HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GET THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME ON THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW

ABC

On Thursday, students from the high school senior class of Summit Academy Charter School in Brooklyn, NY appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where they received a surprise gift.  The students opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about what Summit Academy meant to them and how it would affect their future.  One student said, “Coming to Summit, it made my dreams and goals more realistic, coming from a single-parent house.”  Summit Academy is located in a neighborhood where only 4 percent of adults attended college.  The senior class will be the school’s first ever graduating class.

At the end of the show, the entire senior class was overcome by emotion when Ellen announced they would each receive a 4-year college scholarship.  The students cried and laughed, while they embraced each other and buried Ellen in a group hug.

The scholarships, made possible by Walmart, will provide the students with tuition for any state university in New York.  Ellen told the students: "Last time you were here, Walmart wanted to give you $25,000.  We've never done anything this big before, we've reached out to the people at Walmart, and they want to give each one of you a four-year scholarship."  Ellen revealed the entire amount is worth $1.6 million.

Ellen posted on Instagram about the amazing moment:

These students deserve a chance, and thanks to Walmart they’re all getting one. This is almost too unbelievable to be true. Tomorrow.

A post shared by Ellen (@theellenshow) on Feb 22, 2017 at 7:12pm PST

You can watch the full inspiring video below.

Ellen DeGeneres just presented the entire senior class of the Summit Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y. with keys to their future: full four-year college scholarships. The school aims to send every student to college - and last year, 93% of the first graduating class achieved that goal, according to Campbell and Swift.

Ya Know You Wanna!

7th ANNUAL WILLIAMSBURG INDIE FILM FESTIVAL HONORS THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF BROOKLYN

http://www.willfilm.org/

Calling all indie film lovers!  This year the 7th annual Williamsburg Independent Film Festival will take place at the Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Ave. at N. 11th Street, from November 17th to 20th.  Each year since 2010 the festival premieres independent films from around the world, most with a focus on Brooklyn and Williamsburg.  The festival aims to honor the creative spirit of Brooklyn and celebrate indie filmmakers.  If you’re a fan of innovative, independent filmmaking, then you should seriously think about checking this festival out!

Peter Bloch, one of the festivals’ co-founders and co-directors, stated, "We are excited to announce another outstanding line-up of films this year.  We have a great mixture of emerging and established filmmakers, as well as a great group from Brooklyn and Williamsburg."  Bloch also said, “It's exciting to see that the power of Williamsburg and Brooklyn to inspire creativity only grows with time.”  The full line-up of films to screen at the festival can be viewed here.

shootmenicely.com

The Williamsburg Independent Film Festival will open with the film, “Shoot Me Nicely,” directed by Elias Plagianos and starring Linda Hamilton, John Behlmann, William Sadler, and Jackie Martling.  The film was shot in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.  The film highlights the artistic and creative-type people that live in the city.  Director Plagianos said, “'Shoot Me Nicely' takes a fun and sometimes skewering look at the lives of artists, celebrities, and the creative community in New York City. We were able to attract some incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera. Having shot most of the show in Brooklyn, and being a Brooklyn filmmaker, I thought it was important to premiere the project here.”

If you wish to attend the festival to support indie filmmakers and celebrate the creative spirit of Brooklyn, get your tickets here ASAP!

Ya Know You Wanna!