Mount Si High School students Jack Mulligan, Olin Woodyard and Cody Copitzky earned awards of excellence at the 2016 Northwest High School Film Festival on Tuesday, May 17.

With more than 300 yearly entrants, the Northwest High School Film Festival is one of the largest events of its kind in the country.

Mulligan earned the award for his film about Martin Luther King, Copitzky won with an entry titled “Sponges” and Woodyard earned the award for an animation called “Mutation.”

Two films made by Mulligan, Copitzky, Riley Haney, Vaughn Cornett and Jordan Graham were named honorable mentions for the awards.

Woodyard said his work was inspired by an animator he looked up to. His film, which clocks in at a total 37 seconds, was one of three animations to win awards of excellence. Woodyard is already planning his follow up entry for next year’s film festival.

“I’m planning on making another animation for the film fest. The one I won the award with was 37 seconds long. If I can win an award with something like that, I really want to wow the judges and the audience with something a little bit longer,” Woodyard said.

Mulligan, a senior, wasn’t able to attend the award ceremony as he had a physics test that day. He was surprised when his classmates return and told him that he won. This award of excellence has only furthered his desire to pursue film after graduating from Mount Si.

“I learned when they got back to class and they told me my film won an award and that was kind of a shock,” Mulligan said. “I do plan pursue (film) in the future. Next year I’m going to Montana State University for film production.”