Giveback: The 3rd Annual Merritt Award at Owens Community College

Last Thursday, May 1, 2025, we proudly awarded the third annual Merritt Award—along with a $1,100+ cash prize—to a talented team of students who participated in the Owens Community College Oregon Road Film Series Challenge.

What started in 2023 as a simple giveback donation has grown into a meaningful tradition, celebrating student filmmakers who use their craft to spark positive change. It's also helped encourage deeper cross-disciplinary collaboration, and inspired staff to get involved with their own film entries, too.

As part of the challenge, teams have just 54 hours to create a short (3-8 minute) film from scratch under a randomly-selected theme, while incorporating a set of requirements. The Merritt Award honors a film that not only meets that criteria, but also goes one step further in telling a story that inspires, uplifts, or moves people towards positive change. This year's winner was chosen not only for their obvious talent in filmmaking and collaboration, but the overall positive, timely message within.

We want to congratulate all of the students for entering the film competition. Taking on a challenge like this is such a testament to each individual's creative skill and spirit, and we hope their collaborative nature will continue on throughout their careers. We're also deeply grateful to our donors, whose generosity helps keep the cash prize component alive, giving students the freedom to reinvest in their creative futures—whether that means new equipment, entry fees, or the fuel to keep creating.

Check out the winning film on YouTube: How to Use a Frisbee by One Love OCC Productions, and email us at sayhi@gooderacreative.com if you'd like to consider donating to the 2026 Merritt Award fund next spring!