Students with disabilities win technology awards
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
Published: 12-May-2010
The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and Tech-Now, Oklahoma High School High Tech honored several Oklahoma High School students with disabilities for projects on science and technology careers. Thousands of dollars in scholarships, cash and computers were awarded to the students by education, business and state leaders in the State Capitol Blue Room on Monday, May 10.
Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Pryor delivered congratulatory remarks at the event. She included in her remarks the notable story of Thomas Edison and his invention of the light bulb. Edison once said: “I never failed, it was just a 2000-step process.”
Speaker will be Assistant State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Pryor. Master of Ceremonies was Scott Ellis, who is Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Government Relations Director and Chair of the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
Cash and other prizes for the event were provided by: $3,100 from Oklahoma One-Call (Call Okie); a laptop computer supplied by the Mid-America Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America; $775 from AMBUCS and Dick Nowlin, $3,275 from Tech-Now, Inc., and $2,800 from The State Chamber. The Microsoft and Corel Corporations donated computer software.
State Sen. Cliff Branan of Oklahoma City, attended the event and presented recognition to Bethany High School students Aaron Ward, Victoria Huiett & Hannah Pennock). Branan praised Bethany High School in particular for “consistent high achievement” in the program.
Tech-Now is a day and after school program funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services and public and private gifts. Tech-Now provides students with disabilities access to technology, technology training and encouragement to explore potential education and employment opportunities to prepare them to be productive, contributing citizens of Oklahoma’s future.
Tech-Now, Oklahoma High School High Tech has program sites in 22 school districts and at thirty-one schools across Oklahoma. Tech-Now, Inc. President and CEO Rick DeRennaux may be contacted at DeRennaux@hotmail.com.
The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is an advisory committee for the Office of Disability Concerns, Steven Stokes, Director.
Prize winners for the Tech-Now, Oklahoma High School High Tech 2010 Awards disclosed on Monday are:
$1,000 Oklahoma College/University Scholarship & $200:
Logan Horsley, Bethany High School
Alex Laughlin, Bethany High School
Brett Palmer, Tulsa Edison High School
Career Technology Center One Semester Tuition Waiver & $200:
James Carter, Norman North High School
Andrew Thompson, Tulsa Edison High School
Christina Magers, Bethany High School
Tech-Now High Point Score Awards:
Laptop computer from Mid-America Paralyzed Veterans of America & $150
Billy Madewell, Bethany High School
$150 Cash Award & Corel Draw Suite X5 Computer Software
Logan Horsley, Bethany High School
$125 Cash Award
Josh Dickenson, Bethany High School
$100 Cash Award
Haley Hansen, Bethany High School
Call Okie Awards
Computer Poster Competition
1st Logan Horsley, Bethany High School
2nd Billy Madewell, Bethany High School
3rd Michelle Magers, Bethany High School
4th Haylee Griffeth, Bethany High School
5th Josh Dickenson, Bethany High School
6th Lacee Hagood, Bethany High School
Computer Television Ad
1st Aaron Ward, Victoria Huiett & Hannah Pennock, Bethany High School
2nd Tommy Batt, Wesley Ramirez & Bobby Hood, McLoud High School
3rd Caitlin Clark, Thomas Batt & Steven Clarke, McLoud High School
Computer Radio Ad
1st Tommy Batt, McLoud High School
2nd Michelle Magers & Sandra Yescas, Bethany High School
3rd Ebony Leverett & BreAnna Paul, Bethany High School
NOTE: Editor Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this report.