Mayfield High School senior a finalist in Take Action Video Contest

Margaret Zimmer is no sore loser.

That’s because the Mayfield High School senior doesn’t feel she actually lost in the 2017 Take Action Video Scholarship Contest put on by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

The annual contest, in its ninth year, challenges high school students to produce 60-second videos about cybersecurity topics, including privacy, password strengths and identity scams.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office received more than 120 contest entries from nearly 200 students throughout the state. First-, second- and third-place winners receive college scholarships of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. Seven other students in the contest were named finalists, one of whom was Zimmer.

Though she didn’t secure a spot in the top three, Zimmer was excited to participate, learning about the Take Action contest through her involvement in DeWine’s Teen Ambassador Board, open to high school juniors and seniors around the state, offering inside looks at Ohio law and government.

While this is Zimmer’s second year with Teen Ambassador Board, it was her first year submitting in the Take Action video contest.

“We have monthly conference calls and meet in Columbus twice a year to discuss Ohio issues,” she said. “Along with these important dialogues, the ambassadors also learn about new opportunities, such as the video contest. It gave me the chance to spread important information in a creative medium. It was fun making the video and coming up with how I was going represent different concepts with images.

“I am the only Mayfield student on the Teen Ambassador Board, as well as the only student (here) to submit an entry. Both are a great opportunity, and I am excited for more students to take advantage of the board and the contest.”

An individual process, Zimmer combined her phone’s camera with her message of choosing stronger passwords, researching the topic through links posted on the attorney general’s website.

Her cybersecurity issue selected, Zimmer said she wanted to convey the information in a fun and visual way.

“I played around with stop-motion when I was younger and decided that would be an awesome format for the video. I drew out characters and symbols, moved them little by little, took photos and then strung them together. The experience helped me stretch my creative side.

“I also hadn’t made a stop-motion video before for anyone but myself, so having a finished product to share with others was a new experience,” she said. “I also learned more about creating strong passwords and cybersecurity through my research for the video.”

After learning she was one of the 10 overall finalists, Zimmer then sent in several short-answer essays and a DVD of her video.

Being ultimately selected by DeWine’s office as one of the seven finalists came as pleasant surprise to Zimmer, who feels the contest remains important simply because it educates people on topics of personal protection in a constantly evolving technological age.

“When I submitted, I never thought I would be a finalist, but I went for it anyway,” she said. “I realized there is no point in closing myself off to new opportunities, especially when it can only benefit me to try it. My takeaway from the contest is to try new things and put myself ‘out there’ more often.

“I would like to thank the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for providing this opportunity and supporting higher education, in addition to running the Teen Ambassador Board. My two years (in TAB) have opened my eyes to issues faced by Ohioans I didn’t even know about and also connected me with other students across Ohio with the same goals — to help others and never stop learning.”

Zimmer will be attending the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland after graduating.

For more information about the Take Action Video Contest, visit www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/State-and-Local-Government/Schools/High-School-Video-Contest.