HIGHLAND HILLS – An environmental training DVD produced by the environmental, health and safety technology department at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) recently earned a prestigious bronze Telly Award. The training video, entitled “Volunteer Stream Monitoring: Your Role in Protecting Water Quality,” received the award in the “Instructional/How To” category.
“The development of the video was in response to growing interest from community members and volunteer groups in monitoring the rivers and streams in Ohio and other Great Lakes states,” said Lou Rifici (Old Brooklyn), assistant professor of environmental, health and safety technology/biology, who wrote the script and served as producer/assistant director. “Because the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has embraced the involvement of volunteers in monitoring the quality of waterways, Tri-C was able to obtain a grant from them to help fund this project.” The intent of the DVD is to help train participants to collect water quality data safely and accurately. The video gives step by step instructions using actual student volunteers and monitoring equipment on location at the Chagrin River.
Thirty-five watershed coordinators in Ohio have received the watershed training DVD, as well as corresponding educational materials, for use in developing and sustaining volunteer monitoring efforts in their watersheds. At least seven of the recipients were from county soil and water conservation districts.
In addition to Mr. Rifici, other Tri-C faculty and staff were involved in the nearly two-year production process. Herb Mausser (Cleveland’s West Side), program manager of environmental, health and safety technology and interim associate dean of health careers and sciences narrated. Biology professors Kim Royal (Solon) and Dr. Michael Rowan (Mentor) provided technical expertise and instructed video volunteers. Directing, videography and editing services were provided by Eric Kuentz (Parma) and John Kemmerling (Macedonia), staff from the Tri-C Learning Resource Center.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor for Tri-C. It recognizes a significant creative achievement and acknowledges the strides that Tri-C faculty and staff make in order to insure that learning for all is an award-winning process,” states Rifici.
Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online film and video. With over 13,000 national and global entries received annually, the Telly Awards showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies and corporate video departments in the world.