Hartwick Institute of Public Service Announces America 250 Video Competition Winners

Students from Oneonta High School and Hartwick College were recognized in the Hartwick Institute of Public Service’s America 250 Youth Civic Engagement Video Competition, which challenged young people to create videos encouraging their peers to participate in democracy.

The competition invited high school and college students to submit original 30- to 90-second videos promoting voter registration, staying informed and participation in the 2026 midterm elections. Submissions addressed voting, civic responsibility and ways young people can make a difference in their communities. The competition received 23 entries.

A panel of high school and college students judged the videos based on creativity, effectiveness of the message, audience engagement and production quality. People’s Choice Awards also recognized the videos with the most likes on Instagram.

In the college division, Morgan Quarella ’28 won first place and $400 (Watch Video), Cohn Foster ’28 earned second place and $250 (Watch Video), and Elijah Polsinelli ’28 took third place and $150 (Watch Video). Quarella and Ava Reynolds ’28 (Watch Video) received People’s Choice Awards of $100 each.

In the high school division, Marley Morrison, Gia’vanna Henry, Jack Krone and Audrina Scheller won first place and $400 (Watch Video). Mina Lamiche took second place and $250 (Watch Video), while Ishaan Singh earned third place and $150 (Watch Video). Lamiche and the team of Morrison, Henry, Krone and Scheller also received People’s Choice Awards of $100 each.

The competition is part of a regional civic engagement initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. Supported by a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Otsego County, the initiative also includes voter registration and education efforts and a youth-led candidate forum intended to encourage democratic participation among young people throughout Otsego County.