[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 191 (Monday, November 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       OZARK MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Ozark Media Arts Festival on 10 years of success and recognize the 
pathway it is creating from education to employment in the multimedia 
industry in Arkansas and throughout the region.
  More than 8,000 students have participated in OMAF, helping these 
young minds make connections with others who have similar passions in 
filmmaking, broadcast journalism, production, photography, and other 
media platforms that keep citizens informed and entertained. The 
festival allows participants to explore their interests and learn from 
industry professionals on how to further develop their talents.
  OMAF provides a venue for students to showcase their abilities, learn 
new skills, and compete against the brightest up-and-comers in their 
field of interest. The recognition that comes with earning the top spot 
in the competitions hosted by the festival is certainly something to be 
proud of, and the enthusiasm shared amongst all participants who put 
their creativity on display is what continues to make the Ozark Media 
Arts Festival a success and a place for students to foster 
relationships that will help them transition their skills from an 
educational setting to the communications industry.
  The festival truly is investing in the future of the multimedia 
industry in the region. It is a good one-stop-shop for high schoolers 
to learn more about the programs offered at colleges and universities 
and other programs where they can continue to hone their skills. Just 
as importantly, it provides a valuable networking opportunity with 
potential employers and demonstrates how they can turn their passion 
into a future career.
  It was a pleasure to participate in a virtual panel discussion for 
the 2020 festival as educators, industry leaders, and policymakers and 
talk about the importance of communication and how technology continues 
to shape how we get information and stay connected with each other.
  Congratulations to Ozark Media Arts Festival on a decade of 
accomplishments and encouraging multimedia education and building 
relationships to help future generations of communicators realize their 
dream of a career in the multimedia industry.

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