Germantown
Municipal School District
Lights, Camera, Connection: Meet the 2026 GMSD WAVE Award Winners
![Ms. Deskin holds all of her awards and smiles.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1778789916/gmsdk12org/kzoh6qnopq89uhf937u6/DSC00988.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1778789916/gmsdk12org/kzoh6qnopq89uhf937u6/DSC00988.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1778789916/gmsdk12org/kzoh6qnopq89uhf937u6/DSC00988.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1778789916/gmsdk12org/kzoh6qnopq89uhf937u6/DSC00988.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1778789916/gmsdk12org/kzoh6qnopq89uhf937u6/DSC00988.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1778789916/gmsdk12org/kzoh6qnopq89uhf937u6/DSC00988.jpg","width":2200}])
The stories behind our schools are being told every single day through classrooms, performances, cameras, social feeds, podcasts, websites, videos, and conversations happening across Germantown Municipal School District. The WAVE Awards were created to celebrate the people making that storytelling come alive.
WAVE stands for Web, Art, Visuals, and Engagement, and the annual awards recognize standout creators, communicators, and school storytellers from across GMSD. While some recipients work directly in communications-focused roles, many do not. This year’s honorees included teachers, students, principals, librarians, coaches, volunteers, and school leaders who are helping showcase the culture, spirit, and experiences happening inside our schools every day.
Created by the GMSD Communications Team, the awards celebrate creativity, consistency, innovation, audience engagement, production quality, school spirit, and strategic thinking. Most importantly, the work recognized through the WAVE Awards gives audiences an authentic window into student life and the heart of GMSD.
This year, only 22 projects and individuals across the district were selected for recognition. In an era where attention is difficult to earn, these creators produced work that helped audiences stop scrolling and start connecting. Selected examples of this year’s winning work may also be shared with the GMSD Board of Education as examples of the incredible storytelling and community engagement taking place across the district.
The celebration tour also coincided with National School Communicators Day, with the GMSD Communications Team surprising school-based social media managers and webmasters throughout the day with treats, recognition, and award presentations across all seven schools.
2026 GMSD WAVE Award Winners
Forest Hill Elementary
- Peter Simons, Podcast By Popular Demand
- Paige Browning, Podcast By Popular Demand
- Skylar Workman, Podcast By Popular Demand
- Skylar Workman, Trend Setter
- Meagan McMinn, Trend Setter
Riverdale K-8
- Calista Elliott, Rookie of the Year
- Hayden Whitter, Best Featured Guest, Student Created Feature
- Harper Brown, Best Overall Production
- Triniti Scott, Best Overall Production
Farmington Elementary
- Caryn Daugherty, Photographer of the Year
Dogwood Elementary
- Elizabeth Stuart, Website
- Karen Cunningham, Reel Results
Houston High School
- Ella Attaway, Student Photographer
- Traci Spain, School Tours
- Brianna Hopkins, Teacher Influencer of the Year
- Grace Ann Myatt, Student Influencer to Watch
- Hallie Ross, Principal Communications Leadership
Houston Middle School
- Houston Middle MTV, Best School Newscast
- Melissa Deskin, Student Short Video Submission
- Andrea Starks, Teacher Influencer of the Year
- Houston Middle MTV, Best Overall Production, Student Created Feature
- Beau Gets Fired, Best Use of Special Effects
Districtwide Special Recognition
- Brian Curry, Viral Video Moment
Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients for helping tell the story of GMSD in ways that are creative, authentic, entertaining, and deeply connected to students and school culture.