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FOUNDER’S AWARD WINNERS
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LUTI’S LEARNING BOARD
Hear from the winning 2022 Founder’s Winners EAST students and facilitators
Take a closer look at the project that won the EAST Project Competition award this year at #EASTCon22
Spring 2022 QUARTERLY
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ISSUE
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CORNERSTONE AWARD WINNERS Q & A with the three EAST programs who claimed the Cornerstone Award titles at this year’s EAST Conference
Congratulations #EASTCon22
AWARD & COMPETITION WINNERS! THE EAST FOUNDER’S AWARD
EAST CORNERSTONE AWARDS
Buffalo Island Central High School Cross County High - A New Tech School Nettleton STEAM
COMMUNITY & COLLABORATION - Northeast Tech - Claremore PROJECT SOPHISTICATION & INNOVATION - Lakeside Junior High School (Springdale) STUDENT GROWTH & ENGAGEMENT - J.O. Kelly Middle School
STUDENT COMPETITION WINNERS EAST Project Competition Westwood Elementary School Joshua Soliz, Lilly Rugg, Enrique Hernandez Luti Learns Her Friends Tech Support Olympiad Armorel High School - Alex Thyen SketchUp Competition Armorel High School Grayson Seibert - Armorel Commons Renovation Perfect Pitch Competition Gene George Elementary School Levi Newman, Sophia Naish Play With Me 3D Print It Up Westwood Elementary School Lilly Rugg, Joshua Soliz, Enrique Hernandez Luti’s Learning Board Intentionally Inventive Marketing Competition Hunt Elementary School Jenna Kate Ross, Baylie Nickerson, Cadence Chambers Go for Gold Hunt Cafeteria Picture This Competition Lakeside High School (Lake Village) Arielle Ward, Jaylon Harris - Dominating Victory
Hello, My Name is...Interview Competition Arkansas High School - Wrangler Fletcher Mapping App Competition Harrisburg High School Axson Wallace, Chesney Henderson Harrisburg Memorial Park Cemetery Multimedia Competition Parson Hills Elementary Patrecia Tartios, Conner Garcia, Melanie Gonzalez Cultural Cuisine Go Map Twenty-Two-ArcGIS Activity Competition Cross County High a New Tech School Macie McCommon, Konnor Wilson, Bo Cook, Jenna Organ Village Creek Hiking Trails Everyday Heroes Mountain Home Career Academies Elizabeth Harris, Trey Czeschin Everyday Heroes
Fay Jones Architectural Challenge Armorel High School Grayson Seibert - Armorel Commos Renovation MicroControlling Everything Competition Pinkston Middle School Hunter Ramsey, Harrison Baker, Christian Chamberlain, Ford Coleman The Retriever Tracker Music Competition Paragould High School Drew Grim - Steady Acceleration Best of Conference - Dressed to a Tee Competition Ahlf Junior High School Best of Conference - Signature Booth Design Competition England High School Best of Conference - EAST In Print Clinton High School
ARCHICAD Competition Morrilton Senior High School Samantha Flores - Morrilton High School Addition
Best of Conference - Suited For Success Competition Eagle Mountain Magnet Elementary School
Drone Competition Buffalo Island Central High School Chase Bupp, Ayden Qualls, Caden Whitehead, Joel Mata, Riley Whitehead Drone Field Mapping Project
Best of Conference - Tech in Action Competition Oaklawn Stem Magnet, Hot Springs Junior Academy, & Hot Springs World Class High School
Monticello Intermediate School Beebe Junior High School Lake Hamilton High School Central High School Hunt Elementary School Malvern Elementary School Har-Ber High School Monitor Elementary School Lee High School
Pottsville Junior High School Dardanelle High School Lakeside Junior High School (Hot Springs) Harrisburg High School Calico Rock High School Lincoln Middle School Benton Junior High School England High School
JUDGES’ CHOICE WINNERS Horatio High School George Elementary School Sonora Middle School Harp Elementary School Thurman G. Smith Elementary School Dover High School Des Arc High School Osceola High School Arkansas School for the Blind
>> SAVE THE DATE
EAST Conference 2023, “Into the EASTverse” Coming March 2023!
What a semester! We’ve been busy at EAST HQ, and I know our students were just as busy preparing for our first in-person Conference in three years, but we’ve made it to the other side.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In my first letter, I wrote about how EAST was in a time of transition. And while we aren’t completely finished pivoting, now seems like a great time to dig in. Students can take a breath and enjoy their well-earned summer vacations as EAST continues to look to the future and focus on what things will look like come August.
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Founder’s Award Winners
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Luti’s Learning Board
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Cornerstone Award Winners
There’s still lots of growing to do as our work is never finished, but I believe we’ve accomplished great things and deserve to take a step back and celebrate. So congratulations to all EAST students, facilitators, staff, and community partners for the hard work this spring, and we look forward to seeing you back in a couple of months.
Cheers!
12 Bradley Brewer Editor
QUARTERLY
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EAST Initiative
Three Northeast Arkansas EAST programs swept top honors at EASTCon22 this year. Check out what each program accomplished!
EAST students at Westwood Elementary School discovered ways to help one of their peers who is blind and non-verbal communicate with teachers and other students.
Dozens of community partners, creating medical devices, and more earned three EAST programs the Cornerstone Award this year.
EAST Day of Giving Take a look at who supported EAST and what fun was had at HQ on EAST Day of Giving!
MAGAZINE TEAM Editor - Bradley Brewer Designer - Kristen Farmin
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EAST Initiative
Disclaimer 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.
Read this and previous issues online at news.EASTlink.me/EQ SPRING 2022 | EAST QUARTERLY
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Crossing Over Into the Founder’s Circle REPRESENTING THE CCHS EAST FOUNDER’S TEAM: Bo Cook: 10th Grade, 4 Years in EAST Ciara Stephens: 10th Grade, 4 Years in EAST Joseph Harvey: 12th Grade, 1 Year in EAST Macie McCommon: 10th Grade, 4 Years in EAST Lexi Jarrett: 10th Grade, 4 Years in EAST
F
or EAST at Cross County High School, winning the Founder’s Award felt like the culmination of years of growth. After being a Founder’s finalist in 2020 and winning a Cornerstone Award in 2021, this year was finally the time for the Cherry Valley school to enter the Founder’s Circle alongside two other Northeast Arkansas schools. was your reaction when you learned Q: What Cross County won Founders? Bo: At the beginning of this year, our EAST Facilitator
Mr. Blake said, “We can win Founder’s this year, guys.” I knew the amazing projects we did for our community and how we made an impact in several individual lives, but for us to win the biggest award for EAST, seemed almost impossible. When the day came for the announcement, my EAST class gathered around a big table, eager to hear our names called for the award. Then, the internet went off. If I recall correctly, my thought was, I guess that means we didn’t win. However, with a few clicks on her phone, Ciara pulled up the livestream, and I heard our school was announced as Founder’s Winner. I was overwhelmed with excitement and a headache from Joseph shouting, “WE DID IT!”
you nominated yourselves for Q: When Founders this year, why did you think your program was a great choice to win?
Ciara: I think something that stands out about our program and made it worthy of winning Founder’s is how interconnected everyone is. It is an amazing working environment because if anyone ever has
trouble in something, there is likely always someone who can help them. Every time someone wants to start learning something new, they are always pointed to someone who can help if there is anyone in our program experienced with that thing. We are all pushing each other to be the most successful versions of ourselves, and that is what makes us unique.
Q: What was your favorite project this year and why? Joseph: My favorite project this year was Terry T-bird to Infinity.
I’ve always had a creative mind, and I’ve been dabbling in all kinds of artforms since I was very young. I’ve had a strange fixation on Unity for the longest time now, and EAST allowed me to pour that passion into a project which has become bigger than I ever could have imagined. This project has inspired me to branch out and design and code for several other mediums. It has given me motivation to try more Adobe Creative Cloud applications than I had before, and it fulfilled me this year like nothing else in my lifetime. Making this game was an unforgettable experience, as was attending #EASTCon22, and my only regret is that I can’t do it again next year!
Macie: My favorite project this year was mapping the trails at the
Village Creek State Park. This project was pitched to us several years ago, but we had no idea how we would even start this project, much less complete it. A few years later, our school got a 360º camera and I began learning how to use it. Once I made a tour of the school and felt comfortable with it, I went to the Parkin Archeological State Park and made a tour for them that went on to win the Congressional App Challenge. After that I felt very confident in mapping the trials, so I put together a team and we worked together in getting every trail mapped and I got all of the footage put into our website.
the greatest challenge you faced this year Q: Describe individually. Lexi: The greatest challenge I’ve faced this year is wondering what was next. I constantly am worrying about the idea of “peaking” or if I have made it as far as I can go, so finding ways to further myself was a difficult task. After my opportunity to work with Arkansas PBS, that idea definitely worsened, and for a while, I seemed stuck. However, after that, I took a moment to look at my project CCHS Live! and I really think about how far that project has gotten since
it first began five years ago, and I set new goals for myself and that project. Setting those goals has really helped the idea of going forward seem easier and more manageable as I was able to have a real idea of what I was wanting to accomplish.
Macie: The greatest challenge I’ve faced this year was public
speaking. Speaking about what I have done in EAST has always been a struggle for me because I never feel like I am getting my point across no matter what I say. I really enjoy doing the project, because it is the easy part for me, but talking about what I have done has always been more difficult for me. Without having a speech memorized or a clear idea of what I am talking about, I trip over my words very easily and become less confident as the speech goes on.
this year feel like the best year yet for EAST at Q: Did Cross County HS? Lexi: This year definitely felt like our best year for EAST at Cross County High School because of how much we were not only able to accomplish project-wise, but how much growth we were able to see within our program. We got to see first and second year EAST students discover their fit, and go so far as to win competitions at EAST Conference. We also saw students within our program collaborating together in a professional manner like I had never seen before. EAST is a student-led class, and this year, we truly got to see what that means and the capabilities EAST students have.
SPRING 2022 | EAST QUARTERLY
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Building A Dynasty
E
AST at Buffalo Island Central High School cemented its place in EAST history this year, winning its third Founder’s Award – the most of any single program. Their work within the small community of Monette shows how much EAST can mean to an area.
was your reaction when you learned BIC won Q: What Founder’s? Mallie: When I learned BIC won Founder’s, it was the greatest sense of accomplishment and relief. Winning in 2020 was mindblowing, but not being able to fully celebrate due to COVID was very disheartening. This is our redemption year! I’m so glad I get to be a part of the Conference Team and have a “redo” for 2020.
Q:
When you nominated yourselves for Founder’s this year, why did you think your program was a great choice to win?
is why we created the video originally. Once the video was put together, we realized that we had lots of evidence of the three cornerstones of EAST: student growth and engagement, project sophistication and innovation, and community and collaboration.
Chasney: When we were going to first apply, I didn’t think that
we’d accomplished a lot this year, but I was wrong. When we were gathering all the projects we have done this year, I noticed we have done an outstanding job of helping our community and being diverse in each technology field. While putting our video together our confidence went up because we noticed that our program has done an amazing job at project sophistication, community collaboration, and student growth.
Brittni: Throughout the years I believe that we have worked hard
solving problems within our community, and show just how much of an impact EAST can have. Our EAST program drives to find real world problems in our community to help fix and improve people’s lives everyday. I believed our program was a great choice because of how hard we work to help everyone in our community.
REPRESENTING THE BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL EAST TEAM:
Jill: I think that creating the video for the Founder’s application is a great reflecting tool. Honestly, I think that as many programs as possible should apply for Founder’s every year. It isn’t about winning the award. It is about celebrating all that you have accomplished for your community. I encourage my students to apply because the application process itself allows you to tell your EAST story and this helps create excitement and buy-in for your program. The video that is created is a great tool to share with all of your students, parents, community partners, etc. That
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EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
Mallie Zielinski: 12th Grade, 4 Years in EAST Brittni Lyerly: 10th Grade, 4 Years in EAST Cason Rose: 11th Grade, 3 Years in EAST Chasney Griggry: 11th Grade, 4 Years in EAST Jill Sanders: Facilitator
was your favorite project Q: Q: What this year and why? Cason: My favorite project this year was
the 3D Printed Braille Remote Cover. This project is aimed to help a resident of Monette Manor, my previous workplace, who is blind and partially deaf. I truly have a connection with the residents of Monette Manor and seeing other students wanting to help them in the same way I do is heartwarming. This project touches my heart in every way and I am proud of what my team has accomplished so far.
Q:
Describe the greatest challenge you faced this year individually.
Jill: Last year, many of my students were
virtual learners, and I felt like some of the excitement and work ethic that we typically have in EAST was lost. This year my greatest challenge was recreating that excitement and work ethic in my students. EAST truly empowers students and creates lifelong learners, and I was determined to get that experience back for my students.
Mallie: The greatest challenge I faced
this year was learning how to do EAST virtually. Even though our school is back in-person full time, the possibility of being quarantined is still very real. I was personally quarantined at the start of 2022. It was difficult being stuck at home and trying to work towards a goal alone.
This is the third time BIC High School has won Founders. What is it about EAST at BIC High School that fosters such consistent greatness within your students and program as a whole?
Mallie: The Buffalo Island community is
genuinely filled with the most supportive people I’ve ever met. Our community partners continue to go above and beyond to help fulfill any needs our EAST program may need. We also have a wonderful facilitator who gives 110% into our EAST program. BIC has been blessed with an amazing group of administrators, community partners, and students who WANT to make a difference in our small town.
Cason: The EAST program at BIC High
School has the most dedicated students I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They constantly step out of their comfort zones to try new things and solve problems, and they devote themselves to EAST inside and out of the classroom. Our facilitator, Mrs. Jill, is amazing and I believe that is another crucial reason as to why our EAST program has flourished the way it has. She supports us in anything we do and is always encouraging us to go above and beyond.
Jill: EAST students at BIC hold themselves
to a high standard. They have seen the impact that projects from previous years have made on our school and community, and they are excited about getting to make an impact themselves. We have wonderful communities that make up our Buffalo Island Central school district. These communities support us and welcome the opportunity to work with us. I think being from a small, rural community is actually a strength for us because we know many of our community partners personally. Our community has learned to trust us and value partnerships with our EAST program. We also have great support from our administration for EAST.
Full STEAM Ahead REPRESENTING THE NETTLETON STEAM EAST FOUNDER’S TEAM: Allison Moss: 5th Grade, 1 Year in EAST Jaslene Garcia: 6th Grade, 1 Year in EAST Nevaeh McQuiston: 5th Grade, 1 Year in EAST Abigail Moss: 5th Grade, 1 Year in EAST Ella McMasters: 6th Grade, 2 Years in EAST Carlos Montana: 6th Grade, 1 Year in EAST
N
ettleton STEAM proved that age sets no limits in EAST. Located in Northeast Arkansas’ largest city, EAST students at Nettleton STEAM partnered with Downtown Jonesboro businesses to help market what the area has to offer, 3D-printed a container to potentially send worms to space, and so much more to earn the program’s first ever Founder’s Award.
was your reaction when you learned Q: What Nettleton STEAM won Founders? Jaslene: I was so happy, excited and overcome with emotions. I was also so proud of my classmates and everyone in our program. Allison: Once I saw that we won Founder’s, I was so excited! As a first year EAST student it was hard to believe that I had made such an impact on our program. I was surprised but I knew deep down that we had earned it.
you nominated yourselves for Founders Q: When this year, why did you think your program was a great choice to win?
Nevaeh: I knew when we nominated ourselves for Founder’s we had done a lot of really interesting and unique projects with a lot of community partners. We had worked so hard. I really thought we had a chance. 6
EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
How have you grown this year and what have was your favorite project this year and Q: Q: What you learned? why? Abigail: My favorite project this year was the Space Worm Pods because we got to learn so much more about 3D printing, and the project could make an impact on the entire world and future colonies in space. Nevaeh: My favorite project this year is the Space Worm Pods because we got to help A-State make pods for worms that are actually going into space!! Maker’s Making Change also did a lot of great things. They 3D printed a one-handed fingernail clipper.
Abigail: I think I have definitely grown this year. Before I came to EAST, I wasn’t great at working in teams, and I wasn’t always the best leader. EAST has taught me how to be better at both! I’ve also learned how to use more technology, how to use social media, how to design apps, and much more! Nevaeh: I’ve grown so much this year. At the beginning of the year I barely knew how to work a computer. I also didn’t know how to print or edit. Now I do a lot of the printing for our class and edit a lot of our graphic designs. I have grown SO much since the beginning of the year.
Ella: My favorite project this year was Reel Look at Downtown Jonesboro. I like this project because we got to learn so many new skills like photography, videography, and video editing all in one project. Another great thing about this project was learning how to make engaging content on all social media platforms from real marketing specialists.
the greatest challenge you faced this Q: Describe year individually. Allison: The greatest challenge I faced was learning how to use new types of tech. Before EAST, I didn’t even know what some of the technologies were. I didn’t know how to print, film, or edit video. But I do now and I am still learning more! Carlos: My biggest challenge was definitely getting the space worm pods to the right dimensions. Designing and laser cutting the tiny breathing holes in the tops was also really hard. To solve this, we kept trying different versions of our designs and worked with the A-State engineers to make sure they were perfect for the worms.
SPRING 2022 | EAST QUARTERLY
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LUTI’S LEARNING BOARD EAST Project Competition Winner
O
ftentimes, we take our senses for granted. We never think about what life would be like if we couldn’t see, speak, or hear. But for Luti, a Kindergartner at Westwood Elementary School, that has been her reality for her entire life. Luti has to contend with both blindness and the inability to communicate verbally, creating a rift between herself and her peers and teachers. This is the problem that EAST students at Westwood Elementary School took on in a project that won the Project Competition at EAST Conference 2022. “One of Luti’s aides noticed that whenever Luti approaches someone, she always reaches for their lanyard,” Enrique said. “This was a great clue into solving the problem of Luti not being able to identify the person that is working with her.” After studying Luti’s behaviors and how she attempts to identify and interact with her teachers and aides, the EAST students decided the best course of action was to use their 3D printing abilities to create unique patterns for each person who works with Luti. “My team and I quickly realized that we needed to design and print a shape with a unique texture that she could feel that represents the person in front of her,” Lilly said. “We wanted Luti to be able to identify the person independently just like her peers.” The team designed symbols that corresponded to each of Luti’s teachers in Canva, and imported that design into a 3D printer so each teacher could wear the unique symbol.
“We 3D printed the designs using PLA filaments using the slicing software “Flash Print” on our Flashforge Finder machines,” Enrique said. “We printed the tiles standing up on a supportive raft to help get a cleaner print. The EAST students worked closely with Frances Ward, Luti’s speech teacher, during the project and she is optimistic on how effective the end result will be. “I think this will be really useful,” Ward said. “Associating a person with a symbol is a pre-literacy skill that she needs before she starts learning how to read.” On top of creating unique symbols to help Luti identify the people who are working with her, EAST students at Westwood Elementary are also designing a communication board which will allow Luti to respond to questions using the symbols. “After meeting with Luti’s speech teacher, we decided that we needed to expand the project,” Lilly said. “We used the same symbols and added the first letter of each teacher’s name in braille, so this will be Luti’s first step in learning how to read braille.”
TEAM MEMBERS: Enrique Hernandez, Joshua Soliz, & Lilly Rugg 8
EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
Owning Their Pivot OWNING THEIR
PIVOT
REPRESENTING THE LAKESIDE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL EAST TEAM:
C
OVID
and
other
challenges
forced EAST at Lakeside Junior
High School (Springdale) to pivot this year, and the program stepped up to the challenge using their creativity and work ethic to solve problems in the community as well as their classroom. From creating innovative medical devices for their injured facilitator to creating learning materials for special education students, EAST students at Lakeside Junior High School earned the Cornerstone Award for Project Sophistication and Innovation.
When you learned your program won the Cornerstone Award, what was your reaction? Rylee: I was so excited when we won the Cornerstone Award! It was unbelievable.
Did you expect to win this year? Sepesim: I think our program definitely deserved an award. We’ve had some struggles with our facilitator being out because of a surgery, but we were proud of the projects we created. They helped someone or something creatively but they were all so different. I think it shows the diversity of mindsets we have in LJHS.
What was your favorite project?
Rylee Gill, 6 Years in EAST
Macy: Our machine learning project. Even though it didn’t work out how we wanted it to, we learned so much. We tackled this big huge thing, machine learning, and were able to get a model to actually work! I think our pivot too, even though it is much smaller scale, is exciting.
Macy Goss, 6 Years in EAST
What was your biggest challenge this year? Jamie: I think the toughest challenge was the lack of normalcy. We began the year expecting it to be essentially normal and it wasn’t. As we were preparing our entry, the January COVID surge hit. During most of January all of our team (including me) were quarantined and had the virus, and I was actually out as we were wrapping up our video. That combined with how COVID affected our projects even this year were pretty big challenges.
Sepesism Francis, 2 Years in EAST Jamie Stallings, Facilitator
How have you grown this year? Jamie: Our word this year was pivot. All of our projects had some sort of pivot that had to happen. Whether because of COVID or because a project just didn’t work we did a lot of pivoting. The pivots and the reacting to everything forced us to change, adapt, and grow.
SPRING 2022 | EAST QUARTERLY
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GROWING THROUGH
ADVERSITY When you nominated yourselves for Cornerstone this year, why did you think your program was a great choice to win?
J
.O. Kelly Middle School’s EAST students, like many others during the last few years, struggled
greatly from the pandemic. Education became much more difficult, as students were forced to find ways to learn remotely without internet connections, and tackle mental health issues like anxiety. These students didn’t let the pandemic stop them however, as they found ways to learn and grow while they transitioned back to in-person learning.
When you learned your program won the Cornerstone Award, what was your reaction? Gabriella: I was very happy and proud that our school won such a prestigious award. I also felt a little more confident about my learning and what I do in EAST.
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EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
Levi: We thought we would win in Student Growth the most because after COVID hit, we hadn’t learned much because we were in and out of school. So I think we grew a lot the past two years; but it was a struggle to do all of our work so we kind of had to re-learn some of the stuff we previously knew how to do.
What was your favorite project this year and why? Gabriella: My favorite project this year is Art of Springdale’s Greenway because this project helps everyone who wants to see the art in Downtown Springdale virtually. The website that has the art currently only has the map of Springdale’s greenway and not anything else.
REPRESENTING THE J.O. KELLY MIDDLE SCHOOL EAST TEAM: Gabriella Llanito, Levi Jenkins, & Xitlaly Rodriguez
Describe the greatest challenge you faced this year individually. Xitlaly: I think my hardest challenge was just taking in everyone’s ideas. Because one person would want it one way and the other person would want it another way, but I think we all grew our teamwork skills.
How have you grown this year and what have you learned? Gabriella: I have grown in many different aspects: reading, math, and even science. EAST has helped me in reading by letting me understand bigger and different words. Some of those words I don’t usually use or I don’t hear people use. I learned about many different types of photography. I also practiced with lighting for photography.
A LWAY S
REACHING OUT
E
AST at Northeast TechClaremore in Oklahoma perfectly embodied the
Cornerstone principle of Community Collaboration this year by partnering with dozens of local businesses and organizations, using the skills and certifications they received in EAST to create marketing materials and signage, websites, videos and more.
What was your reaction when you learned your program won Cornerstone? Madison: I was very excited. We do a lot of work with and for the community, and I am happy to see our hard work is appreciated.
When you nominated yourselves this year, why did you think your program was a great choice to win? Blake: My EAST program isn’t run much like a “normal” classroom at all. We go and ask local non-profits and small businesses if we can offer them any assistance, therefore our classroom
is very student-driven. To receive the award for Community and Collaboration is exciting knowing that when only 23 students can effectively work on 75+ jobs of differing complexity for at least 54 different clients, it gives us that feeling that every day we get to be the go-getters of such an amazing community.
What was your favorite project this year and why? Shelby: My favorite project would have to be an animation project that I have been working on for Volunteers for Youth. It’s my very first animation project that I have done and while working on this project, I believe that I have grown more as an animator. I also have been given almost complete creative freedom with this project which has been amazing for me. I have just enjoyed every aspect of this project from getting to learn the aspects and principles of animation to just getting to actually try different techniques and styles of animation. The project has been a fun experience for me and I am excited for the finished outcome when it all comes together.
REPRESENTING NORTHEAST TECH CLAREMORE EAST TEAM:
Describe the greatest challenge you faced this year individually.
Madison Bennett, Blake Prelesnick,
Haylea: My greatest challenge this year was figuring out what I want to do and what path to take. I came into this class thinking that I was going to get into architecture, but after I got into the
Shelby Scott, Haylea Benedict, & Rudy Sawney
software, I realized that it wasn’t for me and I am more interested in photography and laser engraving. I’m still going through that challenge to find what is really right for me, but I have an idea of what I want to do now.
How have you grown this year and what have you learned? Rudy: I have experienced a lot of student growth this year. I have learned so much about my social skills and presentation skills. I have also learned so much about my career and life goals and about my work ethic. I have also learned how to communicate better. I am no longer nervous most of the time and I am talking to my fellow classmates and teachers more. I’ve learned a lot about my goal job also and have done so much better in general. I’ve learned so much about technology. I am currently studying app development using Apple Swift, and I have learned so much from it and have really improved my programming skills because of it. It is a fun learning experience.
SPRING 2022 | EAST QUARTERLY
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04.12.22
W
ith your help, EAST raised nearly $6,000 on EAST Day of Giving. Gifts came in from
our partners at First Security Bank, Windstream, Dairy Queen and First Orion. There were also many individual donations from friends like you all over the state. The funds raised will go directly to providing student training, equipment and supplies, leadership events and even scholarships for EAST students.
Tacos Godoy and Loblolly Creamery stopped by with their food trucks to make it a day of celebration at EAST HQ. Our neighbors and friends at CenterRock Advertising and First Community Bank stopped by to enjoy the food and fun as they cheered EAST on throughout the day. This annual event is an opportunity for the public and existing supporters to learn more about the EAST movement that is changing the face of education in Arkansas.
Did you miss the fun on #EASTDayOfGiving? You can give any time at supportEAST.org. 12
EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
: G N I N I A EAST TR ION T
BACK IN AC
This year saw the return of in-person Student Training at EAST HQ! Dozens of sessions with topics ranging from photography to drone piloting to computer programming provided by REAL professionals to EAST students.
Student trainers have the flexibility to teach classes that fit their schedules and only when they’re available. As a trainer for EAST, you will: • Work with EAST students aged 8 to 18 • Lead engaging, hands-on sessions in Little Rock at EAST or one of our partner training centers around the state • Provide 6 hours of instruction in a single day on your chosen topic
Interested in being a Student Trainer for EAST? Email training@EASTstaff.org to explore holding your own class in the Fall and Spring.
EAST CHANGE MAKERS An EAST Change Maker is a special EAST advocate that supports four annual events. These partnerships elevate the student and educator experience by providing resources and opportunities that exceed beyond the classroom.
THANK YOU
to all of our sponsors and supporters who help make EAST happen for students.
SPRING 2022 | EAST QUARTERLY
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ATTENTION: ALL EDUCATORS! COMING THIS JUNE...
LETS: Prepare for the Future Professional development workshops and access to FREE technology! Teachers will learn how to use and integrate emerging technology into their classrooms and prepare tomorrow’s workforce to thrive in the new economy.
+ A FREE 3D Printer or Pi-Top for your classroom
SAVE THE DATE
EAST SEMINAR 2022 July 20-22, 2022 JONESBORO, AR Embassy Suites by Hilton Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center
Visit EASTlink.me/LETSPrepare to register!
Visit EASTSeminar.org to learn more!
