Students from the STLP (Student Technology Leadership Program) at the James E. Bazzell Middle School competed in several categories at last week’s STLP Kentucky state conference at Rupp Arena in Lexington---a conference that included STLP students from across Kentucky submitted projects for competition in 41 categories. In addition, winners were also announced from projects submitted by STLP students for judging online.
Capturing first place honors in the Heritage Council category were the students of Riley Stinson, Ashlynn Conley, John Stamps, and Lynzee Spurlock with student Matthew Cartwright also assisting in the video project.
“This group of students created a video about downtown Scottsville as a way to teach about the history of Scottsville and encourage our community members of Allen County to shop local,” Bazzell Middle School STLP sponsor Cynthia Stovall explained. “The students in this category had to do a five to 10 minute presentation about their project and explain why they think it is important to keep the heritage of Scottsville alive. These students believe it is important so that we all value our hometown and take part in helping downtown Scottsville prosper and grow.”
The state competition included a Showcase project submitted by middle school students Taylor Beth Huff, Emma Robison, Shea Robison and Brady Johnson.
“The title of their project was STLP Collab Lab,” explained advisor Cynthia Stovall. “They did a project researching and studying our school district's STLP program. STLP is not just about competition or a small class or club in school. It is about learning how to create, teach and innovate through the use of technology and this is what helps make us career ready. These students wanted to teach this concept to the students and then find ways to improve participation and figure out how we could revamp our STLP program in a way that provides students who have so many time restraints an alternative way to get involved. So, these students conducted a survey to find out why there is a lack of interest or participation in STLP and then, based on the results of this survey, created opportunities for students to participate either during school, after school or online.”
In the Kentucky Department of Tourism Competition, students Madison Olds, Sheena Doss, and Keylie Smith also were in competition with a video presentation.
“The purpose of this video project was to promote tourism here in Scottsville and Allen County,” Stovall noted. “The slogan of this project was “Come Visit Scottsville and the surrounding areas in Allen County where you'll find a little small town, hometown charm.” This was a live competition in which the students had to create this video and present their promotional piece in front of a panel of judges.”
Bazzell student Katherine Foster took second place in the Photo on Demand category.
“We were only allowed one student in this live competition,” Stovall said. “The students in this category had to meet at a designated time to get an assignment or theme for this photography competition. The theme for this year was Window of Opportunity. This was a timed competition in which the student must capture one photo/image and transform it before bringing the titled image back to be viewed by judges. Katherine was one of approximately 200 entries in all.
In addition to last week’s day-long competitions, the Bazzell Middle School also submitted three projects for Digital Product Online Judging. This form of competition allows students to enter their digital product creations---a part of learning in many classrooms across Kentucky---for on-line judging. This also offers the opportunity for students to share products being created as part of daily curriculum or a stand-alone activity.
Student Ashlynn Conley submitted in the Graphic Design competition and captured second place honors. According to STLP guidelines, students in this competition had to create original graphic design for school, home or community. The design had to contain-text and images that is original and created by the student with software used to create and combine symbols, images and/or words to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. (Link to Image)
“Ashlynn used a photograph that she and Riley Stinson had taken the year before using a music CD, light and drops of water,” Stovall pointed out. “Then she added text and images to the photo and gave it a title called Music Colors Our World.”
Student Tori Robison received Honorable Mention on the Digital Art online category. STLP notes that this is a category for students with a creative knack in producing original art work which can be used in a variety of ways. Additional STLP guidelines note that entrees should catch and maintain a viewer’s interest and/or convey the desired mood. Students also have to explain the process and steps in creating their submission. (Link to Image)
“Tori has an incredible gift for drawing and sketching,” Stovall added. “Tori learned how to use Pixlr editor and created a piece called "Enchanted Time" based on the movie Beauty and the Beast. Tori received honorable mention for this piece and received a near perfect score.”
In the Original Digital Photo category, Madison Olds also earned honorable mention honors. According to STLP guidelines, the photograph submitted in this category should have a unique title and submit photographs that do not overly depend upon digital manipulation---rather projects that should stand upon their composition, framing, and without the distraction of too much post production enhancement. (Link to Image)
“Madison submitted her photograph, "Whispers from Heaven” and received a honorable mention ribbon with a near perfect score.”
A Feature Video project submitted by Riley Stinson on behalf of Bazzell Middle School earned second place honors. (Link to Video)
“The purpose of this video was to focus on the positive self-image,” Stovall explained. “With this video we wanted to get students to remember that we are all unique individuals who are created differently and understand that this difference is what makes us so special and that is OK to be different and that instead of wanted to be like everyone else, we need to just be the person we were created to be. There was a lot of planning that went into the video. Riley submitted the video but Ashlynn and several other students assisted with this.”
The students earned the opportunity to participate in state competition based on the results from regional STLP competition last fall in Bowling Green.