Ossining Students Earn Top Honors at 8th Annual BASH Awards

Ossining High School students earned top honors at the 8th Annual BASH (Broadcast Alliance for Senior High) Awards and Learning Conference, held May 22 at Hofstra University. The event, which brought together more than 1,000 students and educators from over 50 high schools, is now recognized as the largest student broadcast gathering in the tri-state area.

Ossining’s student broadcast team brought home two awards, including first place for Best PSA, an individual project by student Sebastian Japal, and third place for Best Opening, which was a collaborative team effort Their accomplishments stood out among more than 200 video submissions that were carefully reviewed by media industry professionals as part of the highly competitive awards process.

In addition to the awards ceremony, students and staff attended professional workshops led by industry experts, Hofstra faculty, and fellow student presenters. The full-day conference offered hands-on learning in media, journalism, and broadcasting, providing invaluable experience and exposure to the rapidly evolving field of digital storytelling. Students also had the opportunity to connect with over 800 peers from schools across Westchester, New York City, and Long Island, creating an energizing environment of collaboration and shared passion.

“It’s great to see that our schools have access to this free event,” said Kate Mathews, Director of Cultural Arts. “It promotes media arts as a way for students to enhance communication skills and use their creative talents collaboratively. We are proud that our students not only participated but were recognized for their outstanding work.”

Ossining Art teacher Yoojin Lin praised her students for their preparation, dedication, and professionalism throughout the event.

“Our students worked incredibly hard and embraced every opportunity the conference provided,” said Ms. Lin. “From the workshops to the networking and, of course, the awards ceremony, this experience has inspired them to continue growing as storytellers and content creators.”

The BASH Awards and Learning Conference, coordinated by the all-volunteer Broadcast Alliance for Senior High, has grown tremendously since its inception in 2017. This year’s conference also partnered with Island Harvest to collect nonperishable food donations, alongside the premiere of a student-produced video addressing food insecurity.

The Ossining Union Free School District congratulates all participating students and staff for representing the district with pride and creativity on such a prominent stage.