​​This year’s Video Contest will showcase the resilience our students are showing in the face of adversity. The isolation and overall impact of the pandemic has been profound, and we are still living its effects 2 years later.  So, we wanted to honor that reality by listening to our students’ experiences. How are students best utilizing coping strategies? How are they supporting their own mental health, or the mental health of each other? 
Our Participants Benefit by:
  • Learning important information regarding behavioral health
  • Receiving community service credit or class credit
  • Influencing their peers and the community in a positive way
  • Seeing your video shown in the community
  • Winning awesome prizes

​​

Step 1 Pick a Prompt and ​Create a 2 Min Video
​Influence the Choice is sponsoring our 10th annual video contest to inspire youth to POSITIVELY influence each other by producing 2 minutes public service announcements on one of the following topics:
  1. “There are a lot of big emotions surrounding everything that is going on in the world.  What are positive ways you are handling those big emotions?” 
  2. “How have these past years impacted who you are and your community?  In what ways have you helped or been helped by a neighbor or friend?”     
  3. “To My Younger Self--Telling Middle Schoolers What They Can Do to Stay Drug-Free”
Step 2​ Read Rules Carefully Here!
Step 3 Upload Video Here!
Step 4​ Fill Out Entry Form Here!
Step 5 Have Fun!  Videos Due April 17th
​The prompts this year provide hope that with good coping strategies and support of each other, students can overcome the many COVID-19 challenges disrupting their lives. 
 
Total cash prizes will be matched with an equivalent cash donation from ITC in honor of the student winners to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank and Eastside Baby Corner.  By doing so we hope to shed light on these important partner organizations that provide basic student needs while demonstrating to students the importance of helping others during this great time of need.

Past Winners 

2021 Overall winner!
I'll Remember 
By Erik Lundbeck, Nate Shiosaki, Cole Zulaluf, Aryan Chauhan, Lee Culwell  
What do you think you will take away from your time in isolation and how might that affect your future self?
#1 Dear Future Self by Makenna Weeks 
​#2 Coping with COVID by David Velcsov and Aili Conley
#3 How COVID Changed Us by Jack Nelson
What are ways that you can support a friend or encourage them to get help if they are in distress? 
​#1 Stay Connected in a Connected World by Ethan Doan
#2 Interval by ​Kaiden Thompson, Giovanni Jennings, David Adams, Thomas Tastad, and Gabriel Dy
#3 COVID Life by Angelina Pimkina​
​What are the methods you are using to positively cope since we have been in this pandemic?
High School #1 ​Every Adversity has seeds of Opportunity by Nakul Grover  ​
High School #2 Stay in touch with who YOU are by Vibha Shivarajan
High School #3 Influence the Choice 2021 Video  by Matthew Perry and ​Andrew Schmidt 
Middle School #1 Pining for Adventure by Ellie Nishino
Middle School #2 ​Eggy's Ways to Cope During the Pandemic by ​Xiaomeng Lyu
Middle School #3 ​ You're In Control by ​Manu Gopal

2020 Contest winners

meet 2020's contest winner!

Henry Shriber is a 9th grader who attends Skyline High School
Title: Choose to Refuse

first place winners by category

My Choice to Be Healthy:

​High School- Branden Holland, 9th Grade
"What Inspires Me to Make Healthy Choices"
Middle School- Ayalah Ziv, 7th Grade
"The Choice is Yours"
Create Your Own:
High School- Neethi Belur, 11th Grade
"One Girl, One Choice, Two Paths"
Middle School- MS Xiaomeng Lyu, 6th Grade
"Choice"
To My Future Self:
High School- Andrew Schmidt, 11th Grade
"Influence the Choice 202 Entry"

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To My Younger Self:
High School- Neethi Belur, Grace Tran, grade level?
"The Choice"
Thank you to all the students who participated this year in our 8th annual Student Video Contest!

We had 22 video submissions by 40 students from 11 different schools for a total of 7,474 hours of healthy student engagements in support of their peers!

We hope you will enjoy all of the winning video submissions-
​
Create Your Own My Choice to Be Healthy To My Future Self To My Younger Self
Influence the Choice is a 501©3 nonprofit organization.