Pioneer students win national award with film submission

Pioneer students win national medals in Scholastic Art and Writing program
The film "Piece of You," created by Pioneer Middle School 8th graders Kyndal Locati and Hally Ruff, was awarded a Gold Medal in the Film and Animation category of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program. These Pioneer students competed with approximately 23,000 other regional gold key winners for a Silver or Gold medal. At the national level, there were approximately 1300 Silver Medals and 650 Gold Medals awarded.

In addition, this film was also awarded "Best in Grade." There were only 24 Best in Grade awards given nationally, and Locati and Ruff received the only one in the Film and Animation category. There were only 24 medal recipients from Washington state.

“As far as I can determine, this is the only time students from Walla Walla have won at the national level,” said Pioneer Explorer Program teacher Dan Calzaretta. “This year there were over 255,000 submissions to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards from around the country. It is truly an honor that Kyndal and Hally's film received the highest national recognition possible.”

Locati, Ruff and Calzaretta have been invited to the national celebration events and recognition ceremony in New York City in June.

Photo L-R: Hally Ruff and Kyndal Locati