News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County High School Student Zachary Pennington said volunteering his film making skills is his way to thank his hometown.
Pennington’s video production with the county’s chamber of commerce led to the recognition as one of the Governor’s Volunteer Star Award winners in 2021. The annual award seeks to honor an adult and youth volunteer from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
Pennington said he started film making at 13-year-old with a historical documentary of Gainesboro.
“I ended up making a video of Gainesboro, and it blew up,” Pennington said. “It got over 15,000 views. That just kind of led to one thing to another. I ended up two years later making a mini documentary over the abandonment of Gainesboro, and I entered that in to the John Hopkins University film festival for high school students. I got an all expenses paid over to Baltimore, and I won best film on a budget there. And, I have been working with the Chamber of Commerce for Tourism.”
Pennington said he plans to stay in the Upper Cumberland to continue his work.
“I have learned all these things from all these clubs through Jackson County, and obviously the people of Jackson County is what makes it,” Pennington said. “They have kind of shaped me into what I am today.”
Pennington leads the sound and video department for his high school. Pennington said through a drama club video, he won his school $10,000 through a NBC Rise Grant.
Sunday in a virtual ceremony, the governor honored winners from across the state. Other Upper Cumberland winners include Shawn Aytes and Wyatt Fairman of Cumberland County, Lee and Karen Little and Seth Vaughn of Fentress County and Ella McGugin of Putnam County.
