For Immediate Release

Monday, May 14, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose High School Students Win Amp It Up! Challenge

MELROSE — Principal Jason Merrill is pleased to announce that a group of Melrose High Students placed in the Amp it up! Challenge for their video on Southbridge SJC Drums.

A creative video production competition, AMP it up! annually invites students to research the inner workings of an advanced manufacturing innovation to explain how it impacts the world around them in a two-minute video. Entries must capture three main ideas about a product, including how it is made, why it matters and what it means to the creator of the video.

The winning group, one of three entries from MHS, received $3,000 from MassDevelopment, the sponsoring organization behind the AMP it up! Challenge. The money won by the students will be reinvested into the program by adding and upgrading equipment. This is the second time is three years that MHS has placed in the competition.

Juniors Kyle Nolan, Dan Maffie, Alex Gillis and Ross Carroll featured Southbridge SJC Drums, a manufacturer of custom percussion instruments, under the guidance of MHS Video Production teacher Anthony DiBenedetto. Over February vacation, the group went on site to complete interviews, film b-roll and conduct research for their project. They then spent two weeks editing the video before submitting it to the competition.

“Melrose High School and MHS-TV are extremely excited to have participated in the AMP it Up! Challenge,” DiBenedetto said. “The entire process is really interesting for the students and helps to build a variety of skills. It is always great when you can combine student interests and work with other members of our community, like businesses, to promote the awesome things we both are doing.”

To view MHS’ winning entry, click here.

About MassDevelopment:

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During the 2016 fiscal year, MassDevelopment financed or managed 352 projects generating investment of more than $4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create about 8,200 jobs and build or rehabilitate about 4,200 residential units.

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