PSA Video Contest Challenges Chicago Area High School Students To Create PSA Videos Addressing Air Quality Issues

CHICAGO, IL –Illinois Partners for Clean Air (Illinois PFCA) is pleased to announce the launch of Shoot for the Skies PSA Video Contest, a creative contest open to Chicago area high school students in the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will. Students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 (public, private or home school) are invited to write, direct and produce their own Public Service Announcement (PSA) video utilizing their talent, creativity and inspiration to educate the general public about Chicago area air quality and actions to improve it.

“Many high school students have a passion and enthusiasm for environmental issues, and we hope to tap into their creativity,” said Deirdre McQuillen of Illinois Partners for Clean Air. “We hope these young people will bring a new perspective to the important issue of improving air quality.”

Prize money will be awarded to the entrant(s) of the winning PSA videos and their school(s).

• 1st Place:  Student(s) $1,000  School $500
• 2nd Place:  Student(s) $500  School $250
• 3rd Place:  Student(s) $250  School $125
• Honorable Mention:  Student(s) $100

Winning entries will be announced in April 2015 to coincide with the Illinois Partners for Clean Air 20th Anniversary. The winning submissions will be posted for the public to view on the YouTube channel ShootForTheSkies-PSA. The 1st place entries may also be used in conjunction with future Illinois Partners for Clean Air media campaigns.

Individuals entering the contest must submit their entries to the Illinois PFCA YouTube channel ShootForTheSkies-PSA by December 10, 2014. Submissions will be judged by members of the Illinois PFCA Steering Committee on the basis of compliance with rules and guidelines, use of facts and figures found in provided materials, content, creativity, persuasiveness, technical production quality, and accuracy of message.    

PSAs should be created to coincide with the scoring criteria and incorporate the air quality tips and facts provided by Illinois Partners for Clean Air. Creativity is highly encouraged as long as PSAs promote air quality awareness and the specified actions to improve air quality.

Students and schools interested in participating in the Shoot for the Skies PSA Video Contest can obtain related documents and materials along with the Official Contest Rules through the Illinois Partners for Clean Air website at http://www.cleantheair.org/educational-programs/shoot-for-the-skies-psa-video-contest.

Prizes are provided through Illinois Partners for Clean Air Corporate Sponsorships. For additional information on the Shoot for the Skies PSA Video Contest or Illinois Partners for Clean Air, visit www.cleantheair.org.