Pellissippi State’s Video Production Technology students showcased projects from throughout the year at the program’s first-ever Film Festival, presented by Film Knox, at the college’s Hardin Valley campus.

About 100 people attended the inaugural event, where they could view student-produced short films.

Cash prizes were awarded to the following student winners in the festival’s three categories:

  • Guerilla Short Film: Wilson Baker
  • Distinguished Projects: Lucy Merryman
  • Capstone Production: Bree Leach

“Students were so excited to have the opportunity to share their films with an audience,” said Jessie Tipton, academic coordinator for VPT. “It gives them the chance to showcase their creative work, gain greater exposure to potential employers and also receive valuable feedback that will improve their production skills.”

In the same week at Pellissippi State, students in the Entrepreneurship concentration held a capstone project Pitch Competition to showcase their business ideas to the college community.

Kaitlyn’s Kuddles offers babysitting, pet-sitting and nonmedical elderly companionship services. The business is targeted at filling a gap in the caretaker industry by fostering a deeper closeness and trust with clients. Founder and Pellissippi State student Kaitlyn Brantley presented Kaitlyn’s Kuddles at the Blount County campus.

“It was honestly a great learning opportunity – learning how to put together a business plan and do a pitch,” said Brantley, who was one of three finalists to leave with a cash prize to go toward their business ventures.

The third annual pitch competition gave more than a dozen Business/Entrepreneurship students, like Brantley, the opportunity to earn funding as they prepare to leave the college and launch or scale their own business.

A total of 18 students presented their entrepreneurial plans to a panel of business leaders, who judged the winners. The following students won prizes of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000, respectively:

  • Third Place: Nyla Carlton for “Styled by Reve’”
  • Second Place: Evan Workman for “Evan’s Pies”
  • First Place: Kaitlyn Brantley for “Kaitlyn’s Kuddles”

“It was crazy,” Brantley said of winning first place. “I honestly did not believe it.”

Pellissippi State Community College is a public community college based in Knox and Blount counties in Tennessee and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The college operates four campuses: Hardin Valley, Blount County, Strawberry Plains and Magnolia Avenue.

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