Building A Dynasty

REPRESENTING THE BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL EAST TEAM:

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

EAST 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.

What was your reaction when you learned BIC won 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.

When you nominated yourselves for Founder’s this year, why did you think your program was a great choice to win?

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.

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 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.

What was your favorite project 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.

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.