Thirteen special senior citizens received the red carpet rollout at Silver Screen, Golden Dreams, a film festival put on through a joint collaboration between Westerville Central High School’s Film and Literature students and the Westerville Senior Center. Students interviewed the senior citizens at the Westerville Senior Center four times throughout the semester and then used the interviews, still photos, and other videos to craft films about their lives.
The films premiered at a celebration held on Tuesday, April 28, where the stars received “dinner and a movie” goody bags filled with items donated by various Westerville area businesses, including Marcus Theaters and many local restaurants. An addition to this year’s festivities was the Senior to Senior art project. Students in Jennifer Kiko’s senior art class created portraits in different media of each senior citizen and presented them to the stars during the luncheon.
“So much collaboration occurred to make the event happen,” said Stephanie Gartner, one of the student emcees for the event. “This really shows what a great place to live Westerville is.” Thirty-two businesses and 30 families donated items for the bags or the lunch reception, giving the senior citizens and their families the star treatment they deserve. In addition, the Westerville Education Challenge, Westerville Education Foundation, and the Westerville Central High School Academic Boosters all provided grants to make the event and project possible. “I feel very blessed to work in a community that values education and supports projects like this one that no textbook or test could replace because of its value across generations,” commented teacher Susannah Lee. “It’s our third year working with the Senior Center, and what a blessing that place and their staff is for our community. The students have learned so much about history and life, and this event helps them to give back to these amazing individuals who have done so much for them and for the community.”