WESTPORT–Students from Long Lots Elementary School and Kings Highway Elementary School helped create videos being recognized for the 2026 Access Awareness Awards, an annual student video contest sponsored by the Area 9 Cable Council and Optimum of Connecticut.

The contest honors original student video productions broadcast on Optimum’s Educational Access Channel 78 and encourages students to build storytelling and video production skills through projects connected to school and community life.

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.

The award, at the elementary school level, comes with a $500 prize that the district can use to purchase resources for their video production programs within each school.  

The Girls On the Run entry also placed in the School News Story category.

In addition, in the Elementary School – Animation/Stop-Motion category, first place went to  “An Average Week of Robots,” by Chase Bittinger of Long Lots, also under the direction of Hubbard.

First Place in the Elementary School – General Interest Story category went to “Space invaders! Look out!!,” by Lucy Apton of Kings Highway Elementary School. The instructor was Tara Doyle.

Second Place in that category went to “Fall Favorites” by Cora Lask and Layla Perkel of Long Lots who were under the direction of instructor Barbara Eilersten.

In the Elementary School division for Narrative Fiction, first place went to “TOAST,” by Hazel Crockett and Charlotte Visconti of Kings Highway Elementary with Doyle as the instructor.

And in the Elementary School division for Public Service announcements, first place went to “KHS Goals,” by Cameron Kim, Ava Giambanco, and Timothy Sheehy of Kings Highway, with Doyle as instructor.

Natalie Carrignan, director of technology for the district, said the honors reflect the creativity, collaboration, and communication skills that students develop through authentic, project-based learning experiences.

From animation and school news to narrative storytelling and public service messaging, the winning entries showcased a wide range of talents and ideas, Carrigan added.

“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.”

The Educational Access Awareness Awards are given annually in 11 categories to encourage students to develop video production and storytelling skills by creating access television shows relevant to their school and community.