Short film competition explores ‘Power of Community’ in Cupertino

Three student filmmakers win scholarships from Silicon Valley Clean Energy.

Students from Cupertino schools cleaned up in the third annual EmPower Silicon Valley Short Film Competition sponsored by Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE).

The Sunnyvale-based green energy aggregator asked local students to make films illustrating the transition to clean energy around the themes “Go Electric” and “The Power of Community.”

Lawson Middle School student Ava Hwang won the Energy Impact Award for her film “The Energetic Spirits of Wit.” The award came with  a $3,000 scholarship.

Among the entrants who won honorable mention awards of $2,000 each were Kelly Tung from Monta Vista High School and Aaditya Karnataki from Cupertino High School. Kelly won the award for Best Storytelling for “Stronger Together,” and Aaditya took the prize for Best Skit for “Electrification 101.”

The EmPower Silicon Valley Competition is an SVCE education initiative. The short films were judged by a panel of SVCE board members and staff members.

“Each year I am delighted to see what students come up with to creatively tell stories and educate their parents, community and peers about climate change issues and solutions,” said SVCE Board Chair George Tyson, a Los Altos Hills councilmember, in a statement.

“As a community organization, it’s important that we engage with our youth and offer them opportunities to learn and be rewarded to further enhance their educational opportunities.”

View the winning short films at SVCleanEnergy.org/Empower-SV.