Floyd Dryden student wins statewide technology award
Sales says he likes to go 'a step further' with computer programs
Floyd Dryden Middle School technology student and Floyd Dryden TV producer Rafael Sales won Outstanding Technology Middle School Student at a recent Alaska Society for Technology in Education conference.
And he found out through FDTV news.
"I was surprised. I wasn't even aware I was nominated," he said.
His technology teacher, Alan Degener, said he nominated Sales for the statewide award for several reasons.
"One, just talent - he's pretty exceptional, especially with some of the really difficult programs we use, like Motion, Flash ... he's reliable, he's creative, he's a hard worker ... he pays attention to detail, and he understands what's appropriate," Degener said.
He said Sales also uses technology in his other classes.
Sales said he likes to go "a step further" with computer programs such as Flash, Dreamweaver, Final Cut and Fireworks.
"I just love being around technology. Just playing around with it ... I like the reaction you get from people after your final product, and just working with it," he said.
Sales said he wants to work in the movie or music industry, using technology.
Alaska Society for Technology in Education awarded other Juneau students for individual projects. Homebridge third grader Raven Wahl won for a song. Juneau-Douglas High School senior Junnie Chup won for a funny picture. Juneau School District employee John Wahl won first place for his song "Shoe Tyin" in his age category, and Degener won second place for a short, comical movie.
ASTE is a nonprofit whose mission is to promote access to technology, connectivity to information resources and technology integration for Alaskan learners, according to its Web site.
More information is available at www.aste.org.
• Contact reporter Mary Catharine Martin at 523-2276 or maryc.martin@juneauempire.com.