Russian River Watershed Association's 2025 High School Video Contest

2025 High School Video Contest

A PSA, or Public Service Announcement, video is short, educational, and designed to create awareness. Whether it's a newscast, animation, interview, commercial, reality TV show, or music video, let your imagination soar. But first, read the following instructions carefully!

Contest Details

2025 High School Video Contest theme: Water Careers Unleashed: Navigating the Blue Path
Explore roles in the water sector, interview professionals, and visit workplaces. Combine storytelling and research to inspire viewers to consider water-related professions that safeguard our planet's most vital resource.

Submission Deadline
 11:59 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2025

Deadline extended - 11:59 p.m., Thursday, March 13, 2025

The deadline has been extended to allow the opportunity for students to film interviews at the North Bay Science Festival on Saturday, March 8th. This is the perfect place to connect with professionals in the water industry. https://www.northbayscience.org/

Winning Videos Celebration

Winning videos will premiere at an Awards Ceremony, alongside recognition for grant recipients of the A Call to Action program.

Contest Information

Who May Enter?

Students in grades 9 - 12 attending high school in Sonoma, Mendocino, or northern Marin counties. Homeschool students are welcome to participate.

Entries can be an individual or team effort.

Creators and co-creators

  • Creators and co-creators are eligible to win prize money. A student can submit one entry as a creator OR one entry as a co-creator, but not both. 
  • Maximum of 5 co-creators per video entry.

Contributors

  • Contributors are not eligible to win prize money. An example of a contributor would be an actor who had a small role in the video.
  • A contributor does not need to be a high school student.
  • No maximum number of contributors.
  • Contributors are welcome to contribute to multiple videos.
  • You can be a creator on one video entry and a contributor on multiple video entries.

What prizes are offered?

Cash awards will be split with 50% of the prize money going to the individual(s) who submitted the video and 50% to the high school they attend.

  • 1st Place - $1,500
  • 2nd Place - $1,000
  • 3rd Place - $500

What are the video guidelines?

Your production needs to be exactly 55 seconds in length (this includes the required closing scene – see more info below).

Recommended video specifications: 

  • Resolution- 720p (1280x720), 1080p (1920x1080), 4K UHD (3840x2160) or DCI 4K (4096x2160)
  • Codec –  H.264 preferred
  • Frame Rate – 24
  • All text must be in title safe area.
  • File Type: .MOV or .MP4

All entries must be student-created. The entry may not contain any copyrighted material of any medium (music, images, etc.) and no professional assistance is allowed. Such use will result in an automatic disqualification. Interviews with professionals are acceptable, even encouraged!

DO NOT delete your original project file until the winners of the contest have been announced. If you place, you may be asked to make modifications to your entry.

Click here to see 2025 Video Contest: Information and Guidelines

How should I end my video?

Closing scene: This contest is sponsored by the Russian River Watershed Association. The last scene must feature:

  1. The Russian River Watershed Association logo(please do not modify the logo from its original form or color)
  2. And the text: For more information about careers in the water industry, please visit: sonomawater.org/careers

Does my video have to be in English?

RRWA welcomes videos in all languages, but please include English subtitles. 

Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 13th, 2025

How do I submit my video?

Clearly label your video file with the last names of those submitting the video to help us quickly and easily identify your video.

Please export your entry as a single file in the highest quality. Preferred formats include: .mp4, .mpg, .wmv, or .avi.

Entries can be submitted through the following methods:

All entries must be submitted or postmarked by 11:59 p.m., Thursday, March 13, 2025. 

USB drives can be mailed to:

ATTN Sarah Wickersham
 Sonoma Water
 404 Aviation Boulevard
 Santa Rosa, CA 95403

If you need to reach Sonoma Water's front desk, please call 707-526-5370.

Please DO NOT delete your original project file until the winners of the contest have been announced. If you place, you may be asked to make modifications to your entry.

What about the Entry Release Form?

A completed Entry Release Form must be submitted for every contributor involved in the production of the video. This means, if you ask your younger siblings to be an actor in your production, they must also submit a release form. On the release form, please select all roles that apply. Only creators and co-creators will receive prize money. 

If you are using a School Google Account, use this link to access the Entry Release Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6EsQt022_17IFWxW4YYGPv7iSlNVrY4L615tr2NBfvVk00w/viewform

You must provide the source of your royalty-free images and music for any unoriginal content.

You may submit your form online or by mail.

1.) ONLINE submission:

  1. Open the fillable PDF.
  2. Type in your information.
  3. Print the document.
  4. Collect signatures on the appropriate lines.
  5. Scan the form as a PDF. Only PDFs will be accepted.
  6. If you have more than one release form per video, please upload them all together.
  7. Upload your Entry Release Form

2.) MAIL submission:

  1. Open the fillable PDF.
  2. Type in your information.
  3. Print the document.
  4. Collect signatures on the appropriate lines.
  5. If there is more than one release form per video, please staple or clip them together.
  6. All of your release forms must be postmarked on Thursday, March 6, 2025, to:

     ATTN Sarah Wickersham
      Sonoma Water
      404 Aviation Boulevard
      Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Use this checklist to ensure you’ve included all the important criteria in your video:

  • Does your video inspire viewers to consider water-related professions that play a crucial role in safeguarding water, our planet’s most vital resource?
  • Did you explain why the career(s) is exciting or rewarding, and why someone should consider a water career?
  • Does your video focus on the Russian River watershed?
  • Did you include why this topic is of importance to the public and/or why water/wastewater/flood control careers are essential to serving the public? 
  • Does your video clearly include the job title and/or other names it may be referred to?
  • Did you research the topic to make sure your facts are accurate? 
  • Is your video entertaining, creative, and original?
  • Is the audio and technical construction clear and of high quality? (No blurry or pixelated images please!)
  • Make sure your closing scene features: The RRWA logo (please do not modify the logo from its original form) and the text: For more information about careers in the water industry, please visit: sonomawater.org/careers
  • Did each person involved in the production of the video fill out an Entry Release Form?
  • Did you clearly label your video file with the last names of those submitting the video?
  • Did you follow ALL of the requirements listed above?
  • Please do NOT delete your original project file until the winners of the contest have been announced.

How do I evaluate my sources?

Here are some questions to consider as you evaluate your sources of information:

  • Who created this website/video/article and what are their qualifications?
  • What other content is included? Does the author list the source of their information?
  • What is the purpose of the website? Are they selling a product or service? Can you detect any bias?
  • How current is the information?
  • How pertinent is it to where we live?

Check out these links to help you evaluate the authenticity of a website:

Resources for further information:

Use the following resources to get you started on your research:

PSA and Video Creation:

*Your video entry should focus on the Russian River watershed.

Need Inspiration?

Explore Careers in Water:

How will my video be scored?

An 8-member judging panel including professionals in media and water industries will rate the videos on the following criteria: Connection to this year's theme, creativity and originality, entertainment value, accuracy of the information, and composition.

  • Connection to this year's theme: The video shares a strikingly unique perspective and/or noteworthy idea/s related to the theme. Viewer is left deeply engaged and wanting to learn more.
  • Creativity and originality: Video is original, creative, and provides a unique, interesting approach.
  • Entertainment value: WOW! This video is memorable, hilarious, or remarkable. Video captivates audience.
  • Accuracy of the information: All information is clear, appropriate, and correct. Clear evidence of understanding and communicating content. 
  • Composition: Video is well planned with smooth transitions, timing and edits. Sound is balanced and easy to hear. All sound and visual elements coincide with the video's message.

Contact

For questions, reach out to:
Sarah Wickersham
Email: Sarah.Wickersham@scwa.ca.gov
Phone: 707-526-5370


About the Russian River Watershed Association

The Russian River Watershed Association is a coalition of ten cities, counties, and special districts in the Russian River watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration, and watershed enhancement.