The SEVAs, or Student Educational Video Awards, culminate in a special evening event that features a red carpet walk, interviews and paparazzi attention for all attending student producers. But holding that award onstage is the end of the journey.

Students and teachers begin the process of creating educational videos when the school year begins. When the contest started more than 20 years ago, there were a handful of entries; in 2009, that number grew to 370. With 68 schools and 1600 students represented, this record-breaking level of participation gives testimony to the interest in creating video — both by students and their teachers.

Open to Sacramento county students (K-20), the SEVAs celebrate the talents and visions of student video producers. Contest categories include documentary, instructional, PSA (public service announcement) and school news.

> Link to the online entry form

As video technology becomes increasingly accessible through multimedia classes, the SEVAs help SECC connect with students and educators. The contest also teaches students about much more than video production: teamwork, idea organization, deciding what’s important and how to express that in both words and images and be understood — these all make the SEVAs a great learning tool for everyone involved.

> Learn more about the SEVA contest

Take a look at some online resources for students and teachers interesting in learning more about video:

> SEVA Teacher Training series resources

> SEVA promotional and informative videos

> Student DV