CCTV Honors School Officials at Annual Meeting

At its annual meeting on April 26, Cambridge Community Television awarded the Joseph Sakey Award to a School Committee member and three employees of the Cambridge Public Schools. The Sakey Award is named for the former Director of the Cambridge Public Library who developed plans for the cable system in the City. It is presented annually to the individual or organization that has done the most to advance access to media and technology in Cambridge.

CCTV recognized those who had established Cambridge Educational Access (CEA) and made the new Media Arts Studio at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School a reality. Ginny Berkowitz has advocated for a comprehensive K-12 media arts program for the Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) since the early 1990’s. She created a collaboration between CCTV, CPS, and the Agassiz Neighborhood Council which created Cambridge Educational Access. Ginny is now the Project Manager for CEA.

Joan Stern, Coordinator of Library Media Services for the Cambridge Public Schools, became a strong advocate for the media arts program and helped to ensure that there would be funding for it in the cable franchise. School Committee member Fred Fantini, then Chair of CCTV’s Board of Diectors, enlisted allies on the school committee and in the City to help move the project forward. And Jim Maloney, Chief Operating Officer for CPS, created strategic alliances between the school department and the city administration, negotiating to bring the resources of City TV8 into the project.

The Media Arts Studio opened in September, 2005 and, in addition to housing CEA Channels 98 and 99 and City TV8, also serves students from the Rindge School of Technical Arts. A Sports Media Program is funded by the 484 Foundation.

CCTV also recognized many of its members who donate their time and energy to the organization and the community.

Jeannette Holland and Ann Medeiros were named Interns of the Year. Lesley Weiman and Peter Pizzi received the Trainers of the Year Award. Angel Aiguier was recognized for her efforts as a volunteer, and Cody Romano was designated Youth Intern of the Year. Youth Member Mario Davila was recognized for his contributions. The Rudy Award for Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, named for former Associate Director Rudy Hypolite, was presented to Buz Owen and James Barabas. David Pap received the David Avellone Award for most technical improvement and Out of the Blue Gallery was named Organization of the Year.

Incumbents Rika Welsh and Stephen Sillari were re-elected to the Board of Directors, and Colin Rhinesmith was elected to a three-year term. Elected to the Members Advisory Committee were: Angel Aiguier, Greg Martin, Ricardo Melo, Laura Montgomery, Chrisann Newransky, Buz Owen, Cody Romano, Ned Scannell, Todd Simmons, and Maggie Vandermeer.