Ohio University Southern is once again giving area high school students a way to showcase their talent.

The electronic media department at the Ironton campus is now accepting submissions for its annual Student EMPixx Awards.

Don Moore, director of electronic media at the university, said he started the awards in 1999 so schools could showcase more than just athletic trophies.

“I was an athlete,” Moore said. “Being an athlete, we always have opportunities to compete against other schools. All the trophy cases in the schools are filled with trophies for sports, or dance. We wanted to set up an award program to where they would win the awards have something to place in the trophy cases at the school, representing their creative side.”

The contest is open to high school students from throughout the Tri-State area. Moore said submissions have come from as far away as the Columbus area, Clarksburg, W.Va. and Fleming County, Ky. And from small and large schools alike.

There are 12 categories that students may submit to, including animation, audio production, digital photography, multimedia web or print, newscast and radio commercial.

The submissions are judged by members of the OUS faculty and staff, as well as local professionals in the media industry. On the day of the awards, there will also be workshops for the students by local media professionals.

Moore said the experience give the students a real-world perspective of the broadcast and media industries.

“I’m very appreciative of the professionals in the industry that are from this area,” he said. “They volunteer their time to come in and spend the day with these students, sharing with them tips and tricks of the trade, encouraging them and sharing with them job opportunities and what’s it’s like to be in the industry.”

He also said the event is a way for students, as well as teachers, to meet others from around the Tri-State with like interests.

Moore said he has been impressed with the creativity he has seen with the submissions.

“The projects seem to be getting better each year,” he said. “I think that’s what impresses not only us, but the professionals we bring on campus for the workshops. The artistic creation coming out of the students has been enhanced by the technology that is now available to them.”

Submissions must be postmarked by April 1 to be considered for judging. The awards ceremony and workshops will be on April 29.

Entry forms can be found on the electronic media home page for OUS.