Summary

UPDATE: View a photo gallery of awards recieved
Read results from the 2005 EAST Conference
Read about the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence given to teacher Chip Fenenga

Geospatial Solutions - 1st Place 2004 Innovative Use of GIS - August 2004 issue
EAST 2004 - Outstanding Individual Project - Mission Aqueduct
EAST 2004 - Founder's Award - Best exemplifies the ideas of EAST
California Governor's Award for Historic Preservation - 11/17/2004 for the Mission Aqueduct
ESRI - Communty Atlas Award - Site License of ESRI Arcview GIS
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society - Museum presentation July / August 2004
World GIS Day 11/19/2004 - Best Poster - Ventura College
EAST 2003 - Best Project and Booth Display - Highway 154 Project

Details

Geospatial Award
Students at Santa Ynez High School were notified by Geospatial Solutions, an international professional journal that is the objective and authoritative forum for emerging intelligence about GIS (geographic Information Science) and related spatial technologies, that they had won the 5th annual competition for outstanding use of GIS technology. This is the first time a high school has ever been selected. Managing Editor Jim Engelhardt noted in his letter to Mr. Fenenga, "Your application, "Mapping Mission Santa Ines Aqueduct" was selected as the best overall application based on the three criteria of innovation, technology, and importance. The field of 24 entries was very competitive and posed a challenge for the judges as they tried to narrow down their selections. It is an incredibly effective presentation and shows thoughtful, precise work that all the professionals judging recognized."
"It was very rewarding to see all the work done by the students validated by being selected and published. We received several calls from the other competition entries congratulating us. They included the City of Denver, Oregon State University, the US Army and 3 professional GIS companies, "commented Chip Fenenga."The students who put in the time on this portion of the project include Tim Manchester, Clay Garland, Erik Glendinning, Breanna Schlaggs and Erin Gnekow. They are truly exceptional students who have set a high standard. This has taken almost 2 years to get to this level of proficiency and they had to take classes, work on their own, ask questions, and solve some difficult technological problems," noted teacher Kim Merz.
Students who worked on the project were members of the EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies) class at SYVUHS. Currently, some of the students work is on display at the Santa Ynez Historical Museum. The article is available online at http://www.geospatial-online.com. For winning, the students received a $5000 Trimble GPS unit. They were also contacted by GIS leader, ESRI, and given expensive software based upon their work and the future potential of the class and students.
"We are tremendously excited about this coming year and our 5 EAST classes. The efforts put in by all the students were recognized by expanding the program. Our School Board, Superintendent and administration worked hard to keep this exemplary program going. Superintendent Dr. Van Leuven, Principal Clevenger along with ROP Coordinator Ken Main and the Science Department have put in place a great opportunity for students interested in technology, problem solving and community service. The US Department of Labor recently cited geotechnology as one of 3 technologies with the greatest growth and job creation potential in the next decade. (The other two are biotechnology and nanotechnology). It is expected that the industry will grow internationally from the $30 billion in 2004 to over $600 billion by 2014. We are on our way and these exceptional young men and women are now proven leaders in a new field," noted Chip Fenenga.

2003 EAST Western Conference
The 5th Annual EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies) Conference was held March 8 - 10 in Sacramento at the Convention Center. Santa Ynez High School sent a team of 8 students who represented their lab and they walked away with the top two awards, Best Overall Project for their Santa Inés Mission Aqueduct mapping and the Founders Award for their entire program.

EAST is a project-based, service-learning oriented class that provides students with the most current, high-end technologies available in the most progressive fields in the world. At its heart, EAST is a coordinated attempt to provide today's students with an educational atmosphere that allows them to gain insight into their own abilities to acquire and use information, solve problems, and gain expertise using multiple technologies. EAST students routinely interact with the hardware and software in animation, CAD, 3D visualization, database design, webpage design, programming, graphics, global positioning systems, and geographic information systems.

At the 65 school conference, representing the States and EAST schools of California, Arkansas, Hawaii and Illinois, the students had to present their work before the other schools, peers and professional judges. The team met with Congressional leaders, industry experts, and legislative members and took classes in technologies at the conference. Mikey Carlson presented his work in CAD. Nate Breen showed off the work he and Ian Blumenthal did in creating a stunning 3D animation model of the Mission mill complex. Tim Manchester, Clay Garland and Erin Gnekow presented and explained their precise work with GIS mapping. Breanna Schlags, Erik Glendinning and Peter Oliver explained the project and demonstrated many of the models created by Phil Hauck, Daniel Schley, Marcos Veldanes and Jason Lambert. Phil and Daniel's DVD video presentation was a hit and the industry representatives all wanted a copy," commented Mrs Merz. "Most of the information was clearly presented based on Jessie Gavlak's work. It is unfortunate that she and Ian and Phil could not be here as they played a huge part in the success," noted Chip Fenenga

At the banquet on Tuesday night before 1500 people, Santa Ynez was awarded a Superior rating (the highest) by EAST. We were then selected as the Outstanding Project based upon judges evaluations and written documentation. Erik Glendinning and Breanna Schlags were asked to accept the award and unknown to anyone, they were asked to stay on stage and present the Mission Aqueduct Project to the entire room. They spoke well of the entire classes contribution and briefly showcased the work, closing to thunderous applause by the entire room. "It was very gratifying to see everyone support and appreciate the wonderful work this project has generated," noted co-facilitator Chip Fenenga. "Erik and Breanna were clear and professional in their presentation and they deserved tremendous credit for their work," mentioned Co-facilitator Kim Merz.

In an attempt to map the water system at Mission Santa Inés, the students may have pushed back the bounds of history and developed a complete mapping of a 200 year old mystery. The work has been presented and reviewed at the California Mission Studies Conference, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and has been accepted for publication by a professional journal, the Pacific Coast Archaeology Quarterly. Dr. Robert Hoover from Cal Poly calls the work, "the best example of historical research, geophysics and archaeology he has EVER seen." It is a good story of technology, education, community service and history. The students call it, dynamic GIS, history and technology and truly believe that in this great future you can't forget your past.

A bigger surprise was in store for the team as EAST officials presented the 1st annual Founder's Award, based upon the entire program to Santa Ynez High School. Tim Manchester and Nate Breen volunteered to accept the award and explain the program at the High School. "Tim was brilliant, funny, clear and a tremendous credit to the school with his inspired speech, " noted Fenenga. "Tim had to speak for about 15 minutes with 40 various powerpoint slides projected on the two flanking large screen screens. He didn't know the order or even what was being shown so in an impromptu, extemporaneous speech, he told of the exciting things that are happening here," mentioned Mrs Merz. "And Nate closed it out with comments from professionals who have reviewed the class work," explained Kim Merz.

"All I saw were the front 10 tables of legislators and EAST officials and then the huge hall was just dark with lots of people somewhere out there. Off to my sides were 20 foot projections of me speaking so it was kind of unnerving but it was fun telling everyone about all the good things going on in the class." mentioned Tim Manchester. "It was great to finish and hear all those people cheering."

"It is a tremendous accomplishment to start this program 2 years ago and get to this level. So many kids who participated these last years are responsible for the success but much of the credit has to go to the original team that went to Arkansas, help write the grant and saw the tremendous potential and opportunity available for all students in our Valley: Jerry Swanitz, Kim Merz, Sharron Ferrer, Julie Estabrook, Ron Green, Norm Clevenger and Dr. Fred Van Leuven," noted teacher Chip Fenenga. "Just to see the confidence displayed and hear State Senators marvel at their work was truly worth the drive, " exclaimed key teacher Kim Merz.

"We are excited about expanding the program next year , using ROP funds, expertise and contacts along with it being a University of California A - G lab science, the future looks great. Of course we realize that what many people call results are just beginnings," mentioned Chip Fenenga

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