‘School saved my life.’ Muscogee students, teacher get state award for video. See it here
A Columbus school has received a state award for a video titled “School Saved My Life.”
Kendrick High School’s student film team, led by audio/video technology and film teacher Nicole Jones-Harper, finished third in the 2025 Georgia School Boards Association Student Video Contest.
“This recognition highlights the exceptional creativity, technical skill and storytelling demonstrated by the students, as well as the strong instructional leadership guiding the school’s film program,” the Muscogee County School District said in a news release.
Kendrick’s video was featured during the GSBA’s annual conference with the Georgia School Superintendents Association.
“Their work reflects the talent, dedication and innovation flourishing within Muscogee County schools and specifically within Kendrick High School,” MCSD superintendent David Lewis said in the news release.
During its December meeting, the MCSD board honored Kendrick for this award.
“I’m so privileged to teach these children,” Jones-Harper told the board. “There’s been amazing things at Kendrick, but there never was an outlet to show it. This program is to give them a voice.”
The video comprises testimonies from Kendrick students, who aren’t identified, about what school means to them. One says, “School saved my life” — the reason for the video’s title.
A JROTC cadet says the instructor “taught me a lot of patience” and leadership.
A football player says his coach “helped me be accountable. I’d probably be in the streets, not coming to school” if it weren’t for his coach.
And one of the students in Jones-Harper’s film class says, “It brings out something that you’d never know you’ll have. It makes you want to be here more. … If I wasn’t here, I’d be hanging around with the wrong crowd.”
Kendrick principal Alonzo James told the board, “What Ms. Jones-Harper has done with the students and the program has been fabulous.”
Although junior Ta’Karious “TK” Lovejoy was the only Kendrick student standing with Jones-Harper and James during the board’s recognition, James mentioned Joseph Yarwaye and Canvas Ford as other students who helped produce the video. He described those three students as “leaders and role models.”
MCSD board chairwoman Pat Hugley Green of District 1 told the audience she was “chest poked out proud” to see the Kendrick video celebrated at the GSBA conference.
