Students celebrate storytelling, creativity at EMPixx high school media competition

The Bowman Auditorium at Ohio University Southern was filled with applause, laughter and cheers on Friday, March 21, as high school students from across the region gathered for the 2025 EMPixx Awards. The annual high school media competition, hosted by the University’s Electronic Media program, recognizes outstanding student work in media production—ranging from podcasts and commercials to photography and video storytelling.

Now in its third decade, the EMPixx competition continues to serve as a valuable platform for creativity and connection.

“This event has been taking place for over 20 years and continues to be one of the highlights of the year for our Electronic Media program, as well as for the students and their instructors who participate,” said Brian Corea, director of Electronic Media.

This year’s competition drew 101 entries from eight schools, with students submitting original work across a variety of categories. The day began with a special presentation from MyTown TV, a regional media organization based in Ashland, Kentucky, that specializes in hyper-local content delivered across both digital and traditional platforms. MyTown TV’s presenters, Jeromy Sutherland and Geoff Moore, were both students in Ohio University Southern’s Electronic Media program. They returned to campus not only to showcase their work but to inspire a new generation of creators.

Their message to students was clear: media is constantly changing, and the key to thriving in the field is staying adaptable, passionate and community-focused.

“I think passion overcomes experience,” said Sutherland, who now serves as managing partner and CEO of MyTown TV. “If you’re passionate about the work, you’ll always want to keep learning and improving—and that’s what will carry you forward in this field.”

Both speakers credited their time at Ohio University Southern with shaping their careers. Moore, who spent 20 years in radio before transitioning to video production, said the hands-on opportunities at OHIO Southern made a lasting impact.

“Here, I could walk into the studio between classes and just start learning,” he said. “You were trusted to use the equipment, and that gave me confidence and experience I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”

Sutherland agreed, emphasizing how early exposure to tools like Adobe Photoshop and the broader Adobe Suite sparked his interest in graphic design—skills that ultimately helped lay the foundation for his work in radio, design, and eventually launching MyTown TV.

Founded in 2015, MyTown TV was created with a vision to restore local storytelling at a time when many media organizations were consolidating and moving away from community-centered content. Their broadcasts now span across several counties and include everything from high school sports to community meetings, local features, and regional partnerships like the Kentucky PGA.

“What we do is local, but the reach isn’t small,” said Sutherland, noting the company’s content garnered six million views this school year alone. “We’ve had students recruited by colleges after seeing our coverage. That’s a direct, positive impact—and that’s what drives us.”

Both presenters emphasized the value of teamwork in their operations, likening their company to an “island of misfit toys” where each member brings unique skills and perspectives.

“Surround yourself with knowledgeable people,” Sutherland told the audience. “You don’t have to know everything—just be open to learning and growing.”

Following the presentation, students were given campus tours before gathering in the auditorium once more for the EMPixx awards ceremony. As first and second place winning submissions were played on the big screen, the crowd responded with enthusiastic giggles, cheers and applause—celebrating not only their own work but the creativity of their peers.

“Each year we get to view so many great works by our high school students,” said Ernie Hall, production assistant for Electronic Media. “Not only is this event a wonderful opportunity to mentor and celebrate, but it allows us to get a glimpse of the creativity the next generation of storytellers will be bringing to the media industry. I always look forward to viewing the entries every year, and for the pieces that blow me away.”

2025 Award winners

The 2025 EMPixx Award winners included:

Audio Podcast
1st Place – Fairland (“Talk with Tac”) – Allie Poff, Alli Thomas, Chloe Ward
2nd Place – Clay (“Triple Trouble”) – Alayna Fife, Olivia Moore, Chloe Cole

Digital Photography
1st Place – Fairland (“Wyatt’s Fire”) – Wyatt Kraus
2nd Place – Green – Noelle Lear

Entertainment
1st Place – Portsmouth West (“Lights Off”) – Kade Woods, Claira Davis, Tyson McGinnis
2nd Place – Green (“John Smith interviews Matt Lucas”) – Leeonah Floyd, Andrew Hoffer, Alex Spangenberg, Killian Yoakem, Uriah Satterfield, Trinity Phillips, Sydney Little, Peyton Neal, Addison Christian, Kase McIntyre, Alaysia Kirkman, Ava Abrams, Lexy Gullet, Emma Brown

Newscast (Tie)
1st Place – Minford – Hannah Stockham, Tatum Coriell, Wyatt Newsome, Karleigh Sherman, Lyla Horsley, Marissa Justice, Bryson Conley, Emily Weekly, Keenan Gregory, Gabe Humston, Dalton Howard, Levi Mullens, Maddox Porter
1st Place – Fairland – Isabelle Swindler, Kadence Ulrich, Aeden Miller, Molly Dunlao, James McIntyre, Molly Dunlap, Kameron Kitts, Brody Buchanan, Tristan Rogge, Austin Kujak

News Feature Story
1st Place – Portsmouth West (“Anastasia”) – Ava Carter, Kendal Matthews

Radio Commercial
1st Place – Fairland (“Candune”) – Gina Pierce
2nd Place – Chesapeake (“Exit That”) – Kendall Root, Brie Kelley, Logan Diamond

Video Commercial
1st Place – Portsmouth West (“Be the Potato”) – Ashton Reynolds, Claira Davis
2nd Place – Portsmouth West (“Potato Insurance”) – Max Rapp, Austin Ramsey, Levi Bays

As the event concluded, Moore shared what made the day meaningful to him. “It’s great to be in a room full of people who love what we love—who care about storytelling, editing, cameras, sound. It feels like home.”

Sutherland echoed that sentiment, adding, “This is the kind of event I wish existed when I was in high school. Seeing the spark in these students—it’s the beginning of something. They’re already creators. This is just the start.”