Portrait of a Spartan Video Series Earns Gold at the 2025 Telly Awards

Sycamore Community School District 427 is proud to announce that our Portrait of a Spartan video series has been awarded a Gold Telly Award in the 2025 Non-Broadcast Video Series Campaign category for Educational Institutions. 

Established in 1979, the Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. With more than 12,000 entries submitted annually from all 50 states and five continents, the Tellys are one of the most prestigious accolades for creative video professionals, making this recognition a significant honor for our district and partners.

The Portrait of a Spartan video series was developed in partnership with Green Closet Creative and Milo Barsanti-Gonzalez of Bear & Camera, with creative direction from our Communications Department. 

“I am beyond proud of our Communications Department, they are so deserving of this recognition. They have already been recognized at the state level, and to be recognized at the national level is an acknowledgement of their work,” said Superintendent Steve Wilder. “We are also proud to have teamed up with our local partners, Green Closet Creative and Bear & Camera. This was a collaborative effort that communicated the importance of our Portrait of a Spartan initiative to our community, and now has put Sycamore 427 in the national spotlight.”

The campaign brought to life the eight key dispositions of our graduate profile and featured all seven schools within our district, including our Little Spartans Early Learning Program. Each video offered an authentic look into our classrooms and schools, capturing the people and moments that define what it means to be a Spartan. The campaign offered a heartfelt and visual representation of what makes Sycamore Community School District 427 truly exceptional.

“We are thrilled to see this campaign recognized on such a prestigious platform,” said Lauren Holtz, Director of Communications & Community Engagement. “It truly reflects the spirit of our district that we get to share with our community.”

“Winning a Gold Telly is an incredible honor and a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Ellie Peterson, Project Manager and owner at Green Closet Creative. “We’re beyond grateful to Sycamore CUSD 427 for opening their doors and collaborating with us to tell their stories.”

Milo Barsanti-Gonzalez, who led videography, photography, and editing through his studio Bear & Camera, added: “This project was a joy to create. Every frame was a reflection of real, meaningful moments, and I’m proud we were able to document the heart of this community. As a former Spartan, being involved in the project meant a lot to me.”

A massive shout out goes to every student, teacher, staff member, and administrator who took time out of their day to participate in filming. Your willingness to share your experiences, your energy, and your voices made this video series come to life.