucher, a director's chair, Carnegie Science Center passes and Three Rivers Film Festival tickets. And Brashear High School took home $1,500 to support its science and media programs, as well as a trophy for its award display case.

 

The four additional student-filmmaking awards presented included:

 

-- Narrative Award: "License to Conserve" by Hampton High School seniors Ben Kepner, Sarah Miller and Bryan Seelnacht and freshman Nancy Kepner

 

-- Documentary Award: "Voices of Our Future" by Quaker Valley High School senior Jessica Johnson

 

-- Communicating Science Award: "A Global Mission" by Moon Area High School junior David Korotky

 

-- Abstract Award: "Is It Worth It?" by Mount Lebanon High School seniors Julie Nascone, Alex Trivilino and Matt Ulrich

 

Each of these awards carry a $300 cash prize (shared if team), director's chair, Carnegie Science Center passes and Three Rivers Film Festival tickets. In addition, each prize-winning school receives a trophy and a $1,500 check.

 

"The creativity of approach and presentation of the day's important environmental issues as demonstrated in these remarkable films by Pittsburgh's young people have been inspiring," said Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the nation's first African-American female astronaut and Bayer's longtime Making Science Make Sense spokesperson. "Congratulations to the three partners for their strong commitment and for having the vision five years ago to conceive and create such a wonderful, hands-on, minds-on, hearts-on environmental education opportunity for the region's students."

 

 

In honor of the fifth anniversary, Bayer Corporation, Carnegie Science Center's Regional SciTech Initiative and Pittsburgh Filmmakers recognized individuals and organizations with three special "Partners Choice" Awards for their continued support of and/or participation in the competition since its inception. They include:

 

-- Dr. Robert Rosen, media teacher, Mount Lebanon High School for his unwavering support of and dedication to the C.A.U.S.E. Challenge Film Festival.

 

-- Pittsburgh's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and its digital media instructor Dennis Childers in recognition of the school's excellence in filmmaking which has consistently raised the bar of the C.A.U.S.E. Challenge Film Festival.

 

-- The Students of Chartiers Valley High School in recognition of their independent spirit and dedication to filmmaking which has garnered them top prizes at the C.A.U.S.E. Challenge Film Festival.

 

"We are proud to be celebrating with our partners the fifth annual C.A.U.S.E. Challenge Film Festival," said Valerie Patrick, Ph.D., Bayer's Sustainability Coordinator. "This environmental education project is at the center of one of Bayer's key sustainability and corporate social responsibility goals - helping to educate the next generation of environmental stewards and allowing them to artistically spotlight their environmental concerns and solutions."

 

"This competition allows students to explore science and technology through a unique arts-oriented experience. It complements the energy and mission of Carnegie Science Center's Regional SciTech Initiative - to promote understanding and awareness of wide-ranging opportunities in these fields," said Linda Ortenzo, Director of the Initiative. "SciTech provides diverse experiences where people of all ages and interests can explore the impact of cutting edge science and high technology in their everyday lives."

 

"The art of the moving image dominates our cultural language, and this generation has been raised with literacy in it," said Andrew Swensen, Director, Pittsburgh Filmmakers. "It is a wonderful thing to see these student artists apply that power of imagination and communication to the environmental issues facing our society, both locally and globally."