Dos Pueblos High Students Win Big in National ‘Lights, Camera, Save!’ Banking Competition

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) - The American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation says the winners of the Lights, Camera, Save! teen video contest have come from the same high school and it is in Goleta.

This is a nationwide competition that encourages teens ages 13–18 to create a 30-second or less video educating their peers on the importance of smart money management.

The winners are from Dos Pueblos High. It is the first time first and second place have come from the same school.

The first-place winner is Adam Costa, representing Montecito Bank & Trust for his video “It All Adds Up!”  That comes with a $10,000 grand prize. Costa’s video was selected from a record number of entries after two rounds of national judging, including public voting on ABA’s Instagram page.

His theme using graphics and cash showed how a small amount of money, for example $5.00 at a time, can build up and, with interest, become thousands of dollars.

The second place winner is Ethan Gardiner, representing American Riviera Bank for his video, “Climbing the College Mountain." That earned a $5,000 prize. It was produced in collaboration with classmates Zenia Potter and Deveraux Wigo.

The videos are designed to promote financial literacy among teens.

Honors were given out on the campus and large checks were presented to those involved in the videos. Family members were invited to the event and lunch was served. Gardiner was unable to make the event.

Potter was on camera in the "Climbing the College Mountain" video with Wigo using her camera skills. They did several takes to get it right and said they went to the site more than once. It also involved creative technical editing and moving animation. There was a time limit for each video. They made "a shorter version and longer version.  We saw what we could mesh together to fit under the 30 seconds," she said when describing the challenges.     

Costa also used various technical skills to consolidate his message and meet the contest requirements. He said, "the 30-seconds part was kinda hard. I had to make a script and then time each part and make sure it was all under and edit some things out so it was under."

Montecito Bank & Trust and American Riviera Bank are strong supporters of financial literacy and both banks have outreach programs at many levels from young students, to teens and seniors. They cover many financial topics including scams, understanding credit and ways to pay for college. There's also advice on how to get out of debt.

Montecito Bank & Trust Financial Officer Bruce Stephens said, working with young people, and even helping them to open an account, "that's where it's got  to start.  It has to start at a young age so people understand that you start now and maybe that will help in the future when you become adults and have to save also."

At American Riviera Bank, Chief Risk Officer Laurel Sykes said, "it is really important for kids to hear from other kids, why it important to save and why money is something you need to think about from the get go so you don't end up in debt,  right out of of college and not get into debt. If you do, you have a plan to pay it back."

Brianna Aguilar, Vice President, Manager of Community Programs at Montecito Bank & Trust, said, “We believe financial education is one of the most powerful tools we can provide the next generation. By engaging in conversations about budgeting, saving and credit, young people gain the knowledge and tools to help make informed decisions about their finances as they navigate the various stages of life."

Principal Bill Woodard said, "we love when out students are participating in things beyond the classroom and taking the skills they learn in our media program and other technical programs and applying that to a nationwide contest  is definitely something that makes me very proud."

Dos Pueblos has the Virgil Elings Media Arts and Communications Center. Woodard said, "being able to use all the great tools we have in  this wonderful new facility tied into this financial literacy really ties into some great issues which we have here at DP."

He said at his school and throughout the district, "Our Career Technical Education Programs, including the Engineering and Media Programs are dedicated to helping students develop their passions while investing in the arts and real-world skills. Opportunities like this show what can happen when students have access to strong programs and community support.”

Media instructor John Dent said, students from the program recently won several honors at a national event in Tampa, and 38 went in person to the workshops and on site competitions during the week-long event.

Speaking about the current financial video honors he said to both, "American Riviera Bank and Montecito Bank & Trust, thank you so much for the opportunity for giving our students the opportunity to be successful and to  show off what they can do.

For more information about American Riviera Bank, visit americanriviera.bank. For more information about Montecito Bank & Trust, visit montecito.bank. For more information about Dos Pueblos High School, visit www.dphs.sbunified.org.

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