AMHERST — A national event for documentary filmmaking is earning two Amherst Regional High School students recognition.
C-SPAN’s 17th annual StudentCam competition gave students Ruby Cain and Sophie Sweeting an honorable mention and $250 for “COVID in College Towns,” which can be viewed at viddler.com/v/b7b6f201.
All middle and high school students in the United States could enter by producing a short documentary. This year’s theme had students exploring the issue they most wanted President JOe Biden and the new Congress to address in 2021.
Despite the COVID-19 challenges, more than 2,300 students participated in the contest, and C-SPAN received more than 1,200 entries from 43 states and Washington, D.C.
Craig McAndrew, director of C-SPAN Education Relations, said in a statement that the pandemic has forced changes in the educational landscape, but students like Sweeting and Cain still did well in the competition.
“We are so impressed by the resilience and ingenuity of this year’s prize-winning students who have delivered among the finest short films in the history of the StudentCam competition,” McAndrew said.
Amherst is participating in the Massachusetts’ Cybersecurity Awareness program, a program that will make end-user cybersecurity training, assessment and simulation tools, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Technology Services and Security and a third-party vendor, available to town employees.
The one-year program will build on education provided to staff over the last year, made possible by a previous award from the state.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said in a statement that with cybersecurity a growing threat, the grant will improve staff awareness and the overall cybersecurity of Amherst.
Amherst IT Director Sean Hannon said the grant is essential to continue making employees aware of the persistent threat of cybersecurity attacks. “An encouraging outcome of running this training previously was the increased awareness among staff when receiving suspicious emails,” Hannon said.
Two Amherst police officers recently earned promotions following interviews with Bockelman, Police Chief Scott Livingstone and the town’s human resources team.
Richard MacLean is now a lieutenant, filling the position previously held by David Knightly before his retirement, while Nicholas Chandler, most recently a detective, is taking over the sergeant duties from MacLean.
MacLean became an Amherst patrol officer Sept. 4, 2001 and three times earned a Drive for Life Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his service. He was appointed as detective in July 2008, and was later promoted to sergeant in 2015, receiving a letter of merit two years later for courage, teamwork and sound judgment following the fatal shooting at Southpoint Apartments in October 2016.
A graduate of Bridgewater State University, MacLean earned a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University.
Chandler became an Amherst patrol officer Feb. 3, 2009 and four times earned a Drive for Life Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his service. He also received a letter of merit for his role in an investigation that led to the arrest of a man who broke into five homes on Christmas 2011. He was appointed as detective in January 2017.
A graduate of Fitchburg State University, Chandler earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Lassell College in 2019.
Hampshire College President Ed Wingenbach will join Bockelman in an informal conversation, which will also feature questions from the public, at the next Cuppa Joe with Paul event at 8 a.m. Friday.
Wingenbach was previously acting president of Ripon College in Wisconsin and served for 15 years in administrative and faculty leadership roles at the University of Redlands in California.
People can join via Zoom at amherstma.zoom.us/j/93952241687 or via phone by caling 312-626-6799, with ID# 939 5224 1687.
MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m., including hearing on Community Preservation Act appropriations, via Zoom.
WEDNESDAY: Recreation Commission, 6 p.m., via Zoom.
THURSDAY: Historical Commission, 6:30 p.m., Joint Capital Planning Commission, 7 p.m., both via Zoom.