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CSM Digital Media Students Win Big with Public Safety PSAs
Ten College of Southern Maryland (CSM) digital media production students earned top honors, and more than $6,200 in scholarships, for their creative public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at preventing vehicle theft in Maryland.
Winners in the audio PSA category were Campbell Earhart, Jada Cousins, Michael Couch and Veronica Walton.
Winning video PSA teams included:
- Earhart and Nicholas Wyandt
- Carrico Vela and Brooke-Lynne Glover
- Cousins and Christopher Bowen
- Sophia Ringling and Thomas Hall
In total, four individual students were recognized in the audio category, and four student teams - eight students - were honored in the video category. Two students, Earhart and Cousins, placed in both categories.
Their award-winning PSAs will be used across Maryland to raise awareness and help deter auto theft, a crime that occurs every 22 minutes in the state. Many of these thefts happen when drivers leave keys or valuables in plain sight.
The PSAs were produced as part of the 2024 Maryland State PSA Competition, sponsored by the Maryland State Police, the Maryland/D.C. Anti-Car Theft Committee and the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council.
The 10 students created the PSAs under the mentorship of Digital Media Production Professor Olaniyi Areke from CSM’s Arts and Humanities Department. The competition includes entries from both community colleges and four-year institutions.
“This is the ninth year that CSM has participated in this competition,” Areke said at the April 3 award ceremony held at CSM’s La Plata Campus. “We were the first community college to be included, and we’ve continued to hold our own against four-year universities ever since.”
CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson joined the ceremony to celebrate the students' success.
“This day is all about you and celebrating you and your work,” Wilson told the students. “You’ve clearly demonstrated the skills and competencies that you learned through your coursework, and now it’s on full display. We couldn’t be more proud of you.”
Following Wilson’s remarks, Areke added, “You’re so creative; I’m so proud of you.”
To watch the student videos, please visit these links:
Carrico Vela and Brooke Lynne Glover
Campbell Earheart and Nicholas Wyandt
Jada Cousins and Christopher Bowen
Sophia Ringling and Thomas Hall
To learn more, please visit https://mdsp.maryland.gov/Organization/Pages/OfficeoftheSuperintendent/PSAContest.aspx.