Joplin senior Alexandra Carson being recognized for documentary about her brother
Dec. 26—A Joplin student who received a Congressional Award Gold Medal earlier this year is now being recognized for a film about her brother.
Alexandra Carson's documentary, "My Friend, David," has been named an official selection and/or award winner at more than 20 national and international film festivals, also winning the Audience Choice Award at the All-American High School Film Festival's Teen Indie Awards earlier this fall.
Carson, a senior at Joplin High School, studies film, editing and broadcasting through the JETHD Joplin Eagles Television studio at Franklin Technology Center at JHS. She plans to major in cinematography in college.
She said the documentary features her brother, David, who is a JHS class of 2018 graduate.
"I realized that my experiences with my brother, who has autism, might be of interest to others, and that, though it is something I seldom recognized before creating this film, our story is unique," she said in a statement. "I wanted to examine the differences between the way I view autism and the way society views autism, especially in an age of increasing attention toward neurodiversity and all the misconceptions about those who are not neurotypical.
"I was alarmed by a general lack of understanding, and I hoped to inspire others to think more deeply about those who are different from themselves, and hopefully realize that foreign or unfamiliar does not equate to bad."
Awards for the film include:
—Award of excellence, Best Shorts Competition, La Jolla, California.
—Best student documentary short film, No Boundaries Film and Screenwriting Festival, Bradenton, Florida.
—Best student short documentary, Golden Lion International Film Festival, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
—Best student film, Crown Point International Film Festival, Chicago.
—Emerging Filmmaker Award, Tallgrass Film Festival, Wichita, Kansas.
—Best film, Center Film Festival, State College, Pennsylvania.
—Best student film, TopIndieFilmAwards.com.
The film has also been named an official selection at the 29th annual Twin Rivers Media Festival in Asheville, North Carolina; the Golden Short Film Festival in Abruzzo, Italy; the Syracuse International Film Festival in Syracuse, New York; the Progeny Short Film Festival, Virginia Tech's School of Performing Arts in Blacksburg, Virginia; the Hungarian Disability Film Festival in Budapest, Hungary; and the Hellbender Film Fest in St. Charles/St. Louis.
Carson and another Joplin High School student, Aidan Koch, were recently named semifinalists for the 2024 Coca-Cola Scholars program, moving to the next round of the selection process to become possible Coca-Cola Scholars and receive $20,000 college scholarships. An independent selection committee will review the applications and recommend 250 regional finalists in early January to take part in online interviews. A total of 150 Coca-Cola Scholars will be named in late February to receive $20,000 college scholarships and attend the Coca-Cola Scholars weekend in April in Atlanta.
In January, Carson earned a Congressional Award Gold Medal from the U.S. Congress, the highest level of congressional recognition available to America's civilian youths. The award is given annually to student leaders who have intentionally devoted their time to goal-setting and community engagement. Only about 600 students nationwide earn the Gold Award each year. To be eligible for the award, participants are expected to log a minimum of 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and a five-day, four-night expedition or exploration.
Carson is a member of the JHS Philanthropic Society, the National Honor Society, the International Thespian Society and the Girls' Club; she also plays on the JHS tennis team.
