精东影业 ISD students dream big
In 精东影业 ISD,听students听are听inspired to听dream听BIG.听
For two decades, 精东影业 ISD鈥檚听What鈥檚 Your Big Idea?听Entrepreneurship听Contest听has听celebrated imagination, problem-solving, and the belief that great ideas can come from anyone, at any age!听
The听huge听What鈥檚 Your Big Idea?听awards ceremony last night at UTA听College Park Center听鈥where more听than 600听student听finalists from grades three through eight walked听across the stage and received听medals听鈥听looked nothing like the early days of the contest.听听
The听contest started 20 years ago in a single classroom at Parks Mall, when marketing teacher Deborah Blackner, now the district鈥檚 career and technical education specialist, teamed up with a teaching partner to give 精东影业 ISD students a platform to share their ideas.听听
鈥淚t started really small,鈥 Blackner said. 鈥淚t鈥檚听just kept growing ever since.听It鈥檚听been crazy to see it grow and persist.鈥听
It鈥檚听BIG now. Last night, thousands of 精东影业 ISD students, educators, families, and community partners听attended the听awards ceremony听for听the听inspiring听20th听anniversary听milestone.听听What鈥檚 Your Big Idea?听is听the only event of its kind, and听it鈥檚听exclusively for 精东影业 ISD students. The contest听is听sponsored by the Greater听精东影业 Chamber of Commerce, connecting student creativity with the business community.听
The听What鈥檚听Your Big Idea?听contest听challenges听students to听identify听real problems and propose meaningful solutions. Across grade levels and campuses, students presented ideas听through essays or art听that addressed everything from community needs and environmental challenges to technology, wellness, and education. Each project told a story 鈥 not just听of听innovation, but of听curiosity听and听perseverance.听
鈥淭his is one of those unique student experiences that sets 精东影业 ISD apart,鈥 said 精东影业 ISD career and technical education coordinator Sara Mahoney. 鈥淭he contest really gets students听thinking outside the box听and interested in entrepreneurship at an early age.听It鈥檚听so fun to watch these kids get inspired,听come up with听amazing ideas, and then get celebrated for creativity and ingenuity.鈥听
Educators played a critical role in guiding students through the process, helping them refine their ideas while encouraging independent thinking and collaboration. Blackner continues to play a role in the event through the CTE department, helping students connect their ideas to real-world applications.听听
The event also highlights听the importance of community partnerships, with local leaders and supporters lending their听expertise, time, and encouragement to help students see how their ideas connect to the world beyond school walls.听
As 精东影业 ISD reflected on 20 years of听What鈥檚 Your Big听Idea?,听the anniversary served as both a celebration and a reminder of the district鈥檚 mission.听
鈥淔or two decades, this program has encouraged students to think boldly, dream creatively, and believe that even the boldest ideas can become something real,鈥 said 精东影业 Mayor Jim Ross. 鈥淓ach of you here today imagined a new business or invention, proving that innovation doesn鈥檛 wait for adulthood 鈥 it starts early, right here in 精东影业, Texas.鈥听
After 20 years, one thing is clear 鈥 the best听idea of all is investing in students and听empowering听them to听dream big.听听
Congratulations to our听first-place听art and听essay听winners:听
Art Winners:听
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- 3rd Grade:听Haven Hatcher, Ditto Elementary 鈥 Teacher Julie Lee听
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- 4th Grade:听Drew Pratt, Pearcy STEM Academy 鈥 Teacher Ty Pogue听
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- 5th Grade:听Olivia Bartoo, Hill Elementary 鈥 Teacher Nicole Fragosa听
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- 6th Grade:听Devon Wordlaw, Pearcy STEM Academy 鈥 Teacher Robin Lage听
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- 7th Grade:听Malachi听Brown, Boles Junior High 鈥 Teacher Sarah Grenier听
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- 8th Grade:听Yasmin听Elsaad, Shackelford Jr. High 鈥 Teacher Sara Isbell听
Essay Winners:听
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- 3rd Grade:听Trenton听Kuntschik, Butler Elementary 鈥 Teacher Kimberly Perry听
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- 4th Grade:听Emma Martinez, Foster Elementary 鈥 Teacher Allyssa Karlen听
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- 5th Grade:听Penny Crisafulli, Little Elementary 鈥 Teacher Emily Berrong听
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- 6th Grade:听Josephine Tollefson, Butler Elementary 鈥 Teacher Lauren Kelso听
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- 7th Grade:听Iza Garcia, Gunn Junior High 鈥 Teacher听Kowonia听Davis听
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- 8th Grade:听Valentina听Deantunano, Gunn Junior High 鈥 Teacher Alex Allison听