Students Make Tributes to Peers Killed in Car Crashes

As Renaissance High students grieve the loss of two teenagers from their school community, two teachers are helping kids find a positive way to handle their emotions.

The media class at l has spent the week filming a tribute video for .

Monday, on Highway 156, near Hollister.

"We're just looking for a place to express," said teacher Courtney Rudd, who co-teaches the media class with Sandino Gomez from Community TV. "The idea is to gift the parents with this small video."

The filming for Cynthia's video started Tuesday. Gomez said they've recorded 16-20 testimonials—kids and teachers telling stories about Cynthia.

"I just was touched by the tragedy. I didn't know Cynthia myself but I know a lot of students did. It's a very small campus," Gomez said. "I just wanted to give the students a chance to say something about Cynthia."

The testimonials are being filmed by students in the class to give them opportunities to apply what they've learned, said Gomez, who teaches video production and media-making through Community TV at two South County schools.

Rudd explained that the media class is fairly new and they're still firming up the curriculum. Making the tribute videos is a way to get the students in front of and behind the cameras, as well as editing.

"You have to be hands-on when it comes to video," Gomez said.

Making a video for Alcaraz's family is likely the next project. Rudd said she was a popular girl who went by "Ally." She graduated from Renaissance last year.

The memorials are just one thing the school is doing to help students grieve. There is an altar in a counseling office, and grief counselors have been available for students. One student is finishing a painting dedicated to Cynthia.

Both crashes remain under investigation, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The media teachers hope the videos can aid in that healing process—for students and the girls' family—and also be a teachable moment.

"I'm just grateful that Community TV is giving me this opportunity to work with students," Gomez said. "... I just feel really lucky and blessed and I just want to pay that forward."