When the lights dim in elementary classrooms across Judson ISD this spring, young students won’t be watching a typical reading public service announcement; they’ll be watching commercials created by high schoolers from right here in their own district.
That authentic, student‑to‑student connection is exactly what JISD Board member Laura Stanford envisioned when she launched the district’s first Video Ad Contest, an initiative aimed at inspiring early readers through creativity and peer influence.
Stanford, along with JISD Board and committee members Suzanne Kenoyer and Lesley Lee, invited high school students to produce 60‑second commercials that would make reading feel fun, relevant and exciting to children. The response, she said, went above and beyond.
“We wanted to create a project that would let our high school students encourage our youngest learners to love reading,” Stanford said. “Having older students deliver the message makes it feel relatable and authentic, and that kind of connection really matters for developing a lifelong interest in reading.”
Nearly 40 videos were submitted, far more than the committee anticipated. Students experimented with animation, original scripts, voice‑overs, humor and heartfelt storytelling. Judges evaluated each entry based on audience appropriateness, message clarity, technical quality, and creativity and originality.
The top three submissions came from three different high schools, highlighting talent across the district:
First place: Brian Berry, Judson High School – Watch Video
Second place: Hailey Kim, Judson Early College Academy – Watch Video
Third place: Ivy Keane-Dawes, Veterans Memorial High School – Watch Video
The winners were recognized during a recent board meeting. Duane Westerman of SAMCO Capital joined JISD Board members to present gift cards, which SAMCO generously donated to the top three students.
Stanford said she was moved not only by the creativity of the entries but by the care students put into crafting messages for younger audiences.
“I was thrilled by both the number and the creativity of the videos our students produced,” she said. “Their talent, enthusiasm and genuine desire to inspire younger readers came through in every entry. Our students delivered work that exceeded expectations.”
During the event, Community Connections Awards were presented to Duane and Nick Westerman for their support, as well as to the volunteer judges who helped review the submissions.
The winning commercials will now be shared across JISD campuses, where elementary teachers can use them to spark conversations about books and reading.
As the winning videos begin making their way into elementary classrooms, the contest has already accomplished its goal by connecting students across campuses and sparking excitement about reading. The creativity and collaboration shown throughout the project highlight the meaningful impact students can have on one another and point to a bright future for both readers and storytellers across the district.