NORTHAMPTON — Three students at Northampton High School were “honorable mention” prize winners in a national documentary contest sponsored by the television network C-SPAN.

Nola Busansky, Levi Armstrong and Madison Parr entered their documentary “Yet Again: Gun Violence’s Effect on American Youth” in the 2022 StudentCam competition and won a $250 prize.

The competition invited all middle and high school students to submit a short film that explored a federal policy or program while addressing the theme, “How does the federal government impact your life?”

C-SPAN said it received more than 1,400 entries from 41 states, Washington, D.C., Morocco and South Korea. Ten percent of all submissions were related to the environment and pollution while 4% were related to the Second Amendment and gun laws.

“The winners showcased exceptional research and production values as they wove personal stories with historical or contemporary issues,” Craig McAndrew, director of C-SPAN Education Relations, said in a statement announcing the winners. “These middle and high school students far exceeded our expectations, and we are elated to share their hard work with the country.”

The winning videos are available online at StudentCam.org and the top 20 will air on C-SPAN in April. In Northampton, C-SPAN is offered by Comcast.

“We applaud Nola Busansky, Levi Armstrong and Madison Parr for their creative and thoughtful analysis of the government programs and policies that affect our communities,” Dan Glanville, a Comcast vice president, said in a statement.

More than 300 students won a total of $100,000.

Bond rating remains high

For the sixth straight year, and despite the financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, the city earned the highest bond rating this month from S&P Global Ratings.

The agency gave Northampton a AAA rating and said the city has a stable financial outlook based on factors including a growing economic base, strong financial management and a stable debt profile.

“I am grateful for Standard & Poors’ recognition that Northampton’s tradition of sound fiscal planning and management continues under my administration,” Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said in a written statement. “I am deeply grateful for the strong financial position I inherited, and for the wise counsel of Finance Director Charlene Nardi as we plan Northampton’s next chapter.”

Sciarra said the rating will save Northampton residents “hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments into the future.”

Also this month, the city received the second-highest certification under the LEED for Cities program, which measures a city’s environmental and energy sustainability.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council. The council gave Northampton a Gold certification, a designation shared with Orlando, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Phoenix, Arizona, and other cities around the world.

“While we are clearly a national leader, far ahead of the vast majority of communities,” Sciarra said, “one of the most important goals for my time as mayor is to help guide Northampton all the way to being carbon neutral according to our sustainability goals, and to earn a LEED Platinum certification.”

The city received the maximum score in the category “Natural Systems and Ecology” for its open space, recreation and multi-use trail program. The city also scored well in transportation and land use.

Church’s 50th anniversary

College Church at 58 Pomeroy Terrace will celebrate its 50th anniversary next month with a catered dinner focused on uniting past and present church members and their families.

The dinner and anniversary celebration at the church on Saturday, April 23, is free but reservations are required by April 7.

On Sunday, April 24, the church will hold a 10 a.m. regular worship service followed by a light breakfast spread and cake.

All College Church members, past and present, are invited to attend the anniversary events with friends and family, along with anyone who is interested in joining.

“Throughout the past 50 years, College Church has sought to love and serve its neighbors in many ways: through a preschool, the emergency cold weather shelter, the soup kitchen, or the health care program that provided free healthcare for the community every Tuesday evening,” the church said in a written statement. “Looking ahead to the next 50 years, the church desires to become even more deeply woven into the fabric of the community through partnerships, community development, advocacy and service.”

To make a dinner reservation, call the church office at (413) 586-0057.

Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.