Mattituck High Tractor Day video takes top award
It’s been 15 years since Mattituck High School senior Pete Ruland drove a tractor to school during his last week of classes, beginning the annual tradition of “Tractor Day,” when Mattituck seniors drive a tractor to school.
This March, senior Samantha Kowalsick and the school’s video production class created a short news story about Tractor Day for the high school’s daily morning television program. Her teacher, John Roslak, submitted the video to MSG Varsity, a Long Island cable television network devoted to local high schools, for a segment of their “V-Awards” competition called “The Story of My School”. They learned last Tuesday that the segment won the competition, a $5,000 prize that is awarded to the district. Mr. Roslak said Friday that he hopes to use the award to create a scholarship for students who are planning to pursue video production and similar careers.
Ms. Kowalsick, a Cutchogue resident who plans to study information technology, networking and film at Briarcliffe College in Patchogue next fall, now has a new project to turn her attention to: finding a tractor to drive to school for this June’s Tractor Day.
“I don’t actually have a tractor, but everyone here’s related to someone who has a tractor. They’re pretty easy to come by,” she said.
Ms. Kowalsick hopes to participate in more live television, and would ultimately like to do camera work at live sporting events.
