More than 9,000 students from across Kentucky attended the 10th annual Student Technology Leadership Program’s State Championship this spring at Rupp Arena. They represented 502 schools and 129 districts – record-breaking numbers and a 20 percent increase from last year. The K-12 students showed what they know and can do with technology in the arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), and marketable career areas by competing in more than four dozen categories with projects, products, services, and live demonstrations.
Showcase projects
Best in State / Technical Division champions – “Phones Down” by Drake Witt, Jaiven Smith, Isaiah Obgulu, and Dontae Moore of Bryan Station High School. Note: This is the third straight year an FCPS school has won this top award. “Phones Down” is one of four projects that received first-place honors out of more than 550 entries.
Best in State runner-up – “PLD Lamplighter” by Sharon Chen, Rohan Palla, Arunmani Phravorachith, and Arya Shoa of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Note: This project is one of seven in second-place position out of the more than 550 projects.
Best in Showcase Group -- “NTI (Non-Traditional Instruction)” by Bradon Coate, Chase Myers, Jackson Smoroske, and James Young of Jessie Clark Middle School; and “BSTA” by Peter Regard, Arthur Hall, and Mack Cason of Bryan Station High School. Note: These are two of 66 projects in third-place position.
Live competitions
Certipalooza / Excel certification, first place: Noah Gann of Henry Clay High School
Cinemania, first place: “Telling Stories” by Southern Films of Southern Middle School (Allyson Van Haaren, Ben Brewer, Brandy Bruner, Cayden Bradshaw, Grace Patrick, Isabella Perkins, Bethany Ryan, Madison Arnett, Peyton Twerdi, Chen Chen Zheng, Jonesia Logan, Lainey Wedding, Shea McCray, TaQuay’za Johnson, Lotus Hildebrand, Kiley Reynolds, Lucas Poynter, and Audrey Clemmens)
Robot Use, runner-up: Adil Moula and Jake Evans of Athens-Chilesburg Elementary
Newscast Challenge, runner-up: “PLD Lamplighter” by Sharon Chen, Rohan Palla, Arunmani Phravorachith, and Arya Shoa of Dunbar
Presenter, first place: “Sway” by Narmin Ibrahim of Julius Marks Elementary; first place: “The World of Film Editing” by Rohan Palla and Lalith Manukonda of Dunbar
Proven Learning Quick Tech Recall, first place: Drake Witt of Bryan Station High School
Racing to the Future: Build and Design Challenge, first place: Sydney Shelby of Morton Middle; runner-up: Ty Clark of Cassidy Elementary
Racing to the Future: Race Time Championship, first place: Sydney Shelby of Morton Middle; runner-up: Stan Shelby Jr. of Tates Creek High School
UK Engineering: Minds on Innovation, runner-up: “Vations by Station” by Drake Witt of Bryan Station High School
Product Awards
Digital Art, first place: “Purple Rain” by Isabelle Swisher of Morton Middle; first place: “Dia de los Muertos” by Emma Guinnup of Lafayette High School
Documentary Video, first place: “Closing the Golden Door” by Jake Alford, Daniel Baesler, and Karson Caswell of SCAPA at Bluegrass
Feature Video, first place: “Underneath” by Southern Films of Southern Middle School
Graphic Design, first place: “Open Your World with Books” by Halie Patrick of Harrison Elementary; runner-up: “No Detail Too Small” by Yousef Agoub of Dunbar
Infographic, first place: “FCPS” by Elizabeth Curry of Julius Marks Elementary; runner-up: “Gopher Tortoise” by Luke Scorsone-Stoval of Julius Marks
Kate Product: Be a Hero, runner-up: “Cyber Bully” by Connor McNee of Glendover Elementary
Manipulated Photo, first place: “Double Exposure” by Cameron Morrison of Lafayette High
Multimedia Content, first place: “K-9 Kevlar” by Noah Jones of Julius Marks Elementary
PSA Video, first place: “The Positive Impact of Sports” by Rohan Palla of Dunbar; runner-up: “Out of Body Experience” by Willis Quinn and Gabby Rodgers of STEAM Academy