• Photo gallery: HMSA Teen Video Awards

A team of students from Moanalua High School took Best of Show honors at the 2011 HMSA Teen Video Awards in a ceremony  last night at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Waianae High School received the first-ever Voter’s Choice Award for receiving the most online votes on YouTube.

The annual statewide competition encourages teens to create compelling public service announcements about the importance of living a healthy life. This year’s theme was, “Your choices today impact tomorrow.” There were 224 videos submitted by students from 37 public and independent middle and high schools.

First-place winners in each category received $1,500 for video equipment or software for their schools. Second- and third-place winners received $750 and $300, respectively. The Best of Show winner received an additional $1,000. The Voter’s Choice Award winner received $500.

The top PSAs will be aired on KHON, KITV, Hawaii News Now, and assorted cable channels in May and June.

Here are the top winners in each category:

>> Best of show: "Veggie Standoff," Moanalua High School, students Korie Lum, Jorjiane Guasch, teacher Mark Ikenaga.

>> Physical health, first, "Veggie Standoff," Moanalua; second, “NutriWars,” Waianae High School, 23 students led by Tuli Leota, teacher Michael Oconnor; third (tie), “TXT to the NXT Life,” Saint Louis School, students Kenji Akasaki, Colton Sisler, teacher Gordon Horiuchi; “I Love My Boyfriend,” Kapaa High School, students Ilona Oliver, Sheigh Yap, teacher Michelle Rundbaken.

>> Mental health, first, “Meth Kills Dreams,” Hawaii Baptist Academy, students Brendon Oshita, Kayla Custino, Royce Fujii, Chris Sekiguchi, Joni Tamamoto, Caleb Wilford, Travin Nagasawa, teacher Sean Malinger; second, “There is Happiness,” Moanalua, students Giaman “Andrew” Tran, Kasey Rieta, teacher Kelly Calistro; third, “I tried it once,”  Waianae, students Chareen Keliiwaiwaiole, Kainan Roman, Melina Silva, teacher John Allen II.

>> Social health, first, “Got’cha,” Waianae, students Dj Westbrook, Daniel Morrison, Tele Willis, teacher John Allen III; second, “Choose or not,” Waianae, students Timothy Bradley, Cody Kau, and Shaun Bisol, teacher John Allen III; third, “Internet Safety Tales: Three little Pigs,” Waianae, students Alicia Keanu, Joanna Endo, Shanise Gray, Armando Dinong, Kyra Burke, Filifaatali Mauai, teacher Michael Oconnor.

>> Voter’s Choice Award: “NutriWars,” Waianae.

>> Special Award by MADD for Underage Drinking Prevention: “No Beers, No Tears,” Farrington High School, students Justin Vele, King Togia, Christopher Cabus, Tamela “Daniel” Prescott, Cheyona Lopez, Matuaousoalii Tagovailoa, teacher  Christine Ho.

>> Special award by Hawaii Meth Project for Meth Prevention: “Meth Kills Dreams,” Hawaii Baptist Academy, students Brendon Oshita, Kayla Custino, Royce Fujii, Chris Sekiguchi, Joni Tamamoto, Caleb Wilford, Travin Nagasawa, teacher Sean Malinger.

The new Voters’ Choice Award allowed the public for the first time to view the videos online and choose the ones they liked best. Student PSAs were posted on HMSA’s YouTube channel, and the public was invited to vote for their favorites. In all, the videos received more than 23,000 views and 1,500 votes.

To view the winning PSAs starting Thursday, May 5, log on to hmsa.com/tva.

Sponsors of the event include HMSA, Department of Education, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Hawaii, and Hawaii Meth Project.