EAST Insight Spring 2024

EAST INSIGHT SPRING

2024

Photo by Bob Ocken, Documentation Team Mentor

Congratulations #EASTcon24

AWARD & COMPETITION WINNERS!

EAST FOUNDER’S AWARD

International Studies Magnet School

Dover High School

Hot Springs World Class High School

STUDENT COMPETITION WINNERS

EAST Project Competition

Sulphur Rock Magnet Elementary School & Eagle Mountain Magnet Elementary School

Carter Mae Hill, Wyatt Carter, Cruz Carpenter, Kenlee Gay, Baylyn Martin, Kenzin Rodgers, Ellie Curtwright

Mapping App Competition

Dardanelle High School

Wendy Nunez

Hello, My Name is… Interview Competition

Fountain Lake High School

Ryland Kramarenkno, Brianna Graves, Eli Schrader

Create a New Reality AR/VR Competition

Valley View Junior High School

Joanna Wijaya, Molly Thompson

Picture This Competition

Central High School

Kevin Durden, Kai Fisher, Waylon Mathews

Fay Jones Architectural Challenge

England High School

Caleb Hillis, Annabeth Hallum, Owen Edwards

Music Competition

England High School

Cooper Price

Visual Voyage: Navigating Brands through

Digital Media Competition

Cross County High a New Tech School

Lexi Jarrett

Perfect Pitch Competition

Central High School

Kevin Durden, Sameer Walajahi

Everyday Heroes Competition

John Tyson Elementary School

Kevin Nguyen, Luke Ajayi

EAST CORNERSTONE AWARDS

COMMUNITY & COLLABORATION - Westwood Elementary School

PROJECT SOPHISTICATION & INNOVATION - Lakeside Junior High School (Springdale)

STUDENT GROWTH & ENGAGEMENT - Benton High School

Technical Tutorials Competition

Hunt Elementary School

Harlie Pianalto, Sophia Casamayor

Drone Competition

Central High School

Jack Juneau, Austin Miller, Beckett Wright, Martin Guerro

Graphisoft Community Design Competition

Omaha High School

Mackenzie McCullough, Hailey Pavur, Emma Edwards

Print Media Competition

Wynne Junior High School

Ansleigh Hobbs, Taylor Terry, Ryan Clegg, Reese Oguin, Dan Atupan

Go-Map Twenty-Four Competition

Fountain Lake High School

Kailani Haire, Khai (Magnus) Nobles

Design Impressions: Igniting Innovation in Marketing Design Competition

Paragould High School

Katelynn Reed, Kaydence McGhee

ASLA Landscape Architecture Competition

Nettleton STEAM Intermediate

Arina Ashinova, Jayla Hauge, Stella Edler

Audio Visual Multimedia Competition

Dover High School

McKinley Colburn, Landon Canfield, Jordan Young, Logan Young, Ainsley Featherson

3D Print It Up Competition

Calico Rock High School

Maegen James, Thomas Hood

Tech Support Olympiad

Cutter Morning Star High School

Drew Dettmer

Lindsey Parker Leadership Team Award

Central High School

Kevin Durden

EAST Influencer Award

Northeast Tech - Claremore

Cambry Edwards

EAST Directors Award

Dr. Jim Rollins

President, Northwest Technical Institute

Best of Conference: Dressed to a Tee Winner

Paragould High School

Best of Conference: EAST in Print

Batesville High School Charter

Best of Conference: Signature Design (Single Booth)

England High School

Best of Conference: Signature Design (Super Booth)

Vilonia Middle School, Vilonia High School

Check out the Conference Section starting on Page 16

Table of Contents

AN OVERVIEW OF EAST INSIGHT

ANYONE CAN BE AN EAST STUDENT PAGE 5

EAST Student Contributor Sara Cline shares her experience of becoming an EAST student and how the class encourages people of all types to work hand-in-hand.

ALUMNI FEATURE PAGE 7

Meet Michael Lister, the virtual production manager at Cherokee Film who found his passion as an EAST student at Northeast Tech - Claremore.

ARKANSAS STEM @ THE CAPITOL DAY PAGES 8-9

EAST Initiative and the Arkansas STEM Coalition celebrated STEM Day in Arkansas with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and legislators, with EAST students taking center stage!

SAMSUNG STATE COMPETITION PAGE 10

Three EAST students from Lakeside Junior High School (Springdale) created a weather app that is specifically designed to alert those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

PROJECT ZOO PAGE 11

In collaboration with the Little Rock Zoo, EAST students from Sulphur Rock Magnet Elementary School build a habitat and educational tools as a part of the “Project Zoo” program.

EASTCON24 FOUNDER’S AWARD WINNERS PAGES 16-21

The Founder’s Award recognizes the programs in EAST that best exhibit its three cornerstones: Project Sophistication and Innovation, Community and Collaboration, and Student Growth and Engagement.

DRINKS UP AT THE MELBA PAGE 22

Two elementary school EAST programs teamed up to modify seats at a historic movie theater to include cupholders while maintaining the building’s integrity

Letter from the Editor

This year, we challenged EAST students to embrace the “Uncharted” to fight off becoming comfortable and to continue growing. In EAST, there shouldn’t be any room for complacency.

The EAST Staff also took this challenge to heart, primarily through the creation of the Student Contributors program. The Communication Staff has been working with six EAST students from all over this year to help us share the EAST story through their eyes. In exchange, they received training, mentorship, and perhaps some free pizza at EAST Conference.

Their stories are spread across this issue of EAST Insight, along with the stories of the big winners from EAST Conference with a few extras. We hope you enjoy hearing their perspectives on how EAST has reinvigorated and redefined education for thousands of students!

EDITORIAL STAFF

BRADLEY BREWER EDITOR

Student Contributors with mentor, Bob Ocken at a student training.

The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited materials lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of the EAST Initiative. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the copyright holder. All copyrights are recognized and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review.

Anyone Can Be an EAST Student

BY SARA CLINE, PARAGOULD HIGH SCHOOL

Believe it or not, there is a huge stigma built around EAST and the kids in it. People think that EAST is full of “nerds’’ and tech-crazy kids. When in reality, there are kids in EAST who are all perceived differently by their peers and their teachers.

At Paragould, half of our EAST students are student-athletes. This includes football players, basketball players, dancers, tennis players, golfers, volleyball players, and cheerleaders.

Paragould’s EAST Conference team in 2023 consisted of six cheerleaders, two of whom were on leadership teams. Our Student Champions, Katelynn Reed and myself are cheerleaders, along with our program’s social media lead, Abbey Nicley.

It is hard to balance our lives with different responsibilities. I am a Student Champion of my EAST program, Class Lead, Co-Captain of Paragould’s Varsity Cheerleading team, and one of the Student Contributors for EAST.

Through all of this, I somehow find time to

hang out with my friends, have a job, hop over obstacles in my personal life, and keep my grades up. Cheer takes most of my time. I have cheer two-to-three times a day for hours on end, not including 6 a.m. practices. After 6 am practices I go to school for eight hours while juggling homework, classwork, due dates for EAST, and work on my actual EAST project.

After school, I either work from 5:00 – 11:00 pm or practice cheerleading until coach says we can go home. This doesn’t include game nights or competitions.

I’m sure all teenagers feel like all they do is go, go, go. We all juggle countless things and still find time to be great and achieve amazing things. Our program is run by students who all have exhausting schedules. We all balance spending hours working on our projects for EAST, and helping our program in general. We all work hard as a team, both on and off the mat.

We have all achieved awards and have been acknowledged for our hard work and

dedication to this program. The women in this EAST program inspire me to keep doing what I’m doing, and they let me know that I am not alone. As teenagers, we all struggle and have a lot on our plates. Somehow, we make everything work and run smoothly, EAST kids especially.

EAST consists of all types of people, no matter how they are perceived at school and within their program. We all have responsibilities, and we all have accomplished outstanding things. When people think of EAST, they sometimes think of things EAST programs accomplish rather than the people who are doing EAST: children and teenagers. It is stressful, but it is all worth being in this program and looking back at everything you have accomplished throughout the year. We are all EAST!

Pictured above: Katelynn Reed, Sara Cline and Kaydence McGhee pose after a Cheer Competition. Also pictured, the author during EAST.

Building a Business’ Brand

BY ZACKERY STANDLEE, NORTHEAST TECH- CLAREMORE

In the realm of creative expression, Joel Bible, a second-year EAST student, embarked on a transformative journey that extended far beyond the classroom. Joel undertook the task of creating a personalized logo and business card designs for Silas’s Tailored Ride, a Western show clothing business founded by EAST graduate Faith Thompson. This project showcased Joel’s artistic talent and served as a testament to the practical, real-world applications of design principles within the EAST program.

Joel began his work on October 2, 2023, and with unwavering dedication and creative finesse, he brought it to fruition on November 29, a mere 53 days later. In this relatively short span, Joel demonstrated a remarkable commitment to the project, leaving his mark on Silas’s Tailored Ride.

“I’m designing a logo for an EAST graduate’s business to launch their brand for western show clothing,” Joel said before initiating the project. “They’re still

finalizing key details needed for the design process. We’re currently brainstorming the name and branding style. Once those are decided, I’ll start on the logo. Upon approval of the design, the client will set up social media accounts and other necessary information for the business cards I’ll design.”

What set Joel’s project apart was the dynamic nature of the design process. Rather than a linear progression, Joel engaged in collaborative workshop sessions with Faith. This process mirrored the intricacies of the real-world design industry, where understanding the client’s vision is paramount. The meticulous attention to detail in determining the brand’s name and style showcased Joel’s commitment to encapsulating the essence of Silas’s Tailored Ride.

Joel’s ability to navigate through this dynamic journey exemplifies the practical skills honed within the EAST program. His collaboration with Faith Thompson wasn’t just about creating a logo; it was a co-creation of a brand identity that would resonate within the Western show clothing market.

After the collaborative groundwork, Joel seamlessly transitioned into the logo de-

sign phase. Joel’s artistic creations found a tangible presence on business cards, serving as a visual representation of Silas’s Tailored Ride.

As Joel Bible wraps up his project for Silas’s Tailored Ride, he leaves behind more than just a logo and business cards. He leaves a legacy of creative prowess, collaboration, and an understanding of the nuanced brand creation process. Silas’s Tailored Ride is now equipped with not just a visual identity but a narrative crafted by Joel’s artistic endeavors.

In celebrating Joel’s success, we also celebrate the dynamic and transformative nature of the EAST class at Northeast Tech. This project exemplifies how hands-on experiences within the EAST program not only cultivate skills but empower students to make a tangible impact in the professional realm.

Joel Bible’s journey with Silas’s Tailored Ride is not merely a design project; it’s a testament to the capacity of students to shape, create, and innovate in the world beyond the classroom.

Joel Bible working on the Silas’s Tailored Ride logo.

Meet Michael Lister, EAST Alum

BY BRADLEY BREWER

While EAST has made its largest impact in the Natural State, its impact isn’t restricted to just schools in Arkansas. In fact, one of EAST’s most successful programs resides within a career training school called Northeast Tech - Claremore in Oklahoma, where so many EAST students have graduated to great success.

Michael Lister is currently the Manager of Visual Production at Cherokee Film Studio, a film production company that works to “increase representation across film and media while creating an ecosystem that supports production and drives economic activity in the Cherokee Nation.”

Before beginning his career, however, Michael plunged into his passion during his time in EAST.

“EAST was how I got my start in 3D modeling and animation,” Michael said. “That’s a big part in how you create visual assets and I wanted to go into [video] game development. As soon as I started working in 3D modeling, I knew I was hooked.”

As a creative person who always wanted to tell stories, Michael excelled within the EAST environment as it prioritized freedom over structure. “Giving us the creative freedom to own and manage a project that’s tailored toward our needs and what we wanted to learn and explore was really powerful,” Michael said.

Speaking of projects, Michael tackled several during his three-year tenure as an EAST student, all centered around 3D modeling and design.

“It started out with me designing and building carts to help haul band equipment out to the field,” Michael said. “I was also involved with other students’ projects that involved working with local government or working on previsualization for housing updates.”

While modern-day EAST students have access to various live and on-demand training resources for a large collection of software and hardware, learning how to create 3D animation in 2010 was a different experience.

“I was in EAST before Unreal Engine and Unity hit the scene,” Michael said. “We had Digital Tutors DVDs, so that’s how I would learn. Autodesk Maya was the program I used while in EAST, and it is still considered the gold standard animation software.”

EAST at Northeast Tech is a program that has continued to grow over time, and that is thanks in large part to its facilitator, Jodi Keith, about whom Michael had nothing but good things to say.

“She was phenomenal,” Michael said. “She was the one who gave us the creative freedom and leeway to tackle what we felt was appropriate, and she was always encouraging us to do more.”

AR STEM @ The Capitol Day

BY BRADLEY BREWER

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, along with members of the Arkansas Legislature, visited with students from five EAST programs to celebrate STEM community service-based education at the first-ever “AR STEM @ The Capitol Day” and proclaim April 23rd as Arkansas STEM Day.

This event was organized by EAST Initiative in partnership with the Arkansas STEM Coalition and gave students a platform to visit with their representatives to champion EAST and share their vision for the future of their communities.

“Investing in STEM is essential for Arkansas to remain competitive and prosperous in the 21st Century and beyond,” EAST President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Dozier said. “Our EAST students are excited for the opportunity to engage with leaders about the work they’re doing in their communities combining technology and STEM education.”

STEM Coalition Executive Director Hannah Vogler said partnering with EAST was a no-brainer for an event like this. She said that EAST’s mission – to provide students with an environment that fosters relevant, individualized, life-changing experiences through service and technology – aligns well with the Coalition’s new strategic direction.

“STEM education is not just about preparing a select few for specialized careers; it’s about empowering all Arkansans with the critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and technological literacy necessary to thrive in an increasingly complex world,” Vogler said.

“By investing in STEM education, we are investing in the future prosperity and well-being of our entire state. AR STEM @The Capitol Day will help us spotlight the amazing work these students are already doing.”

Schools selected to participate in

STEM Day include:

• Cossatot River High School (Cove, Polk County)

• England High School (Lonoke County)

• International Studies Magnet Elementary (Jonesboro, Craighead County)

• Sonora Elementary School (Springdale, Benton County)

• Warren High School (Bradley County)

Governor Sanders speaks to EAST students and staff at the Capitol.

Marlee Mann from Warren High School presents their favorite project and answers questions.

England High School EAST program poses with their booth during AR STEM @ The Capitol Day.

Addy Beth Martin from International Studies Magnet School presents her project during the press conference.

EAST students Ethan Youngblood and Adam Seigrist from Cossatot High School answer questions about their project.

Rep. DeAnna Hodges stands with Josh Worthy, Abigail Ebey, Luis Herrera-Lemus, Sadie Grace Worthy, Gunner Morin - all from Sonora Elementary - and Rep. Steve Unger.

See the Sound

BY BRADLEY BREWER

Mobile app development has been a cornerstone of the work EAST students have been doing for many years, and the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition provides these students with an opportunity to be recognized for their work.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a national STEM competition for 6th-12th grade students. The challenge is to develop an innovative mobile application that solves real-world problems. Sound familiar?

Numerous EAST programs were chosen as state finalists this year, but it was a group of three 9th-grade students from Lakeside Junior High School in Springdale, Ark., who were crowned as State Winners.

Emily Pozos, Sala Jongewaard, and John Martinez were inspired by the loved one of a friend who could not hear a severe storm alert due to being deaf. “We’re developing a weather app called ‘See the Sound’ that has different accessibility features for those who are hard of hearing,” Emily said. “If there were a tornado right now, there would be audio that alerts us. But people who are deaf and hard of hearing do not get alerted properly, and that can be really dangerous for them.”

The solution to this problem was obvious to the group; they knew that there needed to be an alternative way to alert people to severe weather threats. Using their “See the Sound” application, they took the audio alerts and transformed them into visual alerts.

“The app uses light to alert them,” Sala said. “We used APIs to input information from different weather apps into ours. So instead of an audio alert, the phone will start flashing a bright light of different colors to indicate certain weather events. The app is also Bluetooth enabled, so if you have smart lamps or similar devices, they will flash to warn the user as well.”

The group earned their EAST program a $12,000 prize package containing new technology that will help expose even more students at their school to STEM technology. Though the prize package and the recognition are fulfilling, the trio seemed more interested in how

they were able to help members of their community while potentially discovering new career pathways. “Now that I’ve been exposed to it, [mobile app development] is something that I really have interest in,” John said. “The thought of doing something that I like to help people really suits me because it makes me think that I can accomplish something, and if I continue, I can help more people.”

John Martinez, Emily Pozos, and Sala Jongewaard pose after learning they were named Arkansas winners in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition.

Project Zoo: Sulphur Rock Magnet Elementary School

BY HAYDEN TAYLOR, BATESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CHARTER

A core component of the EAST experience is community collaboration. A select group of programs from throughout the EASTverse jumped at the opportunity to work with the Little Rock Zoo through the Project Zoo program. Sulphur Rock Elementary EAST students Karis Ford, Sophie Street, Rosalie Horton, Kate McAnally, Carter McKibben, and Wyatt Carter are collaborating on two projects with the Zoo.

These teams used their design skills to help the Zoo enhance the experience for everyone, including the animals. Sulphur Rock Elementary worked with the Zoo on two projects: creating the layout for a cart habitat to place their armadillo in during presentations at the zoo and creating 3D designs of the skeletal systems of snake species to give visitors hands-on interaction.

Both teams visited with Zoo staff on April 17 to present their progress to enhance what they already had. “It helped me develop time management and learn to work in a team,” said Rosalie Horton, who is working on the armadillo habitat.

Students also learned soft skills -like public speaking and making presen-

tations- through this process. Kate McAnally said, “I learned how to present for a company.” The business skills students learn within the world of EAST can have a major impact on their future careers. Sophie Street and Karis Ford, two other students on the armadillo habitat project, talked about how they learned “to talk in front of the public.” Their entire team learned how to create a pitch, present it, take constructive criticism, and grow their project to become even more impactful.

Zoo staff were impressed not only with what these students are doing, but also with the quality of their work and the attention to detail they put into their designs. Carter McKibben, a three-year EAST student, is working on 3D designs of skeletal systems of venomous snakes. He said he has learned that “partnering with more than one person at a time can help you get the project complete.” His project partner, Wyatt Carter, a first-year EAST student, also expressed how he has had to “learn how to 3D print and how to collaborate with community partners.”

These students left the Zoo eager to grow their projects and put the tips from the Zoo staff to good use while finishing their designs. We can’t wait to see the long-lasting impact these projects will have at the Little Rock Zoo.

Sulphur Rock students showcase their projects for Little Rock Zoo staff.

The Role of an EAST Facilitator

BY EMMA CLAIRE KELLEY, WYNNE HIGH SCHOOL

An EAST facilitator is often mistaken for a normal teacher, but facilitators are not merely teachers. A facilitator’s job is to watch over the students in their class, to be there to push them to do their best, and to help them work through challenges.

Facilitators do not lecture the class. Facilitators let the kids do what they need to do, empower them to take over their own learning, and to give students a feel of the real world and working with real people.

One facilitator who showcases what a real facilitator is Ms. Kelsi Peterson, the facilitator at the Wynne Intermediate School EAST program.

Ms. Kelsi described facilitating in her own words and experiences, “Every year when I start class, I tell them that these are their projects, they are in control of their learning, they get to seize the opportunity to be in charge, and that I am just there to make sure no fires get started and to provide login passwords. It takes a while, but I live for the moment when my littles finally realize what that means and that they have a say in what their school and community can become. They are not limited by their size or their experience in the world, and often they see things just as well, if not better, than many adults.”

Even though she is an awesome facilitator now, she has not always been a facilitator. Before EAST, Ms. Kelsi taught oral communications, theater, and stagecraft for three years at Wynne High School.

As a high school teacher, she found her teaching style to be more professor-like and open-minded to the kids’ creativity. She has always wanted the kids to be in control of their learning and liked to make the learn -

ing connected to real-life situations that correlated with their aspirations. So, Ms. Kelsi decided to make the switch to being an EAST facilitator.

Another amazing facilitator who has shown her hard work, growth, and passion for EAST is Mrs. Chelsea Hudson, Wynne Junior High School’s EAST facilitator.

Before becoming a facilitator, Mrs. Hudson was known as Coach Hudson. She taught science and coached volleyball and basketball. She received a scholarship to Arkansas State University, where she originally planned to major in broadcast journalism but later switched majors to physical education.

Her original goal in life was to go into video production and create digital media. This all changed when she discovered EAST. She did not know what EAST was, but she felt like it was a great opportunity to use her creativity to change and grow the program. During her time as an EAST facilitator, the WJHS EAST program has benefited tremendously. The kids encourage each other while she lets them take over their own learning and cheers them on from the sidelines.

created is colorful, warm, and really makes you feel at home. She loves to push her kids to and past their limits so that they know that they are the only thing limiting themselves.

She says that her classroom is productive because of a “domino effect” that occurs whenever one person starts to really make a difference. She said that during Conference preparation, when one of the kids saw how much fun everyone was having while working and submitting their projects, it “lit a fire” under everyone else in the classroom.

She learned that EAST matched her personality, and the longer she gets to be a part of EAST, the more she “falls in love with it.” The environment she has

Top photo: Wynne Intermediate School’s EAST facilitator Kelsi Peterson (second from left) takes a picture with her EAST Conference team. Bottom photo: Chelsea Hudson (WJHS Facilitator) and her EAST students.

Restoring a Local Playground

BY EVA GRACE DUNCAN, SEARCY HIGH SCHOOL

Community involvement is important because it allows you to make a positive difference, create connections, and foster a sense of belonging, which Searcy High School EAST has the privilege of doing.

Two groups of students had the opportunity to partner with Liberty Christian School, a small private school in Searcy, Ark., to help redesign their playground and open students’ eyes to new technology.

Chloe Duncan and Stephanie Torres created the project “Restore and Reignite” after seeing the crumbling playground at Liberty Christian School. They began by reaching out to Katie Williams, the school’s principal, to see if EAST could help in any way.

“Collaboration is the key to unlocking opportunities,” Chloe said. “When private schools like Liberty Christian School cannot write grants, organizations like EAST step in to make a difference.”

Chloe and Stephanie started researching possible grants and age-appropriate equipment, taking measurements, and building a budget. The girls held monthly community partner meetings with Mrs. Williams to meet their personal goals.

After many hours of research, the girls applied for a $41,000 grant through Casey’s Cash for Classrooms to fund the equipment for the playground. The girls recently received their grant application results and are so excited to watch their project come to life.

“I felt excited and hopeful after submitting the grant application,” Chloe said. “Grant writing is very complex and requires thorough research. I am grateful for this experience and can’t wait to see the funds put to good use.”

Liberty Christian School teaches students ranging from Pre-K to sixth-grade and relies on teaching methods without the use of digital devices or internet access. Many students in the sixth-grade transfer to Ahlf Junior High School for seventh-grade, where technology is used daily. As a technology-based program, EAST stepped in to teach these students some computer basics.

Caitlin Clutter, Eva Duncan, and Avery Evans partnered with Kailyn Raiford, a sixth-grade teacher at Liberty Christian School, to create monthly lesson plans. The girls traveled to the school once a month to teach the students software like Google Drive, Google Slides, Code.Org, and Google Docs. They also taught a lesson on writing and sending a professional email.

Avery Evans, a former student at Liberty Christian School, is extremely passionate about helping others learn technology. Avery was not given the opportunity to enhance her technology skills before junior high, so it’s important for her to give back and teach others.

“Our project Liberty Lessons is important to me because I attended Liberty Christian School before transferring to Ahlf Junior High. I had never used a computer before seventh grade,” Avery said. “My hope is that with this project students are not only comfortable on the computer but confident as well.”

EAST is about making a difference, getting out in the community, learning from your mistakes, trying something new, and celebrating your achievements. From jungle gyms to coding and endless community partner meetings—Searcy High School EAST is proud of the hard work and determination happening within our community and classroom.

EAST students from Searcy High School teach an elementary school class at Searcy Christian Academy how to use online tools for education.

Greenbrier Junior High School EAST students pose with their booth.

Berryville High School EAST students present to the judges.

Opening Session fun!

Cain Wilkins (Woodlawn High School) and Lexi Jarrett (Cross Country a New Tech School) present on stage during Opening Session.

Exhibitors bring interactive elements for EAST students to test out.

Two EAST students interact with the exhibitor booth for engineering.

EAST Fusion Dance Party gives students a chance to dance it out after setting up booths.

Students take a selfie to commemorate EASTcon24.

Designing Success

BY BRADLEY BREWER

This year, EAST at Dover High School’s mission was to become more well-known in their community by working with more clients, partnering with other EAST programs, and sharing their work however they could. By succeeding in each of these areas, the program has more students than ever before. The program has played a role in supporting a variety of local businesses, organizations and their local government, and they aren’t planning on stopping anytime soon.

What was your reaction when you learned that your program won the Founder’s Award?

Logan Young: The whole team was huddled around one computer, waiting to see the results. Once they said our name, we were super excited, and honestly in shock. I think this opportunity will be great for our program, and I think we are prepared for it

Zoey Callans: My initial reaction when I learned our program won Founder’s was almost unbelief. I got excited to the point of tears because I saw all the work, time, and effort that was put into this program. It wasn’t until the other team members were prepping for our breakout session the next week that I realized it was a reality.

What did you see that was changed or added to improve your EAST program?

Owen Hill: We focused heavily on projects and community involvement, which allowed us to start working on projects as fast as possible to get projects rolling and get our name out in the community.

Zoey: I have realized that Mrs. Kindy has been the biggest factor in our program’s improvement. I will say that she is the core foundation of keeping us excited and on top of projects, making us engaged, and also helping us learn to use our own eyes to be aware of problems that we can solve within our community.

What projects did you work on this year?

Ella Beene: This year, my biggest project was “Ella B. Flicks.” I collaborated with small-town businesses in our local area and our community for sports and events, worked with Downtown Russellville, and created content for various websites, graphic designs, social media, etc.

Owen: I worked on a mural project for our school sign, which was a little project that I was able to do while working on my sidewalk project. For the sidewalk project, I worked with our mayor and city council to work on broken sidewalks that were unsafe for students who walk on the sidewalks regularly. I also started a bike club for my school. I am planning to build trails and plan community events. I am partnering with Jackalope Cycling and local trail builders to try to bring cycling to my community.

Zoey: This year I began working on the Sycamore Grove rebranding project. It was a process and very time-consuming; it was a graphic design project where I redesigned a small farm in our area’s logo and labels for merchandise. Then I began working on other small graphic design branding projects for small businesses. I also did a few designs for our live stream team or worked on graphics for sports.

How did EAST help you grow this year?

Logan: This year I have grown substantially in wanting to get projects done. I found something I liked doing in graphic design and pursued it. I have also become more involved with EAST Conference and making sure we have everything we need. I think I have contributed great ideas and stepped out of my comfort zone by agreeing to be on a podcast.

Dessie Gregory: I’d grown by learning how to talk to clients more and how to find and use a new software called Adobe XD. I am also learning how to use Android Studios to make and publish an app.

Zoey: I would say my biggest accomplishment is growing in my self-confidence, communication skills, and learning not to be so prideful. When I came into the EAST program, I was very isolated when it came to projects. I never wanted to ask for help, but also

doubted my own ability when it came to actually finishing projects.

If there’s one thing that makes your program special, what would it be?

Dessie: The special thing about this program is that we are still growing. During my freshman year, we had about 2-3 classes. Now we have 5-6 classes in the high school. Something else that makes us special is that our facilitator pushes us to reach out

to the community and brings in guest speakers to help us get out of our comfort zones and help our community.

Logan: One major thing about our program that makes it so special is our team! We never leave someone behind, and we only bring each other up. We motivate each other to get projects done and start new ones. There is always positive energy within our team.

CONFERENCE TEAM

Logan Young (Student Champion)

Samantha Greathouse

Dessie Gregory

Ainsley Featherson

Owen Hill

Carley Nantze

McKinley Colburn

Jordan Young

Ella Beene

Zoey Callans

OUR MISSION: Connect people and empower business in a world of infinite possibilities. We proudly support EAST in its mission.

Adam Daubenheyer prints out a mental health check-in board that will be used in special education classes at Dover High School.

Hometown Heroes

BY BRADLEY BREWER

A year that was originally meant to be one of transition became one of triumph for EAST at Hot Springs World Class High School. For the first time in almost 10 years, the program has a new facilitator whose primary focus was to unite the students as a team. The fruits of this endeavor were instantly revealed as the program is more involved than ever with new clients, and with students using a wide variety of technology.

What was your reaction when you learned your program won the Founder’s Award?

Austin Brown: “I was ecstatic. We worked hard to brainstorm projects this year and to be in the community as much as we could. This is also my first year in EAST, so even though I wasn’t sure what to fully expect, I was excited to be part of one of the biggest projects in designing a building for a nonprofit in our town.”

Jaylen O’Neal: “It was a proud moment for our program. I’m sad I can’t experience what this program will accomplish because this is the start of an amazing turn around for our program, and I can’t wait to see what is accomplished in the future.”

What projects did you work on this year?

Austin: “The project that I worked on was Buil-

I think that what makes our program so special is that a 15-year-old EAST student designed a building because he was given an opportunity and now that will actually be built. I don’t know where else I could have received an opportunity like this one. I’m beyond grateful for it. “ ”

ding Spa City. The new Impact Center will be a place for students to go after school. A bus picks up kids in our district and currently transports them to a building they are sharing with someone else. I designed the building that will be their future home which is cool because I’m only in the 10th grade and kids my age don’t really get that kind of opportunity. The building has classrooms and gyms, and I’m so excited for it to be built.”

Zaria Grant: “We partnered with Ouachita Children’s Center and Marcus Tatum who is the Director of Prevention. The game we designed is specifically for young people in the Ouachita Children’s Center who struggle with substance abuse. They are using the game as one of their prevention strategies.

This project alone has required a lot of teamwork because our group has had to all work on their respective parts and be willing to accept feedback from one another.”

How have you grown this year thanks to EAST?

Jaylen: “I’ve grown a whole lot as a leader. Being Student Champion this year, I’ve had to ‘lock in’ and become the ‘mini facilitator.’ It taught me how to delegate tasks, and work hard on my own tasks to lead by example.

Austin: “This year, I have learned how to design buildings and their layouts using primarily Sketchup. I didn’t realize that I would be so good at it. Not only did I learn new technology, I also had record screencasts to send to the board members for the project. Talking to people really put me out of my comfort zone and helped me become more confident.”

How has your program impacted your community this year?

Jaylen: “We’ve had numerous community based projects that have made a HUGE impact this year, not only with the solar eclipse project, which I’m most familiar with; but,

also with our other projects like Building Spa City and Bad Habits. All of these projects have really taken off because the students have gotten to showcase what they are capable of doing and have been trusted to do it.”

What’s something special about your EAST program?

Zaria: “The student engagement. In school, many students do not pay attention or engage with their classes. With EAST, on the other hand, students are

always eager to begin working on their projects.”

Austin: “I think that what makes our program so special is that a 15-year-old EAST student designed a building because he was given an opportunity and now that will actually be built. I don’t know where else I could have received an opportunity like this one. I’m beyond grateful for it.”

CONFERENCE TEAM

Jaylen: “The liveliness! I’m sure in some EAST programs there are no laughs, or no connection with the students outside of their conference team. But in our program, Ms. Burris does her best to make connections with all the students because at the end of the day she’s not a teacher, but a facilitator, and a great one.”

Jaylen O’Neal (Student Champion)

Aniyah Dickens

Kiley Simms

Jamie Bryant

Ezekial Hodges

Jalissa Davis

Corey Freeman

Brock Taylor

Zaria Grant

Ronald Gordan

AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL

» Zero-cost bachelor’s degree for freshmen who receive and maintain Pell-Eligibility and the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship

» Covers all tuition and mandatory fees

» Full time freshman starting in Fall 2024

» Renewable for three years (four years total award)

A Bright Future

BY BRADLEY BREWER

When it comes to EAST, you should never underestimate young students. At International Studies Magnet Elementary School in Jonesboro, fourth and fifth graders are tackling robotics, ArcGIS mapping and even working closely with the City of Jonesboro to create a new swimming area at Craighead Forest Park. By working with important clients and community partners and using complex technology at such a young age, EAST at International Studies is a deserving Founder’s Award-winning program.

What was your reaction to winning the Founder’s Award?

Kenna: No one thought we were going to win Founder’s this year because we won the Cornerstone Award last year. I think I was too shocked to feel any emotion; all I could do was scream my head off.

What was your contribution to your EAST program?

Kenna: We have a project that started a couple of years ago where a former student wanted to create hallway robots. The idea was to build robots that lead lines in the hallway for our Pre-K program since those students don’t really listen well when they are in line. We built the robots and programmed them to follow a set path to hopefully make it a more fun experien-

ce for the students and a less stressful experience for the teachers.

Millie: Last year, I created a 360° virtual tour of our school to help introduce new students, parents and faculty to International Studies. That project led me to work with the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library to create a tour for them, which will also go on their website and social media platforms.

Jillian: A couple of years ago we had some students 3D print props for The Forum, which is a local theater in Jonesboro. Last year, we decided to change it up a bit and started working on 3D printing a stage model. We’re using our Glowforge laser printer to inscribe the layout of the stage on wood so the theater can use it to plan out their shows.

Ridge Emison: A few years ago, there was a swimming area in the lake at Craighead Forest Park, and I wanted to bring it back better than ever with a restaurant and a beach. We’re meeting with leaders from Jonesboro Parks & Recreation to make it possible, and the EAST program at Annie Camp Junior High School is helping us make a presentation to the mayor in order to get funding.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned this year in EAST?

CONFERENCE TEAM

Kenna Weaver (Student Champion)

Millie Nowlin (Student Champion)

George Cavenaugh

Chloe Fox

Weston Ledden

Ridge Emison

Jillian Roberts

Evelyn Prince

Rees McDowell

Addy Beth Martin

Cora Gill

Ridge: I’ve really improved on using mapping software and teamwork as well. I’ve had to learn how to overcome challenges - like when our community partners aren’t emailing us back, and I’ve also had to set up meetings.

Millie: I’ve really grown in my learning skills and in working with technology, specifically graphic design and Canva. Now, I have friends and family asking me more about helping the community and fundraising because they see what I’ve done in EAST.

Jillian: This year definitely taught me patience. With my project, we had multiple fails, so we had to have the patience to go back and figure out what our next steps would be.

What makes your EAST program special?

Ridge: Definitely our facilitator. She hypes us up for things and makes sure we know everything we need to in order to succeed.

Jillian: I agree. If we get off track, she pulls us back. And if we are struggling, she makes sure to encourage us to help us continue on to where we need to be.

Kenna: I’m someone who likes to do things by myself. I’m a bossy person, but EAST has taught me how to better collaborate with people and to think outside of the box but to not do it alone. Our class just feels like one big family and has shown me that you can’t do huge things by yourself.

An EAST student pitches a potential project to his classmates.

Three EAST students receive feedback from a community partner for their ArcGIS Storymap project.

EAST students research traffic patterns in north Arkansas using IDriveArkansas.

Drinks Up at the Melba

BY BRADLEY BREWER

EAST Conference 2024 hosted 21 competitions, giving students the chance to be recognized for their work no matter what field they exist in. The most prestigious of these is the “EAST Project Competition,” where all EAST projects are eligible regardless of the technology used and what problem was solved.

This year’s winner of the EAST Project Competition is particularly special as the project of the year was conducted by two EAST programs from the Batesville School District: Sulphur Rock Magnet Elementary School and Eagle Mountain Magnet Elementary School.

Downtown Batesville is the home of the historic movie theater affectionately referred to by the local community as “The Melba.” The theater began undergoing renovations in 2015, but one household feature of most theaters was missing - cupholders.

While this might not seem like a big issue, the lack of cupholders quickly became a headache for the theater’s owners. “The owner said that an average of three large drinks are spilled per movie at the theater,” said Jenine Ottaway, the EAST facilitator at Sulphur Rock Elementary School.

This issue sparked the theater owners to contact a couple of the EAST programs in their area, who quickly realized what they needed to do to solve the problem. “We are 3D prin-

ting some cup holders for The Melba,” said Carter Mae Hill, a student from Sulphur Rock Elementary School. “We visited the theater to take some measurements of the seats and took the biggest cup so we could design it.”

While the team of Carter Mae, Wyatt Carter and Cruz Carpenter were hard at work creating and testing designs, they learned that another group from Eagle Mountain Elementary School was working on the same project. “We got together and had meetings so we could join together and get on the same page,” Carter Mae said. “We were a little bit farther ahead, but we got them caught up.”

Together, the two teams designed a prototype that fits the chairs and can hold any drink sold at The Melba. To ensure stability, the cupholders will be printed with metal rather than typical filament. Thankfully, a nearby community partner had the technology they need to mass-produce the cupholders with the correct material.

“UACCB (University of Arkansas Community

College Batesville) has a CNC industrial-sized printer, so we’ve partnered with their workforce program to essentially mass produce the 417 cupholders we need,” Jenine said.

Wyatt and Cruz said this project was the first time they’ve worked with 3D printing, and their peers from Eagle Mountain Magnet Elementary School echoed that sentiment but said they wish they could do it all over again.

“It was so much fun to collaborate [with Sulphur Rock], learn about The Melba, and learn how to design and 3D print the cupholders,” Kynslee said. “If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would.”

(Right) EAST students meet with a client at The Melba.

Student Growth & Engagement

BY BRADLEY BREWER

Success is never instantaneous, and oftentimes, it takes years of hard work to put the pieces in place to finally achieve your goals. For EAST at Benton High School, this couldn’t have been more true. As the program grew each year, and after applying for the Founder’s and Cornerstone Award and not winning last year, they were motivated to break through and make the necessary growth to optimize their impact.

How would you describe the growth you’ve experienced due to being an EAST student?

Macie Burnett: “Growing up, I always stayed in my shell and would never try to adventure out of my comfort zone. When I entered the Benton EAST program, I had no idea what to expect. I got nervous every time I heard our facilitator tell us to get into groups to work on something, and how this class would make us talk to people we never thought we would have. By the end of my sophomore year, I was more comfortable and confident as a person to reach out and talk to others.

I have also grown in my technology skills area because of being in the EAST program. Since the beginning of my senior year, I have learned how to use an APH Page Blaster to emboss and print our Braille bible story that myself and two other group members created. I also learned how to use the Braille Blaster software, which translates normal writing into Braille. I am now able to help other students in the program at my school to create Braille menus for restaurants around Benton. “

How did you contribute to your EAST program this year?

Natalie Ramsey: “This year I was one of two Student Champions, so I worked on a couple of things. My initial project at the beginning of the year involved working with a group to create Benton’s hype videos for the high school football team. We learned how to film, edit, and market our videos to reach our intended audience. After football season was over, I had a conversation with our principal about getting a yearly newsletter sent out about the accomplishments of our program. When I finish the newsletter in April, it will include stats, different project examples, and even the main takeaways from EAST Conference.”

Your program has steadily grown in enrollment and passion since it began in 2020. Can you describe its growth from your own perspective?

Valeri Clayton: “From my perspective, I have seen the passion for EAST being heightened and weaved throughout the Benton High School EAST program. Our facilitator has worked hard to push us toward choosing projects that we are passionate about. Our facilitator also focuses on preparing students for their projects by teaching us how to problem solve, think critically, and work in a team. As the EAST program has grown in numbers, we have also grown in our strength to find projects that will help solve a problem and motivate students to push themselves to learn something new every day, whether it is learning how to send

a professional email or learning how to use a brand new software. It has been phenomenal to have the opportunity to watch and assist the Benton High School EAST program as we accomplish things we never thought we could have.”

What does your program winning the Cornerstone Award mean to you?

Rudy Medders: “Being awarded the Cornerstone Award is such an honor. Even though this is my only year in EAST, I can see from my peers and EAST Student Champions that this program has come so far and worked so hard for this. Our facilitator, Jordan Hunter, has worked so hard to show kids what EAST is all about and providing them with all of the resources and skills they need to take any project to the next level. He recognizes every success and never fails to celebrate. On the flip side, when we are struggling with our projects, he always gives us a new perspective and a better attitude to continue our project with. Everyone has worked so hard for this.”

CONFERENCE TEAM

Natalie Ramsey (Student Champion)

Valeri Clayton (Student Champion)

Ruby Medders

Colby Howard

Macie Burnett

Aubree Rodgers

Julian McDaniel

Maddox Murray

Community & Collaboration

BY BRADLEY BREWER

EAST at Westwood Elementary School (Springdale) is a program full of students with a heart of service to their community who have spent years changing lives through their passion and the tools EAST provides them. While they’re happy with what they’ve accomplished, they’re still motivated to grow and create greater change.

What was your reaction when you learned your program won the Cornerstone Award?

Zuzu Godfrey: “I was so excited that we won Cornerstone! Once I realized the hints that we were going to win on the livestream, I was like, ‘Yes!, I think that’s us!’ Knowing we didn’t win Founder’s was a little upsetting, but Cornerstone is a huge deal, so yay for us!”

Angeline Aguilar: “I was super shocked that Westwood won Cornerstone again! I feel very honored because I know it’s very rare for an elementary school to win. At the same time, I was a bit disappointed because I was

hoping we would win the Founder’s Award. But overall I am very happy!”

How did you and your program positively impact the community around you this year?

Izabella Zangari: “We impacted our community by giving kids in the hospital fun things to do while recovering in their beds. We also help seniors at the Senior Center by providing adaptive devices that can help them in their everyday lives.”

Yaneli Acousta: “Westwood EAST made a positive impact on our Springdale EAST community. We provided a 3D printing operator workshop to get other programs printing! We have heard back from many EAST programs that are now using 3D printing to solve problems in their community.”

If you could share one thing about your EAST program that you think makes it

CONFERENCE TEAM

Izabella Zangari (Student Champion)

Yaneli Acousta (Student Champion)

Zoey Ruppel

Josiah Abott

Caroline Crumby

Angeline Aguilar

Zuzu Godfrey

Caiden Nosel

special, what would that be?

Zuzu: “We are a very young group of students doing very important and serious EAST projects. I think that makes us special.”

Yaneli: “I think that one thing that makes Westwood Elementary EAST special is that we are still children, and we are making small impacts to change the world.”

Zoey: “One thing I think makes my EAST program special is how we can work so well together on really hard things and always have a good time!”

Zuzu Godfrey poses with a video game that she created. Malachi Johnson works inside Shining 3D, a software that generates 3D scans.

Robert Araujo, Elio Lopez, Callan Gibbons, Jeson Rodriguez discuss how to move ahead with their project.

Project Sophistication & Innovation

BY BRADLEY BREWER

From creating automated life rafts to developing mobile applications rooted in accessibility, EAST students at Lakeside Junior High School (Springdale) were never content with simple project ideas. By challenging themselves to solve complex problems using challenging tech, the Springdale program earned the Cornerstone Award for Project Sophistication and Innovation.

Vaping In Schools

Is vaping an issue in your school? Are your EAST students interested in being part of the solution to reducing youth access to and use of e-cigarettes? Contact Page Dobbs (pdobbs@uark.edu).

Vaping In Schools

What projects did you work on this year?

Katherine Ebey: “My project is ‘Leadership and Mentorship.’ I am working with students in the Knapp Elementary (Springdale) EAST program to help boost their confidence and technology skills. I love working with kids. Seeing kids grow and work out their problems is amazing!”

CONFERENCE TEAM

Emily Pozos

Sala Jongewaard

John Martinez

Rylie Ebey

Katherine Ebey

Ahnaleigh Grace

Miles Boomer

Quinn Spurlock

Rebecca Biggs

Jetta Warford

Vaping In Schools

Ahnaleigh: “My project this year is ‘Location Cards for S.T.A.R.’ which stands for ‘Sex Trafficking and Runaways.’ I’m creating laser cut cards that have an embedded NFC tag and geo border that is used to help locate and rescue people who have ran away or are in the sex trafficking business.”

Is vaping an issue in your school? Are your EAST students interested in being part of the solution to reducing youth access to and use of e-cigarettes? Contact Page Dobbs (pdobbs@uark.edu).

If there’s one thing you can share about your program that makes it special, what would it be?

Ahnaleigh: “One thing that I believe makes EAST special is how we can tell stories. The projects at EAST are amazing, but the way to get people to listen and hear about them is through the stories and the emotions behind the projects. As [Derek] Ratchford, my former EAST facilitator, told me, ‘If you want to sell a good project, you have to have a great story.’ That has stuck with me throughout my entire time in EAST, making all the projects feel even more special.”

Katherine: “When you involve yourself with EAST you get to meet new people and make new connections. I have made incredible relationships through EAST. I would never have even reached out to them or known them without this program. What’s even better is I can work with those people to help others. We can bounce ideas off each other with respect and love.”

Vaping In Schools

Thank You to our EAST Conference Sponsors!