Eighth grade Technology Literacy students used the American Film Institute's "Lights, Camera, Screen Education" model to learn about the film-making process and a few other things along the way. Click here to watch a video about what students learned from participating in PROJECT: FILM.


On June 4, 2008, the first ever Highlander Way "HAWK" Academy Awards Night was held to celebrate and showcase the work these students did all through the year. Student films were nominated in five different categories: Best Script, Best Sound, Best Acting, Best Editing and Best Film. There were five nominated films in each category. Once the nominees were announced, 20 teachers and staff each viewed the nominated films and rated them 1 though 5 (1 for the best.) Numbers were tallied by an independent source and the winners remained unknown until the announcers read the names during the ceremony. Students organized the event and decided that admission would be free, but donations would be accepted and go to the local Autism Speaks organization.

Click on each film title below to see the nominees for Best Film. All films will open in Windows Media Player and are 3 MB in size.

Child Soldiers in Africa
Teen Smoking
Make-Up: The Untold Story
Cystic Fibrosis
The Death Penalty

"The Death Penalty" which was produced by the only two-person team this year (Brooke Hasenbusch and Karlie Moore) won for Best Film. Congratulations to Brook and Karlie and to all of the winners. For a list of all nominated films, click here. To read an article from the Lansing State Journal about the Academy Awards, click here.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and participated in this wonderful event!