Demopolis Middle School was notified Thursday that its student-produced video by Meggin Mayben’s broadcast class won second place in the Alabama Association of School Boards Video Contest.

The students’ video was a 60-second public service announcement that promoted the school’s broadcast course, sports, robotics and other areas the school has excelled.

“This is our first full year of having a broadcast class,” Mayben said. “This was one of their first big projects other than doing the actual daily broadcast for the school. They were excited about it. They knew it was going to be a challenge, but the students that I have in the class are very good at taking challenges and succeeding.”

DMS Tiger TV will receive $1,000 for its second place finish in the statewide competition. Mayben said the school is going to use the prize money to buy an Apple iMac and dedicate it to the school’s broadcast program.

The guidelines for the competition were to create a 30-60 second video commercial or Public Service Announcement following the theme “How We Achieve Excellence in our School.” The video was judged on creativity and originality; production quality and technical skill; and effectiveness in portraying the theme.

“Schools thrive thanks to effective educators and leaders who are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure students leave their classrooms prepared for the next level,” said AASB President Katy Campbell.

Mayben said making the video was a difficult process because it was the first year Demopolis Middle School had a broadcast course and the students did not have any prior experience with the equipment.

“Broadcasting equipment does not come with instructions,” Mayben said. “We had to look up tutorials. We had to watch YouTube videos. We had to do a lot of stuff just to figure out how to use the equipment.”

GW Carver High School of Birmingham City Schools finished first in the competition followed by Demopolis, Dadeville High School and Central Middle School.

A total of 22 entries from across the state were submitted and judged by independent media professionals.

The prizes and certificates to each of the winners will be awarded on December 5 at 9 a.m.

The student’s video is expected to show Wednesday, June 10, at the state Board of Education meeting at the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery and on Saturday, December 5, during the AASB Annual Convention at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. The video will also be posted on Alabama Public Television’s website, www.aptv.org, and on www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.