Trend Micro’s "What's Your Story?"

Contest Awards $10,000 to a Trio of Ottawa High School Students: Poetry Performance Video Highlights the Internet’s Impact on a Generation

Three Ottawa high school friends are the first Canadian grand prize winners of Trend Micro’s fourth annual "What's Your Story?", an international video contest promoting safety on line. “What’s Your Story?” an award-winning, user-generated video contest is an interactive platform for young people to showcase their creative talents, and harness the positive power, reach and connection of the Internet through storytelling. The 2013 contest received entries from both individuals and schools across Canada and the United States answering the question, “What does the good side of the Internet look like?” for a chance to win one of two $10,000 grand prizes.

The Ottawa teens combined their poetry, music and film talents to share a powerful message about all the ways the Internet has impacted the world. Their winning video for the individual category, “I’m An Educated Dude,” by Saad Sifate, George Strawbridge, and David Oladejo, features David performing a slam style original poem addressing the opportunity for their generation to use the Internet for good.   .

"What's Your Story?" empowers kids, parents, teachers and schools around the world to use technology in safe, responsible, and successful ways. The contest's unique quality is that it requires young people to become educated about being safe and responsible online, but also encourages them to become advocates of their own messages. 

Finalists were selected based on a combination of views and ratings. Winners were chosen by the judging panel based on creativity, appropriateness and effectiveness. The grand prizewinners in both the school and individual categories receive $10,000, and the runners-up receive $1,000 each.

To view all the winners of the 2013 "What's Your Story?" contest, visit: http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com and to follow updates to the contest on Twitter @TrendISKF, and stay on top of the discussion using #WYSContest.