Trent Mitchell, video production teacher at Shorecrest High School, has been honored with the Program of the Year award by the Washington Industrial Technology Education Association (WITEA).
Mitchell accepted the award, which honors outstanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, at a recent WITEA meeting in Wenatchee.
Mitchell and his Shorecrest students have attracted wide acclaim for their innovative video projects, including the "Hey Ya" lip-dub video in 2009 and "The Social Experiment" last December.
The Shorecrest video and the one following from Shorewood went viral with more than 1.5 million combined views on YouTube.
The Social Experiment began with Mitchell's comment in class that his students couldn't give up their social networks for a week. The students took up that challenge and soon more than 600 students were involved between Shorecrest and Shorewood.
The experiment quickly attracted media attention, with ABC World News Tonight with Dianne Sawyer selecting the students and staff of both high schools as its "Persons of the Week."
"I am very honored to receive the CTE Program of the Year Award," Mitchell said. "This award is a true reflection on all the fine work the Shorecrest video students have completed in the past year; from Lip Dubs, to Film Festivals, and to the Social Experiment. I am very fortunate to work in a building and within a district that is so supportive of the CTE students and teachers. I can't wait to see what the students create next."
Mitchell has taught video production, digital photography and animation at Shorecrest for eight years and is a National Board Certified teacher. He is a graduate of Central Washington University with a degree in Video Communications.
Mitchell worked as a freelance sports videographer for the Mariners, Seahawks, Sonics, and Emerald Downs before receiving his Masters in Teaching Degree from Seattle University.