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THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Hear from winners of the Congressional App Challenge at Cross County High School
Winter 2021 QUARTERLY
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OUR EAST: STAFF PERSPECTIVE
The EAST Leadership Panel from #EASTCon21 answers follow-up questions about the current & future state of EAST
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
Alexander Worley & JoDan Marshall, EAST students from Kiamachi Tech - Eufaula High School discuss the impact EAST has had on their lives
CONGRATULATIONS #EASTCon21 AWARD & COMPETITION WINNERS!
THE EAST FOUNDER’S AWARD
EAST CORNERSTONE AWARD
Harrisburg Middle School
COMMUNITY & COLLABORATION
Sonora Middle School Mountain Home Career Academies
- Cross County High - A New Tech School PROJECT SOPHISTICATION & INNOVATION - Lakeside High School (Hot Springs) STUDENT GROWTH & ENGAGEMENT - Clinton High School
STUDENT COMPETITION WINNERS EAST Project Competition Don Roberts Elementary School Dev Modi, Kennedy Stewart, Silas McGaha, Brian Nyguen, Marly Gibbons, Calleigh Salerno - 3D Maps for World Services for the Blind Tech Support Olympiad Gentry High School Conversion Charter Clancy Milam SketchUp Competition Henderson Middle School Taliya Bradley - “The Leader in Me” Perfect Pitch Competition Mountain Home Career Academies Sophie Quick, Zachary Spaulding Baxter County Outside 3D Print it Up Valley View High School Ella Layton - Bone Builder Intentionally Inventive Marketing Competition Mountain Home Career Academies Madelyn Lynch, Lauren Dewey, Nathan Williams, Zach Spaulding 2 Yes Votes for Mountain Home Picture This Competition Armorel High School Grayson Seibert - Blytheville Postcard Mural
Hello, My Name is...Interview Competition Mountain Home Career Academies Audrey Young Mapping App Competition Hot Springs Junior Academy Mimi Reagler, Natalie Comstock - Hub Hot Springs Multimedia Competition Carver Magnet Elementary School Chloe Lee - That’s an Icon You Should Know Go Map Twenty-One-ArcGIS Activity Competition Hot Springs Junior Academy Mimi Reagler, Natalie Cormack - Hub Hot Springs Honor our Vets Competition Buffalo Island Central High School Mallie Zielinski, Ambar Orozco, Karson Crews, Cason Rose, Lathan Crane, Chareigan Davis, Haley Milligan 2020 Veterans Day Program COVID-19 Response Competition Parson Hills Elementary School Lesley Aleman, Hatty Galvan, Allyson Roosevelt Touchless Hand Washing Timer ARCHICAD Competition Henderson Middle School Avelino Hurtado - Fair K-8 Preparatory School Playground
>> SAVE THE DATE
Fay Jones Architectural Challenge Morrilton Senior High School Samantha Flores, Jhyla Calvin - Morrilton Old National Bank Hotel MicroControlling Everything Competition Buffalo Island Central High School Chasney Griggry - Lift Station Light Sensor Project Music Competition Searcy High School Micah Castleman - Take The Dub Best of Conference - Dressed to a Tee Competition Ahlf Junior High Best of Conference - Signature Design Competition Nettleton STEAM School Best of Conference - Spirit Chant Competition John Tyson Elementary Best of Conference - Homecoming Style Competition Eagle Mountain Magnet Best of Conference - Tech in Action Competition Paragould High School
JUDGES’ CHOICE WINNERS Buffalo Island Central Junior High School Carver Magnet Elementary School Don Tyson School of Innovation eStem Junior High Public Charter School Farmington Career Academies Gentry Intermediate School Gosnell Elementary School Greenbrier High School Greenbrier Middle School Gurdon High School Hamburg High School
Drone Competition Buffalo Island Central High School Ayden Qualls, Chase Bupp, Caleb Suiter, Braden Littlefield, Alex Rangel - Drone Field Mapping
Harrisburg Elementary School Hot Springs Junior Academy Hoxie High School Kiamichi Technology Centers - Eufaula High School Kiamichi Technology Centers - Poteau Lake Hamilton High School Lamar High School Lincoln Middle School Marshall High School Mineral Springs High School North Little Rock Middle School
Oaklawn Magnet School Pinnacle View Middle School Rison Schools Sulphur Rock Magnet Elementary School Thurman G. Smith Elementary School Two Rivers High School Walker Elementary School Westside High School (Jonesboro) White Hall High School Wynne High School
EAST Conference 2022, “Build UP” Coming March 17-19!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Greetings and Salutations, EAST Fam! It’s been a jam-packed winter! Although no jam was actually packed, two different experience boxes were (get it?)! Just like many of you, we’ve learned so many great new things and sharpened our skills over the course of winter. It’s no wonder that we’ve been celebrating literally since December (EAST25). It’s been a rollercoaster ride planning and sharing things within the EAST network and so rewarding making so many new Friends of EAST. Don’t forget to become an official Friend of EAST by joining our exclusive Facebook group. The end of 2020 and this first quarter of 2021 can easily be described as a catalyst for expansion for students, administrators, facilitators, and staff. Our creativity is flowing, our partnerships are growing, and we are conquering the limitations of the pandemic, all while staying connected (safely of course). Take a few moments and flip through to see what a few EAST programs have been up to! This is only a preview to what the spring and summer have in store for us as an organization. Here’s to another 25 years of excellence in education!
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An official recap collage for all to see
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Apryl Jackson Communications Coordinator
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EAST CONFERENCE 2021: HOMECOMING
MAGAZINE TEAM Editor - Apryl Jackson Designer - Kristen Farmin
news.eastlink.me/podcast
EAST Initiative
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Cross County High School wins Congressional App Challenge
BRAYLEN’S KAPRI-1000 Sonora Middle School students help parent from social media
OUR EAST: STAFF PERSPECTIVE A follow-up to the EAST Leadership Panel from #EASTCon21
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE A sit-down with two graduates from Kiamichi Tech - Eufaula
EDUCATION UNLEASHED Parent Support Program and new professional development opportunities
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 WINTER 2021 | EAST QUARTERLY
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EAST CONFERENCE 2021:
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EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
HIGHLIGHTS
WINTER 2021 | EAST QUARTERLY
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THERE’S AN
APP FOR THAT
An EAST project from Cross County High - A New Tech School
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n today’s society, we use apps for everything. Tracking finances, investing, staying connected. Have you come across an app geared towards helping navigate and learn your local parks’ history recently? Thanks to Macie McCommon, Ciara Stephens, and Lexi Jarret, all ninth-grade EAST students at Cross County High School, the people of their community now have this access at their fingertips. With the assistance of their facilitator, Jason Blake, these students created an immersive 360° tour of the Parkin Archeological State Park Museum and became a 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner.
Where did the project idea originate? Jason: This project began with an idea from one of our community partners who wanted to take people on a trip through history by way of the St. Francis River. We proposed the idea as part of our Museums on Main Street Waterways project but have since expanded beyond the waterway and it now encompasses the entire park. Since COVID-19, we have had to adjust some of our original plans, but we are still hoping, in the future, to fulfill the original vision of this project. Lexi: Within the app you are able to navigate using points of interest that allow you to move around to different areas and also to view content such as high resolution images and video snippets that give a deeper look at life along the St. Francis River throughout history.
What inspired you to complete the project? If it is not complete, what inspires you to keep going? Macie: We worked with a ton of community members to collect footage and stories about the park’s history and life on the St. Francis River. We went out and filmed footage for a 360° tour. We collected footage for almost a year and a half, and then, COVID-19 hit. We knew that we had to figure out how to help the park stay relevant. The project was nearly done, so our goal became to help the parks remain open and relevant for the future. 4
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What challenges have you encountered in trying to complete the project? Macie: The obvious challenge has been COVID-19, but in trying to work through that issue, we found the solution to completing this project. When everything shut down, it was harder to get field trips and interviews. We were about 50 percent done when we left for Spring Break and never returned to school. Not being able to meet regularly sharpened our planning skills. They were essential to making sure we didn’t forget anything when we did get the chance to work with our partners from the city. Another challenge we faced was what to do with all of the information we collected. Mrs. Shannon Sullivan — community leader from the city — once told us that it’s easy to get too much information, and sorting through it all can be difficult, which we found true. We just chipped away until it told the story we felt we needed to tell. Once we got all the footage, we also faced the problem of what to do with it. That was probably our biggest hurdle. It wasn’t until we sat down and looked at how COVID had impacted museums that we investigated, creating a 360° tour and incorporating our footage into footage we had of the waterways.
How many times did you build or test your project before it became functional? If you are still making it, please tell me how close you are to completing it? Macie: We spent most of the time just trying to figure out how to put it all together and what the product would be. Once we had a clear idea of the software we would use, the first version took approximately two weeks to create. We have updated it several times, with the most recent being over the past weekend, to work out a bug that was causing our interest points (buttons) to not work on a mobile device. Once it was created, we spent about a week learning how to put it on our website and make it functional.
What success have you experienced in the project, whether involving technology or on a personal level? Macie: In this project, I would say our most significant success was winning the Congressional App Challenge. While working on this project, we felt like we kept running into dead ends on where to go and what to do, so we needed this win. It helped us feel like we accomplished something special. We used Adobe Captivate software; finding that tool helped us put it all together. It also opened doors to creating other projects in our community. Since being recognized for the App Challenge, we have been contacted by our State Representative and Arkansas State Parks about getting our app on their website. Jason: I think one of the biggest successes I saw in this project was the student growth throughout the process. Macie started this project as a leader in our program, but she avoided diving too deep into any technology. In the end, she found the solution software and built the bulk of the program. Lexi spends most of her time working on live video projects and putting together interviews in the sports world. Her work on this project pushed her to plan more detailed and intentional interviews, where in the past, she would cruise into an interview basing her questions on the performance she just saw or knowledge of the subject. This was a new and unexplored world for her.
Ciara is extraordinarily talented; her creativity and vision are on a whole different level than those around her. She was typically reserved and avoided working in groups; by the time this project was over, it seemed her entire demeanor had shifted. We can confidently put her in front of anyone. For me, student growth will always be the ultimate success of anything that happens in my program and has definitely been a defining characteristic of the project.
has helped me become more confident in my work and more confident in presenting and talking to others in public.
Has EAST helped you grow as a facilitator or as a person?
Has being a part of projects in EAST changed your friendships? Ciara: Having project partners has allowed me to meet amazing people with similar interests and presented an opportunity to talk to new people, which allowed me to get out of my shell. Before I came into EAST, I couldn’t speak to anyone, but now I can make friends daily. I am excited to talk with new people. This change will impact me for the work I do in this program and prepare me to accomplish greater things in the future than I could have without EAST.
Has EAST helped you grow as a student or as a person? Macie: EAST has helped me grow as a person because it has allowed me to have many opportunities to explore the different things I enjoy doing. Winning this challenge
Blake: As an EAST facilitator, I have developed more empathy through our work with others. I have always enjoyed hearing other people’s stories, but helping others either solve a problem or tell their story to give their experiences further validation resonates with me. Since my first year as a facilitator, I find myself looking at the world with new eyes and always looking for a way to effect positive change.
What do your family/friends or community think about the project? Have they helped you move forward in any way? Blake: Recently, I talked with a teacher at our elementary school, and they told me they found the app and used it in their class. I thought that was neat because the students created something that was being used outside of their direct involvement. Typically, our projects are connected to one event or purpose, but this has a life of its own and can be used for so many purposes by anyone with an internet connection.
What do you want people outside of EAST to know about the project? Macie: I want people outside of EAST to know that the finished product isn’t always how the project started and that you don’t always know the result. We worked on this project for a while, and we were not sure of its turnout, but everything came together all at once.
>> To view Immersive 360 tour of the Parkin Archeological State Park Museum, visit eastcchs.tech WINTER 2021 | EAST QUARTERLY
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Braylen’s KAPRI-1000 An EAST Project from Sonora Middle School
Goal of the Project: Our goal is to help someone who is just like us that is facing some struggles. We want to give back to our community and make someone feel less awkward about their challenges and to show them that people care even if we are miles away from each other.
Give us your elevator pitch of the project. Braylen is a boy who lives in Texas. His mother reached out to us through our social media and through a Friend of EAST to get in touch with us about helping her son. When Braylen was a baby, he had multiple strokes and could no longer use one of his arms. He is still a normal 12 year old boy who loves sports, especially soccer, but sometimes needs help with certain things. One of those things is opening a Capri Sun. At his soccer games, they give out Capri Suns and he doesn’t like to ask for help to open it, so we are designing a 3D printed tool that will hold the Capri Sun for him.
Who are the student project leaders (please include name, grade, and how long they have been in EAST)? Corbin Sandy (leader) 7th grade in EAST for 6 years, Noel Rodriguez 7th grade in EAST for 2 years, Noah Hodge 7th Grade in EAST for 6 years, Dixie Stevens, Jewel Johnson in EAST for 1 year.
Where did the project idea originate? This is a project where the family reached out to us for help. We received his mom’s message when schools shut down at the end of last year, but we knew it was something we wanted to do as soon as we could. We have all been interested in 3D printing for a while so we worked on designs and talked through ideas as a program this summer and got right to work when we were back in the classroom. 6
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What inspired you to complete the project? If it is not complete, what inspires you to keep going? I am inspired to finish the project because you can’t give up just when it’s hard, you have to power through. We can relate to him. We are also 12, and we also love soccer. If we can make a difference for someone, we should no matter if they go to our school, live in our town or even our state. Getting to meet people and help them is the best part of EAST.
What challenges have you encountered in trying to complete the project? When you think about the project, it almost seems too easy. He just wants something to hold it while he puts the straw in, but when you break it down and think about why he needs help, it really becomes much more difficult than we originally thought. Our challenge was making it portable and not something that will draw attention to the fact that he needs help but also make it work for what he needs. He could ask for help from a teammate but doesn’t want to. It has also been hard learning how to use Fusion 360 software and learn how to print it. We were able to attend a student training that really helped us get going this year. Drew Wallis, at MakerMade, has been a big help in learning about what was not working with our printer and about the design process.
What success have you all experienced in the project whether involving technology or on a personal level? It was a struggle getting the printer to work after no one used it for months and learning how to fix it and get it going again was a big moment for us. The printer has been working pretty perfectly and has not messed up any prints since. And also, just coming together after hearing his story and working as a real team has made a difference for our group and also for our program. We have a great class and everyone is involved and working on really cool stuff and that’s fun to be a part of.
How many times did you build or test your project before it became functional? If you are still building, please tell me how close you are to completing it. We have done three different versions and we are on our fourth print. We struggled with sizing in the first few models. We checked in with Braylen to get feedback on things to change each time.
How long have you been working on the project? When you consider that the family reached out to the EAST program last Spring, I guess it would be 8 months but really the last 8 weeks have been the most work. We couldn’t do much without being together in the classroom.
Has EAST helped you grow as a student or as a person? If yes, please give an example. EAST has helped us grow as a student because without EAST, we would not have learned about all these problems we are very capable of solving. It provides an opportunity to look at the world and the people around you and really put a priority on others. EAST has made us look at problems in a different way. We break them down into parts and think through the problems. And, EAST has made us want to do something for others not just for ourselves.
What has the community response been to your project?
Have they helped you move forward in any way? We really haven’t shared much with our community. We will tell our story at EAST Night Out and possibly through social media but really that’s not why we do it. We just want to help Braylen be more comfortable and enjoy the things he likes doing.
What do you want people outside of EAST to know about the project? Our biggest takeaway is that the project shows that people everywhere need help that we can provide with the technology we have in our EAST classroom and a little hard work accompanied with creative problem-solving. It gives a new idea to the term community and how we think of that. Our community is anyone we can reach through any method and we are seeing that this year like never before.
OUR EAST:
LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE Hear from EAST leaders Jerry Prince, Matt Dozier, & Melanie Ridlon
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ne of the most watched sessions on the Mainstage, Our EAST: From the Perspective of EAST Staff, gave the EAST network an opportunity to ask three prominent leaders with over 50 combined years of experience their thoughts on EAST. We ran short on time but not on questions! Here are a few questions from the chat that our leaders didn’t get to answer on screen. This group had so many stories to tell that we couldn’t fit them all here either! Who knows? They may appear on an episode of the EAST Update podcast or social media. Check out these answers for now!
EQ: Do you think EAST students were more equipped to respond to the pandemic? What impressed you the most? MD: I absolutely believe that EAST students were better equipped to respond to the pandemic. I’m impressed that this is how the question is framed; if it were “Did the EAST students ‘handle’ the pandemic better?” then it would be disingenuous to say that they did any better or worse than others. This has been a difficult situation—in so many ways—and everyone has had to handle it based on so many factors that no one else could easily understand. From that perspective, like I tell people all the time, EAST students are real students…normal students with everything that goes along with it. When a massive, world-changing event sweeps
over everyone then the personal reactions to that are exactly that: personal. Instead, when I think back on the service projects that EAST students were doing as early as March of 2020, it is humbling to be a part of a network that was eager to spring into action to serve their communities and be a force for good in a dark time. When we were first contacted about a coordinated effort to try to mass produce some 3D printed PPE, it was because the state group that was trying to respond to this knew that the number, capacity, a dispersion of EAST students meant that they had resources in so many communities that could turbocharge a project of significant need. From there to hear about all the things EAST students were doing with their projects to serve specific needs (and people) in their communities, well, it just fills you with pride to know such committed people. Beyond service projects, though, EAST students are steeped in an environment where self-directed learning is the expectation, where responding to the challenges of Plan A not working means backing up and taking a run to Plan B (which may be being created on the fly) where working together is about making sure everyone is learning. Well, if that doesn’t look like the reality of the school day in 2020 and 2021, I don’t know what does.
EQ: Has there been anything from this virtual conference that you think will still be a part of a live conference? MD: There are so many things that we were able to explore with Homecoming that I think will find their way into the “regular” Conference experience. I particularly loved the Mainstage concept that allowed anyone anywhere the opportunity to experience significant pieces of the Conference. I never thought we’d be “broadcasting” from a TV studio of our own creation (actually it was Avad3’s creation and we are so grateful for their expertise and willingness to collaborate in a way that took our crazy ideas and turned them into a fabulous reality). That’s just one example, but I can’t imagine not using some of the new approaches moving forward. That’s as EAST as it comes. MR: I loved so many things about this virtual conference. If I get to choose, I would keep the Mainstage around. This option reached more people that couldn’t fully attend the event and extended the livestream option that we used to provide for people who were unable to travel to Hot Springs. Recording sessions and making those available after the event is another great asset we have gained from virtual events. JP: We have learned the value of sharing like never before. And likely have taken greater advantage of some of the opportunities though we have had similar in the past. I believe celebration is a key component, and we have seen that it can happen on a grander scale without all of the logistics that the typical conference can require. Having
the capacity to capture, preserve, and share again and again is not necessarily new, but it is something that has made its mark of importance.
EQ: How do you plan to get alumni more involved with EAST beyond conference? MR: There are so many ways EAST alumni can get involved and in fact ARE involved beyond EAST conference. We have and have had alumni student trainers, community partners for EAST programs, volunteers, speakers at EAST events/activities, EAST board members and more! We definitely advocate for alumni to stay in touch with us so we can continue to celebrate their accomplishments and provide support to them throughout their careers. Our Friends of EAST network is a great way to stay connected. JP: Everyone has a story. Everyone loves to tell their story. And we love to hear their story. With so much going online in the past months, I believe we have an opportunity to collect these stories like never before. A mic and camera are all that is needed. Highly scripted masterpieces-of-film are great but are not always required to get your story accessible. I hope we continue the online capacities in our various support efforts to include a place to sit around the fire and chat. Our alumni are spread around the world. They each carry a very special part of their education that we helped create. It might not be that t-shirt, or medal, or photo-album of memories. But there is a mark of some kind in each one that vested in what EAST could help them achieve. I would like to hear some of the stories
Did you miss the original panel? Check out the recording in the EAST Conference 2021 digital library.
SCAN HERE
that have never been aired. They exist which is a reason to go after them, and the pandemic has created an avenue of comfort in sharing that opens some doors of opportunity.
EQ: What can we do to get more students access to EAST? MR: Continue to share your experiences in EAST with others and make a positive impact with your community partners. Word of mouth is a huge way we grow EAST. We hear from individuals who have had such a great experience with EAST students and they want to see how they can get their child involved. MD: Someone loves to ask really simple questions that have really complex answers ...As a staff member for EAST, it’s imperative that I always advocate for more access to EAST. It’s important that I challenge those inside and outside our network to give EAST opportunities to ALL learners not just the ones they think best fit their understanding of what EAST does (technology, community projects, curricular and vocational enrichment, etc.). It’s also important that we cultivate the relationships that can allow us to expand these opportunities beyond a few basic funding/credit/ enrollment areas. That’s where the real challenges lie. JP: I believe access is one challenge but not the greatest. To me, getting students engaged is the greater challenge. And if we can get more engaged, the footprint would be larger, the impact would be greater, and strength would come from the numbers impacted. Access is logistical and can be worked out. Getting the opportunity for experiences into the existing education parameters, schedules, and busy, busy lives stands before us. Access is the easy part. Keeping it highly valued and from becoming just one more thing is the key. WINTER 2021 | EAST QUARTERLY
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JoDan Marshall
Alexander Worley
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
FROM KIAMACHI TECH - EUFAULA HIGH SCHOOL
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eet Alexander Worley and JoDan Marshall of EAST at Kiamichi Tech - Eufaula High School. Two young men described as leaders and regular project developers for their EAST program, by EAST Facilitator Allison Aday. Both Alex and JoDan recently presented on behalf of their program to the EAST Board of Directors and discussed their success with projects before and during the pandemic. It was their discussion of personal growth and great presentation skills that led us to sit down with them and dive a little deeper into what EAST means to them. As seniors these two young men are graduating from Kiamichi Tech - Eufaula High School, after having completed two astounding projects and are nearly self-taught experts in difficult software for architecture and coding.
Q: Tell us who you are, where you’re from and how you found EAST? Alexander: I am Alexander Worley, and this is my fourth year in EAST. JoDan: I am JoDan Marshall, and this is my third year in EAST. Alexander: At my high school, EAST is a class for sophomores, juniors, and seniors because it has a prerequisite class of Computers I. During the summer before my freshman year of high school, I took Computers I online to complete this prerequisite early. While browsing my school’s course catalog, I happened to meet Mrs. Aday, my EAST Facilitator. Our conversation eventually led to me joining my school’s EAST Program as the only freshman in my 10
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school’s history. Looking back, that was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Throughout my life, I have always had passions for community service and technology. Through EAST, I have been able to combine these two passions and positively impact my local community! JoDan: After being involved with the Volleyball/Cove project, I quickly realized that I could be of service to my community through EAST. I have taken the opportunity to attend an EAST training on Revit at the University of Arkansas and have used my skills in architecture on several EAST projects. I have designed a new press box for our football stadium, a local event center, a historic building’s renovation, and our high school office.
Q: First memory of EAST? Alexander: I spent my first year in EAST learning about Blender and eventually gave a presentation to my school board. I had never given such a major presentation before, but this experience made me more comfortable with future presentations. JoDan: When I was a freshman, I was asked to help with the Volleyball/Cove project, a project to help improve the volleyball courts by adding sand, replacing the nets and picking up trash. I saw how an upperclassmen designed the volleyball court in 123 Design. This sparked my interest in CAD software and I started watching YouTube videos to learn Revit. I began with simple designs, but quickly started getting requests for more complicated projects. I watched as many YouTube tutorials as I could. The more I watched the more interested I became.
Q: Memorable project in EAST you’d like to share? Alexander: I am incredibly fond of “Project Aqua.” My city has a local museum struggling to encourage the younger people in our community to learn about their local area’s history. After meeting with the museum, we decided to create a virtual reality exhibit to ignite a passion for history within our community’s youth. As the museum did not have a computer capable of running virtual reality, I ended up building a computer entirely from scratch with funding from the museum and the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street Improvement Grant. As for the virtual environments, my teammate and I are currently working to recreate our city in Unreal Engine 4 across three different time periods in what is by far our most challenging project yet! JoDan: My most memorable project would have to be the design and construction of the press box. It required me to learn a lot of new tools in Revit. Not to mention the fact that the press box will be there for years to come, and I will be able to say, “I designed that!” It was then I realized I could make a career out of this!
Q: What technology have you used while you have been enrolled in EAST? Alexander: Through EAST, I have learned about and used Blender, Unreal Engine 4, Virtual Reality Hardware/Software, and how to build a computer entirely from scratch.
wetland environment with our community and city council. People were able to put on the virtual reality headset and explore the environment before deciding to approve it. Additionally, we have created a local grocery store model for our school’s Special Education Department. Upon its completion, the Special Education Coordinator for our high school plans to use this simulation to allow special education students to practice shopping for groceries before they shop for groceries in real life. We are currently working to create three full-scale models of our city across three different time periods for a local museum. The completed simulation will become an exhibit housed in the museum for anyone to experience. We hope that this project will excite our community’s youth to learn more about their city’s history and support the museum in the future. JoDan: I design buildings for our community partners. I recently started a new project to redesign one of the historic buildings in our city. The building is falling apart. A classmate and I are drawing the building’s layout to be seen three-dimensionally (3D). I am using Revit, and my classmate is using ArchiCAD. The owner will use the drawing to help him receive a historical restoration grant, to restore the building to what it was in its “glory days.”
Q: What would you like to see happen with EAST in the future?
JoDan: I have used Revit 2019 while a part of EAST because I love architecture.
Alexander: I would like to see EAST continue to grow until it is a household name. EAST has the power to change students’ lives, and everyone deserves the opportunity to experience an EAST Classroom.
Q: How has your experience in EAST shaped your future goals/plans?
JoDan: I would like to see EAST spread internationally and give everyone in the world a chance to learn the skills that we have learned.
Alexander: Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for community service and technology. EAST opened my eyes to the realization that these two passions did not have to be exclusive to one another. Throughout my four years in EAST, I have learned how to combine these two passions and use technology to better my local community. Upon graduating high school, I plan to go to college and major in computer science. I hope to combine the knowledge I learn in college with the passion I cultivated through EAST to start a company that works to research and develop new technologies that can be used to better the lives of people all around the world.
Q: What advice would you give to EAST students that are graduating soon?
JoDan: My EAST experience has influenced my decision to major in civil engineering and construction management in college.
Q: How have you served your community while in EAST, and how do you plan to continue serving your community in the future? Alexander: While in EAST, I have worked with various teams to create virtual reality environments and simulations that benefit my community. For example, we created a model of what a proposed wetland would look like if built in our city. We shared our virtual
Alexander: Do not forget what you have learned in EAST. That passion you have to use technology to help your community one project at a time? Keep it, cherish it, and never forget it. Take the passion, run with it, and make the world a better place! JoDan: Keep your eyes open! There are a lot of jobs that require the skills we have learned in EAST. Always remember your community partners; they will be valuable contacts for resumes.
Q: Give us a quote you live by and that has helped you in EAST? Alexander: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt JoDan: “Be the light in the darkness.” -Thomas Rhett
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The Latest From
EAST EDUCATION
UNLEASHED Parent Support Program
AVAILABLE ON DEMAND If you missed the live sessions don’t stress. We have 14 topics on demand to assist you and your virtual learner in successfully completing the school year.
Visit educationunleashed.org
COMING THIS JUNE...
LETS: Prepare for the Future
Professional development workshops and access to free technology! LETS: Prepare for the Future is a set of workshops led and facilitated by EAST in partnership with NSF EPSCoR whose mission is to strengthen research and education in the area of Science and Engineering in Arkansas. With these workshops, teachers will learn how to use and integrate emerging technology into their classrooms and prepare tomorrow’s workforce to thrive in the new economy. Workshops begin June 7th and are available to any teacher in Arkansas. Workshop registrations will be limited to one session per teacher and based on the technology provided.
Visit EASTlink.me/LETSPrepare to register! 12
EAST QUARTERLY | EASTinitiative.org
WORKSHOP INFORMATION 3D PRINTING Workshop 1: June 9, 9AM-12PM Workshop 2: June 21, 9-10AM Workshop 3: July 5, 9-10AM
PI TOP Workshop 1: June 7, 1-3PM Workshop 2: June 23, 10-11AM Workshop 3: July 7, 10-11AM
THANK YOU
to all of our sponsors and supporters who help make EAST happen for students.
WINTER 2021 | EAST QUARTERLY
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Have you applied for an
EAST Student Scholarship? AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS EAST Student Scholarship | EAST Initiative EAST and Women’s Foundation of Arkansas | Dr Mary Lowe Good Legacy Scholarship EAST Student Scholarship | University of Arkansas Monticello EAST Programs Scholarship | University of Central Arkansas Carolyn Mann EAST Initiative Scholarship | University of Central Arkansas
Join us for
EAST Day of Giving 2021 Visit EASTdayofgiving.org for more information on how to give and join us on social media for several fun interactive opportunities to celebrate EAST!
To learn more & apply visit
EASTlink.me/scholarship