Polio Videos By Pine-Richland Students Need Your Votes

How did Pine-Richland students armed with video cameras take a shot at changing the world? And how can you help them?

It's a play on words, actually. The "shot" is the polio vaccine.

The students entered a video contest to "Take A Shot at Changing the World" that is inspired by a new film, "The Shot Felt 'Round the World." It tells the story of how Dr. Jonas Salk and his team pulled together with the Pittsburgh community and nation to develop the polio vaccine.

Students in 60 middle and high schools in southwestern Pennsylvania were challenged to come up with a short video about the development of the vaccine and ongoing work today to eradicate the disease worldwide.

Pine-Richland High School students entered two videos in the 10th-12th grade category. You can help them by voting for their videos.

"If You Want the Rainbow" was written, edited, filmed and acted by Davis Karran and Jeff Burgess. Student Jake Chavara stars in this depiction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his battle to succeed despite his polio. Click here to view the video.

"Polio and Its Vaccine: A Vlog" is a video log created by Jessica Malandro to tell the story of polio and the vaccine. She filmed, wrote, edited and acted in the video that also includes Kate Colosimo, Mariah Kutchko, Jillian Schmidt, Aafke Loney, Hannah Todoroski and Laura Hancock. Click here to view the video.

Voting started at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 10. The public is invited to cast votes at www.takeashotcontest.org. 

The winning video will receive $5,000, be featured on The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation website, and will air on WQED-TV, according to the Take A Shot Contest website. Four finalists will receive a cash prize of $1,000.

All entrants will receive a “Take a Shot at Changing the World” commemorative wristband and a certificate of participation from Rotary International.