The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department recently announced Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) Film and Video Production student Quang Tang as the second place winner for their 2023 Viral Video Contest, in which high school students from across the county created original videos to educate their peers about safer sexual behavior, healthy relationships, and stigma about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Watch his video now. Quang attends Piedmont High School in East Side Union High School District. 

Winners were selected from 20 submissions by 53 students at eight different high schools. Quang received a $1,000 award, with SVCTE also receiving an additional $500 as the sponsoring school. His entry is a rap video focusing on destigmatizing STDs and promoting safe sex.  

“It is inspiring to see these students enthusiastically address a topic that isn’t the easiest to talk about,” said Dr. Akanksha Vaidya, Assistant Public Health Officer and STI/HIV Controller for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. “For many sexually transmitted infections, it is common to have no symptom at all. The contest empowered youth voices with a creative opportunity to encourage their peers to get tested and seek resources when needed.”