Jeffrey Rudkin, a teacher at The Lora Batchelor Middle School has impressed the MY HERO judges yet again.
Jeffrey RudkinRudkinLast year Jeffrey was honored with the MY HERO Educator Award for his ongoing stellar middle school student submissions - documentary films about “ordinary people doing heroic things”.
This year two of his submissions are receiving special awards and a further three placed first in the middle school humanitarian, science and civil rights categories.
Jeffrey teaches students about heroism in both his Video I and Video II classes. Both are electives that include business, tech, video production, product marketing, and promotion, with 30 students per class. Here Rudkin exposes students to a wide variety of films and provides opportunities for students to succeed.
Video I students make their first documentary, which is a video biography. Their second biography is about a hero in sports, history, or a parent, coach, or other unsung hero.
Video II students, his eighth graders, do a project every six weeks where they create a PSA about a hero of their choice for competitions. The students are not required to submit films to film festivals, but it is strongly encouraged.
“The study of heroes,” Jeffery told MY HERO, “gives the students role models to look up to. These are people who did things for other people. Especially unsung heroes, which require more research. The students discuss the stories of ordinary people doing heroic things and making the right choices, helping the students to understand global world views.”
2023 Award Winners
Eva Haller Women Transforming Media Student Award
Maya Angelou filmMY HERO
My Hero - Maya Angelou by Sakura Forney
Maya Angelou's life and how she changed her community's perspective on racism and sexism.
Watch here: myhero.com/my-hero-maya-angelou
WOJ Youth Reporter Award Middle School Documentary
Fannie Lou Hamer FilmMY HERO
Fannie Lou Hamer - A Civil Rights Unsung Hero by Elia Grace Defore
This documentary is about the unsung hero Fannie Lou Hamer who helped African Americans receive their right to vote.
Watch here: myhero.com/fannie-lou-hamer-a-civil-rights-unsung-hero
Middle School Science 1st Place
Grace Hopper FilmMY HEROGrace Hopper, (An Unsung Hero) by Audrey Eason
Trailblazing mathematician Grace Hopper is amazing example of the power you have if you put your mind to it!
Watch here: myhero.com/grace-hopper
Middle School Humanitarian 1st Place
MY HEROEchoes of Peace FilmEchoes of Peace - The Gandhi Story by Daniel Joseph Taylor
An 8 minute film about the life of Mahatma Gandhi and how he fought for India's independence through non-violent resistance.
Watch here myhero.com/echoes-of-peace-the-gandhi-story
Middle School Civil Rights Heroes 1st Place
MY HERODorothy Cotton FilmDorothy Cottens adventure by Dylan Charles Winiger
Dorothy Cotton was an American civil rights activist, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and a member of the inner circle of one of its main organizations, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). As the SCLC's Educational Director, she was arguably the highest ranked female member of the organization.
Watch here myhero.com/dorothy-cotton-2
See more Batchelor Middle School films here: myhero.com/lora-batchelor-middle-school-films
Read more about Jeffrey Rudkin HERE.
About the MY HERO International Film Festival:
The My Hero Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films celebrating the power of the human spirit. Hosted by Eva Haller, a prominent philanthropist and advocate for social change, the festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college, and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.
The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.
Join us for the Awards Celebrations:
Saturday, November 18th at 2pm (PST). Festival winners and their heroes will be on hand to answer questions and share their stories. Short clips from select films will be screened. Awards are given to winners at Elementary, Middle School, High School, College and Professional levels. Register HERE.
Sunday, November 19th @ 10:30 am (PST). Celebration of Winners is a family-friendly virtual event! We will recognize select first-place winners in a variety of categories including: Sing for Hope Music Video Award, Mattie Stepanek Poetic Film Prize and Student Awards - Elementary, Middle, High School & College, Animation, Documentary, Narrative, Experimental, Trailer, Humanitarian, Poetic, Human Rights, Environmental, Immersive Storytelling Award, and more. Register HERE.
Page created on 11/17/2023 3:42:58 PM
Last edited 11/17/2023 4:03:07 PM
