Students win at PA Media and Design Competition

SHS students took second and third place at the PA Media and Design competition on Wednesday, March 22.

In second place with “Cup-able” were students junior Katelyn Ketterman, junior Katelyn Ball and junior Brianna Copp. In third place with “Bristle Soaker” were creators senior Rachael Stiffler, senior Evelyn Weldon and senior Mckenzie Galbreath.
Wade Bowers, the school’s electronic arts teacher, has been involved with the competition since 2009 and acknowledges this year’s groups’ dedication to their designs.
“They put a lot of time and hard work and showed professionalism,” Bowers said.

Gallery • 3 Photos

This is the logo design created by Audrey Reeves. Photograph by Wade Bowers

Ketterman admits that this was an experience unlike any other.
“The Media and Design competition was such a fun and unique experience that I’m so thankful I got to attend. My teammates and I got to go into a new competitive environment like we have never experienced before…,” Ketterman said.“…the energy and adrenaline we got from waiting to hear the results of the competition was unmatchable. I am extremely thankful for my experience and would definitely want to do this again next year.”

Ketterman has even found a higher level of confidence in what she is capable of accomplishing in design.
“I had an amazing time collaborating with my teammates to create an amazing product in which we are all proud of, passionate about and confident in,” Ketterman said. “I got to see that my ideas really can go anywhere and become anything I want them to with just a little bit of work. I gained a newfound sense of confidence in myself and abilities as a person.”

In the logo category, SHS junior Audrey Reeves took home first place and is heading to states with her “very clean and profressional” design, according to Bowers.
Reeves also enjoyed the experience and was happy to give the competition a chance.
“The overall experience was a lot of fun,” Reeves said.. “I had no idea what to expect going into the competition. When we got there, the first thing we did was set up our projects. I was set up next to the other logo display from our school, and we got to see the other logos and projects competing.”

At the competition, the students were also able to learn more about media and design, according to Reeves.

“We spent most of the day in three seminar rooms where we learned about aspects of design and ways to display data,” Reeves said. “That part was a lot of fun. It was very laid back, and we spent a lot of time joking around while we worked on the projects for whatever room we were in.”

The next step of the day was the most nerve-wracking for the students where the awards were announced for the designs.

“We went straight from the seminars to the awards,” Reeves said. “I was surprised at how nervous I was. We had to sit through the middle school awards first, but my category was one of the first ones announced for the high school level. When my name wasn’t read for second or third place, I didn’t really think I would be winning anything at all so it came as a surprise when they read my name for first.”

Not only was the experience meaningful for the students, but the group also had some fun together after the competition.
“We got to go out to lunch afterward and as a group, and we chose Chile’s,” Reeves said. “It was a great way to celebrate all of the awards that our school won.”
Aside from awards, Bowers remarks that the competition is beneficial to all of those involved,
“They get an experience to compete against other schools,” Bowers said. “They’re getting judged by other people in the field.”

The students can all agree that the competition allowed them to grow as students and friends.

“Overall, the day wasn’t necessarily about winning,” Reeves said. “It was just fun to get to experience the competition and see everyone else’s logos and projects.”