North Gwinnett News

Paul Duke STEM High School students have been recognized for their achievements at the 2024 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Southeast Region Student Production Awards. The awards ceremony highlighted the talent and hard work of the school's 12th-grade Audio-Visual students.

Jaiden Clark received first place in the Animation/Graphics/Special Effects category for his contributions to Paul Duke STEM High's television show, PDS-TV. In addition, student producers Aero Bingham, Abigail Donkor, Jaiden Clark, and Landon Shell secured first place in the Non-Fiction—Long Form category with their project titled Making: She Kills Monsters. Each winning project was honored with a crystal pillar.

Principal Dr. Jonathon Wetherington expressed pride in both the students and their teacher, Mr. Skelton. "I would like to say how proud I am of our students and their teacher, Mr. Skelton," he stated. "These students invested considerable time into their projects, and I am excited that their commitment, skills, and efforts are being recognized."

The NATAS Student Production Awards aim to acknowledge exceptional student work in video production. The awards encourage continued excellence among media and journalism students while highlighting notable cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news, and informational accomplishments by undergraduate college or high school students.

Brooke Skelton, Paul Duke STEM High’s Audio Video Technology and Film Teacher spoke about the Making: She Kills Monsters project saying it mirrored real-world experiences where problem-solving, communication skills, teamwork were essential along with compromising and meeting deadlines.

Following this regional success, Paul Duke STEM High School's students will advance to compete in the National Student Production Awards competition later this year.

For further details on these achievements or future announcements from NATAS visit their official website.