
PRESS RELEASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vickie Swanton
May 11, 2022 (906) 282-6752
Winners Announced for Thru the Trees Annual Video Contest
Screen shot from first place video!
KENNEWICK, WA—"Thru the Trees” has announced the winners of its latest cycle of the popular video production competition for students, ages 14 to 18. The event challenged students from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to create a video highlighting the value of careers in the forest products industry.
Participating industry organizations from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington joined together to develop the contest to promote and encourage students’ consideration of careers in the forest products industry.
Winners:
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First Place – Team: Brecon Bates, Aaron Johnson, Jonah Johnson, Max Johnson, Tess Johnson, Sam Johnson, Josie Koeplin
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Victory Middle School, Meridian, Idaho
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Awarded $1100 ($100 finalist, $1000 for first place)
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Second Place - Team: Luca McMurrin and Emma Parker
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Early College High School, Salem, Oregon
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Awarded $600 ($100 finalist, $500 second place)
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Third Place (Tie) – Anne Nevis
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Banks High School, Banks, Oregon
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Awarded $350 ($100 finalist, $250 third place)
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Third Place (Tie) – Patrick Wilcox
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Sweet Home High School, Sweet Home, Oregon
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Awarded $350 ($100 finalist, $250 third place)
The other finalists ($100 awarded to each) included:
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Daisy Alatorre, Early College High School, Salem, Oregon
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Jessica Clough, Pleasant Hill School, Pleasant Hill, Oregon
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Team: Kiera Hollister and Hannah Erz, Central Linn High School, Halsey, Oregon
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Halle Lowman, North Junior High, Boise, Idaho
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Lotus Rivers, Corvallis High School, Corvallis, Oregon
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Ethan Schuster, Sweet Home High School, Sweet Home, Oregon
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Team: Aiden Shamek and Carsen Perry, Sweet Home High School, Sweet Home, Oregon
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Team: Kristan Stafford and Suzie Griffin, Sweet Home High School, Sweet Home, Oregon
Video entries were judged based on (1) how well the video highlighted a forest career, (2) quality and accuracy of the content, (3) extent to which the video engages and inspires, (4) degree of ingenuity and creativity (5) the number of references used, and (6) overall quality of production, including visual and sound elements.
This year we also awarded two teacher incentives. Blake Manley with Sweet Home High School (Oregon) and Angela White with Pleasant Hill High School (Oregon) were both awarded $500.00.
For more information, visit https://www.thruthetrees.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vickie Swanton
December 4, 2020 (906) 282-6752
Winners Announced for Thru the Trees First Annual Video Contest
KENNEWICK, WA—"Thru the Trees” has announced the winners of its first video production competition for high school students. The event challenged students from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to create a video highlighting the value of careers in the forest products industry.
Participating industry organizations from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington joined together to develop the contest to promote and encourage students’ consideration of careers in the forest products industry.
Winners:
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First Place - Jordan Neilson
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Post Falls High School, Idaho
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Awarded $1000
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Second Place - Team: Tressa Geyer and Zoey Brott
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Pleasant Hill High School, Oregon
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Awarded $500
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Third Place (Tie) – Team: Alicia Gordon and Lucas Forshee
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Waldport High School, Oregon
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Awarded $250
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Third Place (Tie) – Aiden Shamek
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Sweet Home High School, Oregon
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Awarded $250
Video entries were judged based on (1) how well the video highlighted a forest career, (2) accuracy of the content, (3) extent of excitement and inspiration, (4) degree of ingenuity and resourcefulness, and (5) the number of references used.
Partner organizations include: Associated Logging Contractors (Idaho), Forest Resources Association (Washington), Forests Today & Forever (Oregon), Idaho Forest Group, Idaho Forest Products Commission, Montana Logging Association, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Oregon Logging Conference, Oregon Logging Conference Foundation, Oregon Women in Timber, Pacific Education Institute (Washington), Pacific Logging Conference (Washington), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative/Project Learning Tree (Washington DC). For more information, visit www.thruthetrees.org.
Following this successful first year, Thru the Trees will again accept submissions from high school students during the 2021-22 academic year.