The Jaguars Foundation is pleased to announce Paxon School for Advanced Studies as the winner of this year's Straight Talk Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest with their PSA about the importance of communication and the consequences of unprotected sex. It will air on the stadium screen during the Jaguars August 19 preseason game, where the winning group of students will be able to view it as special guests (on Kids Day) in the Weaver Suite.
Straight Talk is the Jaguars Foundation's initiative to prevent teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections among teens. All area public and private middle and high schools; and, nonprofit organizations were invited to participate in a public service announcement contest in conjunction with the Foundation's annually televised Straight Talk program. The objective was for students to produce a creative and effective thirty second public service announcement relating to teen pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections prevention, targeting the middle school population.
Three finalists: Kirby Smith Middle School; Bartram Trail High School and Paxon School for Advanced Studies were chosen by a judging panel and these finalist PSAs were shown on the televised Straight Talk show last May. The viewing audience had the opportunity to nominate their choice for the winning PSA on-line at straighttalk.jacksonville.com.
Paxon School for Advanced Studies was selected the winner based on the following judging criteria: 1) Message; 2) Production/Technical Quality; 3) Creativity; and, 4) On-Line Votes.
The Paxon high school group consisting of five students: Alia Baughn, Kate Pratt-Dannals, Michael White, Lindsay McGee and Sharon Cook under the guidance of teacher, Andrew Bowen, will receive the following as prizes: 1) Invitation to the Weaver Suite at the August 19 home game; 2) Shadowing of Jaguars Broadcasting at Jaguars November 5 home game; and, 3) WJCT-7 studio tour.
This is the third year the Jaguars Foundation has run this contest. The 2005 contest winner was Fleming Island High School and the 2004 winner was Bartram Trail High School.
