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State Digital Media Contest and Exhibitions


State poetry, essay and other writing contest seem to be a major annual part of many states' high school educational process. Periodically, some states have "poster" contest, but very few states have yearly digital media contest/exhibitions.

Technical educational organizations such as Skills USA, TSA etc, have regional, state and national contest for some areas of digital media/multimedia but there is no associated state or national exhibition of the student work. These contest are limited to schools that are involved in CTE (Career Technical Educatin).

Some states, public and private schools and other organizations have begun to see a need and are sponsoring annual digital media contest and exhibitions. The list is as follows:

International Student Media Festival

There is one International Student Media Festival. ISMF has been sponsored by the Association for Educational Communications & Technology since 1974.

Alaska

Alaska has periodical contest for some media such as the 2009 "Bear Aware" film/video contest, but the state does not have an yearly state exhibition.

California

California has the oldest digital media/multimedia contest in the nation. 2009 marks the 43rd anniversary of the annual California Student Media & Multimedia Festival. This past year this festival boosted entries form over 6000 students. It is operated totally by volunteers. The sponsors include Wells Fargo, KOCE TV (a Public Television Station) and Foothill College Center for Innovation.

Colorado

After a few rough years, Daffy (The Denver Academy Film Festival for Youth) has reemerged and is now in its 9th year. It accepts only video and animation, neglecting other media events. It is privately sponsored by the Denver Academy.

Delaware

Delaware does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

Florida

In 2008, Florida started a state wide contest and art exhibition, but it is more about fine arts than digital media.

Hawaii

Hawaii has a video/ film contest. The Island Movie Contest is sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Education. It accepts only video, neglecting other media events such as animation, web design or graphic design. Entries can be for grade 3 to 12.

Kansas

The Kansas Student Technology Leadership Digital Media Competition is in partnership with and sponsored by Kansas State University, Kansas Technology Coordinators Network, High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium and the Kansas State Department of Education. It is presently in its 5th year. Categories include: multimedia, tech integration, video, web design and graphic design. It is open to Content Area & Grade Level Spread (Pre K-2, 3-5, 6-8 or 9-12).

Maine

Maine does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

Minnesota

TIES is a technology cooperative owned by 38 school districts in Minnesota. Approximately one-third of the state students are in a school in the cooperative. Annually, TIES sponsors a media contest for member school districts. Categories include: computer art, multimedia and video.

Missouri

Missouri does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

New York

New York does not presently have a state wide digital media/ multimedia contest.

North Carolina

North Carolina does not presently have a state wide digital media/ multimedia contest.

North Dakota

North Dakota does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

Oregon

Oregon does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

Oklahoma

the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma spongers a state art exhibition/contest but it is really about fine arts rather than digital media.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has separated their contest into two parts: one for high school and one for middle school. PA High School Computer Fair is open to grades 9-12 with categories: animation, computer fair logo, curriculum-based web page design, digital movie, graphic design, information-based web page design, multimedia presentations and text-based desktop publishing. For middle schools there is The Pennsylvania Middle School Computer Fair. It is open to students in grades 6-8. It has the same categories as the high school computer fair.

South Carolina

South Carolina does not presently have a state wide digital media/ multimedia contest.

South Dakota

South Dakota does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

Utah

The Utah Multimedia Arts Festival is in partnership with and sponsored by Utah Valley State College, Salt Lake Community College, the Utah State Office of Education CTE Department and the Utah Education Network. This festival is presently in its 10th year. Its large categories include: 3-D animation, 2-D animation, digital video, audio, graphics, multimedia titles, web design and digital photography. It is open to both college and high school students with prizes awarded on both levels.

Washington

Washington does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

West Virginia

West Virginia includes "computer media" in a state wide art contest. No web address was given.

Wyoming

Wyoming does not presently have a state wide digital media/multimedia contest.

If your state does not have a regional or state wide media/multimedia contest and exhibition, maybe you should consider starting one. I would use the California or the Kansas model, both of which are very well established. Much of the information that you would need is on their respective Web sites. These sites also have contacts which you might use for more information.

I quarried the state department of education in every states for information regarding the existence of a state wide digital media/multimedia contest for elementary thru secondary students. Many states who did not respond and have not been included on this list. I shall add to this list as I receive more information.



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