SWACHA Launches Its First Cyber Security Film Contest with Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts
Dallas, TX, October 03, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Dallas-based SWACHA, one of the largest not-for-profit regional electronic payment associations in the country, today announced its first annual Cyber Security Awareness Film Contest as part of its participation in October’s Cyber Security Awareness Month. The contest is open to students in the BTW Film Club at Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Winners of the film contest will be announced during Cyber Security Awareness Month and will receive a total of $3,000 in awards. Cyber Security Awareness Month is a nationwide campaign that encourages Americans to stay safe online.
The contest will be open to 10 teams who will create a short film under three minutes on the messages of Cyber Security Awareness Month. Each team will receive a $100 gift card to cover expenses incurred during the production of the short film. The winning team will receive a $500 gift card and SWACHA will make a $1,500 donation to the BTW Film Club at the conclusion of the contest.
“We want to encourage everyone who gets online to implement simple safety measures that will protect them in today’s cyber world,” said Dennis Simmons, AAP, president and CEO of SWACHA. “We felt that launching this contest with students from Booker T. Washington HSPVA would help us to reach not only young people in our community, but their parents and families as well, and encourage behaviors that will help them be responsible online now and in the future.”
All entries must be completed by October 4, 2013. A panel of judges will rate each video on the following 200-point scale: 1) Marketing and virility (how many hits the video gains on YouTube): 75 points; 2) Incorporation of the theme and SWACHA: 50 points; 3) Creativity: 50 points; 4) Production and editing: 25 points. Each film entry will be posted to SWACHA’s YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/SWACHAchannel) where people are encouraged the view the films. The film with the most views will receive the most points for the Marketing and virility category.
“We are excited about our partnership with SWACHA to encourage young people the importance of protecting themselves online. We have incredibly talented and creative students who I have no doubt will come up with unique films that will each educate the messages of Cyber Security Awareness Month,” said Niloo Jalilvand, BTW Film Club sponsor at Booker T. Washington HSPVA.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month was created in 2004 by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to increase awareness of the importance of safe practices online to prevent phishing, identity theft and other cybercrimes. The NCSA provides cyber security tips for those who not only use social media but also to those who bank, pay bills or make purchases online or through mobile devices. Americans are encouraged to install security software on all Internet connected devices and to change Internet passwords every two or three months. Passwords should be at least eight characters, contain both capital and lowercase letters and numerals, and should not be used for multiple websites. Social media users and gamers should also be aware of privacy settings, limit who can see personal information, and never correspond or accept requests from someone you don’t know.
For additional information on SWACHA or Cyber Security Awareness Month, please visit swacha.org or staysafeonline.org.
About SWACHA
SWACHA-The Electronic Payments Resource®, is one of the largest not-for-profit regional payments associations in the country with approximately 1,100 members across the Southwest. SWACHA is the resource of choice for financial institutions and corporations in the areas of education, training, payments system risks and knowledge about electronic payments. For more information visit:
Web: www.swacha.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bringingpaymentstogether
Twitter: @SWACHA
About Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts is part of the Dallas Independent School District and the first secondary school in the district to be awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award for Exemplary Education from the Department of Education. Since 1976, the school has earned the distinction for Exemplary Arts Education from the Rockefeller Foundation, one of the Top 8 Magnet Schools in the country by the Department of Education, and one of the top 5 schools in the nation by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, among others. Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts is located in downtown Dallas, in the heart of the Dallas Arts District.
About the National Cyber Security Alliance:
NCSA's mission is to educate and therefore empower a digital society to use the Internet safely and securely at home, work, and school, protecting the technology individuals’ use, the networks they connect to, and our shared digital assets. NCSA builds strong public/private partnerships to create and implement broad reaching education and awareness efforts to empower users at home, work and school with the information they need to keep themselves, their organizations, their systems, and their sensitive information safe and secure online and encourage a culture of cyber security.
Winners of the film contest will be announced during Cyber Security Awareness Month and will receive a total of $3,000 in awards. Cyber Security Awareness Month is a nationwide campaign that encourages Americans to stay safe online.
The contest will be open to 10 teams who will create a short film under three minutes on the messages of Cyber Security Awareness Month. Each team will receive a $100 gift card to cover expenses incurred during the production of the short film. The winning team will receive a $500 gift card and SWACHA will make a $1,500 donation to the BTW Film Club at the conclusion of the contest.
“We want to encourage everyone who gets online to implement simple safety measures that will protect them in today’s cyber world,” said Dennis Simmons, AAP, president and CEO of SWACHA. “We felt that launching this contest with students from Booker T. Washington HSPVA would help us to reach not only young people in our community, but their parents and families as well, and encourage behaviors that will help them be responsible online now and in the future.”
All entries must be completed by October 4, 2013. A panel of judges will rate each video on the following 200-point scale: 1) Marketing and virility (how many hits the video gains on YouTube): 75 points; 2) Incorporation of the theme and SWACHA: 50 points; 3) Creativity: 50 points; 4) Production and editing: 25 points. Each film entry will be posted to SWACHA’s YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/SWACHAchannel) where people are encouraged the view the films. The film with the most views will receive the most points for the Marketing and virility category.
“We are excited about our partnership with SWACHA to encourage young people the importance of protecting themselves online. We have incredibly talented and creative students who I have no doubt will come up with unique films that will each educate the messages of Cyber Security Awareness Month,” said Niloo Jalilvand, BTW Film Club sponsor at Booker T. Washington HSPVA.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month was created in 2004 by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to increase awareness of the importance of safe practices online to prevent phishing, identity theft and other cybercrimes. The NCSA provides cyber security tips for those who not only use social media but also to those who bank, pay bills or make purchases online or through mobile devices. Americans are encouraged to install security software on all Internet connected devices and to change Internet passwords every two or three months. Passwords should be at least eight characters, contain both capital and lowercase letters and numerals, and should not be used for multiple websites. Social media users and gamers should also be aware of privacy settings, limit who can see personal information, and never correspond or accept requests from someone you don’t know.
For additional information on SWACHA or Cyber Security Awareness Month, please visit swacha.org or staysafeonline.org.
About SWACHA
SWACHA-The Electronic Payments Resource®, is one of the largest not-for-profit regional payments associations in the country with approximately 1,100 members across the Southwest. SWACHA is the resource of choice for financial institutions and corporations in the areas of education, training, payments system risks and knowledge about electronic payments. For more information visit:
Web: www.swacha.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bringingpaymentstogether
Twitter: @SWACHA
About Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts is part of the Dallas Independent School District and the first secondary school in the district to be awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award for Exemplary Education from the Department of Education. Since 1976, the school has earned the distinction for Exemplary Arts Education from the Rockefeller Foundation, one of the Top 8 Magnet Schools in the country by the Department of Education, and one of the top 5 schools in the nation by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, among others. Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts is located in downtown Dallas, in the heart of the Dallas Arts District.
About the National Cyber Security Alliance:
NCSA's mission is to educate and therefore empower a digital society to use the Internet safely and securely at home, work, and school, protecting the technology individuals’ use, the networks they connect to, and our shared digital assets. NCSA builds strong public/private partnerships to create and implement broad reaching education and awareness efforts to empower users at home, work and school with the information they need to keep themselves, their organizations, their systems, and their sensitive information safe and secure online and encourage a culture of cyber security.
Contact
Granado Communications Group
Denise Lessard
214-599-8467
www.swacha.org
Denise Lessard
214-599-8467
www.swacha.org
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