PV students named finalists in statewide video contest

What is a special district?

Several Pleasant Valley High students aimed to answer that question and educate the public about the matter for the California Special District Association student video contest, which challenges students to create 60-second videos explaining what special districts are and why they matter.

Videos by Pleasant Valley High students Zach Almand and Jakobie Rhodes, and Dylan Miner and Preston Lopez, finalists in the completion, define the special service governmental units by the services the districts provide to Californians, including clean drinking water, electricity and resource conservation. The teams also highlighted the Chico Area Recreation and Park District and the facilities and programs it offers, such as martial arts and soccer.

PV student teams submitted four videos, and two made it to the final round and are eligible to win prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500.

The contest gives students a chance to compete for several cash prizes, and the videos they created will likely help the Chico Area Recreation and Park District as well, CARD Marketing Director Ryan Arnold said.

“It may be a tool that we can use to help explain who we are as well,” Arnold said, adding that the contest gave CARD the chance to connect with students. “Being able to see the discipline and excitement of these students was really fun and encouraging. Some of them really grabbed the bull by horns and captures the variety of what CARD does.”

The finalists were selected by a Special Districts Association Panel. The association held a public vote for the five finalists, and the winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

The students’ videos can be found on the California Special Districts Association website.