We’re pleased to announce one of the 2011 GoAbroad Innovation Awards finalists in the category of Innovative Student Video. We received many wonderful nominations and the selection committee has chosen the finalists. Each day this week, we will be featuring one of the Student Video finalists.
UPDATE: The finalists have been chosen — and now it’s YOUR turn to help choose the winner of the 2011 GoAbroad Innovation Award for Most Innovative Student Video! This is the ONLY GoAbroad Innovation Award that is chosen by a public vote. The voting period is now open and the poll will close (and will no longer be visible) at a pre-selected time on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 — so get your votes in NOW and encourage others to vote! Submit your vote in the column to the right!
FINALIST: Building A Future by Andrew (Drew) Paton of Texas A&M University on an Aggie Men’s Club Spring 2011 volunteer program with Building a Future in Honduras
This video was created by a Texas A&M student during a March 2011 social service trip to Honduras with Building A Future ( a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of Honduras). A Spanish language version was also produced. The music is Sæglópur by Sigur Rós. While some of the lyrics are in Icelandic, the majority of the sounds are not part of any language but instead convey emotions that the artist was feeling when writing the song. Drew felt this was a great song to use as sometimes there are no words to express certain emotions, some are which are reflected in the video and music. The nominator highlighted:
The beauty of the children, which represent the future of Honduras, shown through the lens of his camera.
- The video captures so many beautiful children demonstrating the poverty that they live. Although they do live in poverty the purity in their eyes and smiles shows their hapiness amidst their circumstances.
- The video shows the work and impact the students from Texas A&M had on the people in Honduras. From the timelapse house construction shot to the dancing kids shot, the video shows the different activities that were conducted during the week.
- The video ultimately will help Building A Future raise funds necessary to continue operating in Honduras and contribute to poverty alleviation programs.
Congratulations to each of the finalists! Public voting for best video will commence shortly after all the finalists have been announced. Be sure to vote for your favorite video!
The winner of this category will be announced at the GoAbroad invitation-only reception during the upcoming NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference and will be posted to the GoAbroad blog.