Pine Crest digital media students showcase their talent and creativity while competing at a prestigious national conference in Tampa, Florida

Pine Crest, Florida – Pine Crest Middle and Upper School students recently showcased their broadcasting and filmmaking talents at the Student Television Network (STN) annual conference in Tampa, Florida. The prestigious event brought together more than 3,500 students from across the country for a week of intensive workshops, fast-paced competitions, and valuable networking opportunities.

The conference, known for its rigorous challenges, provided Pine Crest students with real-world experience in the fast-paced world of media production. Participants were tasked with meeting tight deadlines, solving creative problems under pressure, and producing high-quality content in a competitive environment.

“It was an incredible, challenging, and rewarding event—one that continues to push our students to new creative heights,” said Mr. David Burgess, Director of Digital Media Production. “It is inspiring to watch our students tackle real-world deadlines under immense pressure. I was in awe of their ability to problem-solve, innovate and refine their work on the fly.”

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One of the standout achievements this year was Pine Crest’s success in the highly competitive “Crazy 8’s” competition. This challenge, which requires students to produce a fully developed broadcast package in just eight hours, is one of the most difficult at the conference. All three Pine Crest entries placed, a testament to the students’ dedication, teamwork, and storytelling skills.

Adding to the school’s recognition, Pine Crest student Isabella O’Hara ’29 was selected as a presenter for the Closing Ceremony Awards Show. “She represented Pine Crest with poise, confidence, and enthusiasm,” said Mr. Burgess.

Pine Crest students received several awards across multiple categories, demonstrating excellence in both middle and upper school divisions:

Pre-Convention Winner:

• STN Amazing Race Competition

Middle School Awards:

• Broadcast Excellence Award – Boca Raton (Team Award)
• Broadcast Excellence Award – Fort Lauderdale (Team Award)
• First Place – Crazy 8s Morning Broadcast – Fort Lauderdale AND Boca Raton (Team Award)
• Third Place – Arts and Culture Feature Story (Evangeline Bangsil ’29, Isabella O’Hara ’29, Veronica Forero-Kelly ’29)

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Upper School Awards:

• Broadcast Excellence Award (Team Award)
• Honorable Mention – Crazy 8s Morning Broadcast (Team Award)
• Honorable Mention – Crazy 8s Short Film (Team Award)
• First Place – Commentary (Austin Stanise ’25 and Sam Anidjar ’26)
• First Place – vLog (Massiel Wilson ’25, Natasha Bodmer ’26)

With multiple awards and national recognition, Pine Crest’s digital media students continue to excel in the field of broadcast journalism and film production. Their success at the STN conference reflects not only their hard work and talent but also the strength of Pine Crest’s digital media program.

As they return to the classroom, these students carry with them valuable experience and skills that will serve them well in future creative and professional endeavors.