By Bobby Ellis
bobby.ellis@education.ky.gov
If you’ve never been to the STLP State Championship, you’re missing out.
Elementary, middle and high school students from all over the Commonwealth converged on the Lexington Convention Center April 12 with projects that dazzled the mind. The students showcased sumo wrestling robots, virtual reality headsets, 3D printers, drones, video cameras, vinyl T-shirt presses and more.
The Kentucky Department of Education’s Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) focuses on project-based learning to help students incorporate technology into solving school and community needs.
“The whole goal of our project was to work out ways to improve communication inside the school and with the outside community,” said Michael Kidd, a 7th-grader at John M. Stumbo Elementary (Floyd County), as he set up a video camera and radio microphone at his team’s booth.
Not all the projects were focused on technology though.
Students from James E. Bazzell Middle School (Allen County) presented on the techniques they used to grow their school’s STLP club.
“We grew by over 20 members in around a month,” said 8th-grader Brady Johnson, as he and his teammates huddled around a human skull covered in foam insulation.
“It’s to signify expansion,” said 8th-grader Emma Robison.
Other STLP teams used their projects to raise money for local charities or school projects.
Along with presenting their projects, students also had the opportunity to watch as VEX robots wrestled in a tournament, play with Makey Makey circuit boards, watch model car races and more.
The amount of activity is almost overwhelming.
“It’s crazy, but it’s a lot of fun,” said Brenna Lambert, a 5th-grader at Anne Mason Elementary (Scott County). “It’s very neat.”
If you are interested in learning more about STLP, visit this website.
Madie Lawson, left, Kendall Hall and Emma Bailey of May Valley Elementary School (Floyd County) present their STLP project about “Helping Hands” at the STLP Championship in Lexington. The students worked to help local animal shelters get more food for pets.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Students from Anne Mason Elementary (Scott County) present cookbooks they made for their STLP project. The STLP members sold the cookbooks to raise money for a local charity. Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Sarah Blackaby of Northern Elementary (Pendleton County) plays with a Makey Makey circuit board, using a marshmallow to control a computer.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
” width=”584″ height=”379″> Mya Webb, a 5th-grader at John G. Carlisle Elementary (Covington Independent) rides in a gyroscopic chair at the STLP State Championship while others wait their turn.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Isabell Hagan, a 5th-grader at Field Elementary School (Jefferson County), rides on a gyroscopic chair at the STLP State Championship.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 201`7
STLP attendees set up robots made out of Legos during a robo-sumo tournament.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Palmer Collett, a freshman at Western Hills High School (Franklin County), is interviewed by Michael Berk of WLEX 18 during the STLP State Championship about his drone project.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Students from Woodlawn Elementary (Boyle County) attempt to program a robot to navigate a maze during the STLP State Championship at the Lexington Convention Center.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Kallie Shartzer, a senior at Breckinridge County High School, uses a heat press to transfer vinyl onto a T-shirt. The Breckinridge County High School STLP team sold custom T-shirts at the championship as part of their project and to raise money.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Jake Enmen, an 8th-grader at Bourbon County Middle School, demonstrates a pair of virtual reality goggles used to explore a 3D model of Bourbon County Middle School that he made as his STLP project.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
Taylor Beth Huff, an 8th-grader at james E. Bazzell Middle School (Allen County), presents her team’s project about growing their school’s STLP club.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 12, 2017
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