A London secondary student's digital arts project about a girl fearful to speak due to judgement has earned provincial accolades.
Lina Hout, a Westminster Secondary School student, won the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) student achievement award for digital arts with her video, titled Write Your Heart Out.
The 2024 awards were handed out over the weekend to nine students from across the province.
"The judges and I were absolutely blown away by the creative talents of students in Ontario this year," said OSSTF/FEESO President Karen Littlewood. "This year's theme, This Hits Different - The Power of Language, inspired some truly moving and thought-provoking work by students from across the province. The students were given the space to explore the power of language and how it has helped shape their lives and experiences."
Hout's submission was a cartoon-like video about a girl who struggles with speaking because of her fear of judgment.
In the video, the girl confides in her English teacher who suggests that she write instead of speaking. Through writing the girl finds her voice, as she gains confidence and becomes happier the images transition from black and white to colour.
In an OSSTF/FEESO video about all of this year's winners, Hout explains that her video combines her two passions, writing and art.
"I found that whenever I took the time to draw something, I was able to express things that I had a hard time talking about," she said.
Megan Jeffery, the teacher who supported Hout's submission described her student as quiet and shy, but added that Hout has confidence in her very creative ideas.
"I see a whole different side of her when she shows me her art," Jeffery said.
"I hope the viewers will realize that there are many ways to communicate, and it's not all just about speaking verbally," Hout said.
The full list of 2024 Student Achievement Award winners are as follows:
Prose & Poetry Division
Intermediate, 9-10
Shivani Saravanan, Humberside Collegiate Institute, Toronto, ON
Senior, 11-12
M.W. McKinnon, Glendale Secondary School, Hamilton, ON
French, 9-12
Daria Ilas, Humberside Collegiate Institute, Toronto, ON
Non-Credit, 9-12
Calle Chisholm, Centre Wellington District High School, Fergus, ON
Creative Division
Visual Arts, Intermediate, 9-10
Ryan Ren, Cawthra Park Secondary School, Missisauga, ON
Visual Arts, Senior, 11-12
Emma Little, Centennial Secondary School, Belleville, ON
Visual Arts, Non-Credit, 9-12
Madison Gordon-Czechowski, Norwood District High School, Norwood, ON
Digital Arts, 9-12
Lina Hout, Westminster Secondary School, London, ON
Judges’ Choice, 9-12
Abigail Gunner, École Secondaire Cochrane High School, Cochrane, ON
