PBS ‘neighborhood’ video nationally praised by Fred Rogers Productions

The effort proved worthy of both praise and a special prize.

The 82-second video captured first prize in the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood movie contest administered nationwide by Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions, with support from WETA, a PBS station in Washington, D.C.

PBS stations nationwide were challenged to submit films highlighting what it’s like to meet, be, or welcome new neighbors.

The prize-winning video features various members of the Amarillo community — from young gymnasts and veteran firefighters, to the president of AC and the mayor of Amarillo — each singing snippets of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Hilary Hulsey and Sadie Newsome, the respective digital communications coordinators for Panhandle PBS and AC, co-produced the nostalgic short.

The prize: 50 Daniel Tiger Activity Books, which Panhandle PBS will use as promotional giveaways in its continued outreach to young viewers of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood on public television.

“We were so charmed by Panhandle PBS’s delightful video submission for our Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood movie contest,” said Suzanne Masri, director of marketing & communications for Fred Rogers Productions. “The station perfectly captured the spirit of welcoming new neighbors as well as highlighting the importance of community, which are themes featured in Daniel Tiger as well as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

Panhandle PBS this year is celebrating 30 years on the air — a milestone that on Aug. 28 elicited a celebratory proclamation from the Amarillo City Council.

The PBS station on the Amarillo College Campus will continue to celebrate its neighbors while fulfilling its mission — to educate, enlighten, entertain and empower the people of the Texas Panhandle and the world — throughout 2018.

Upcoming: Panhandle PBS will host the second Yellow City Sounds Music Festival: Music Made Here on Saturday, Sept. 1. The free concert is from 2—10 p.m. in Memorial Park on AC’s Washington Street Campus and features Amarillo-based bands, including a long-awaited reunion of the Groobees.

Also, the Daniel Tiger Movie: Won't You be Our Neighbor will air on Panhandle PBS and its 24/7 Kids channel starting Sept. 17, and the station will be visited by a costumed Daniel Tiger in October.