Up for a creative challenge? How about developing a video concept, filming a project, editing the video, and submitting the final cut in just 24 little hours! That’s precisely what Island Pacific Academy freshmen Mikaela Mullen ʻ28 and Julian Wilding ʻ28 did when rising to a STEMMY Competitions challenge at the 2025 Hawai‘i STEM Conference. The mission: create a journalistic video about the conference itself in the Highlight Video Competition category, developed in partnership with HIKI NŌ PBS Hawai‘i.
Though the competition was steep, with several groups bringing in professional recording and sound equipment to the conference, Mikaela and Julian came with their iPhones and IPA’s core values, including ingenuity, at the ready. Within this tight turnaround, they were able to create a dynamic behind-the-scenes video, showcasing the various learning opportunities, breakout sessions, and other competitions offered as the annual Hawai‘i STEM Conference marked its 16th year.
“When my partner Julian and I first entered the room where our opponents were, I’m not going to lie, we were pretty intimidated,” shares Mikaela. “…but eventually we realized that it was an opportunity to show our creativity and represent our school. After that, the video became our top priority!”
The onsite challenge required the team to swiftly shape their video while keeping the human story in mind, and the experience imparted a better understanding of how film can connect with audiences. Julian and Mikaela picked up further insights during the process of hands-on creating, learning more about the importance of “B-roll clips”—or supplemental visuals used to enhance the main footage. They also came up with creative ways to ensure time stayed on their side. Said Julian, “It was difficult, but my partner immediately started recording when we got to the conference and we were editing on the go to keep things handy.”
Once again exemplifying how Navigators Lead the Way, Julian and Mikaela approached the challenge with ingenuity and excellence. Their participation at the conference also reflected the care and commitment of IPA teachers like Dr. Devon Widmer (affectionally known by students as Dr. D), who encouraged Julian and Mikaela—along with other fellow Navigators exploring Video Game Design and more—to attend this immersive STEM experience.
Said Mikaela, “Making this video definitely sparked my interest in both film making and science, and I even have started thinking of some ideas for future projects that I could create!”
