SULTAN — Students here are putting a new spin on sports, communication and arts with technology. They’re also scoring points by saving money for the cash-strapped Sultan School District.
A dozen teens in the Turk Tech Club are getting involved at Sultan High School in ways they likely wouldn’t have before a project last year changed the game, senior Crystal Nambo said.
The club president led students in helping design and test software to replace a 30-year-old sports scoreboard. District staff then built and put it in the gym during summer break.
Technology director Dave Moon said the project saved at least $20,000 for the district. It is asking taxpayers to approve a $47.7 million bond for school improvements on the Feb. 9 ballot.
“Because we don’t have money, we have to be creative,” Moon said. “Thinking outside the box is kind of the norm here.”
Nambo, 17, said students took ideas from different scoreboards to design their computerized system. It uses projectors to display an image of an old-school scoreboard on the walls at each side of the gym.
“It’s pretty cool how it turned out,” Nambo said.
The system is connected to two TV screens in the announcer’s table. One shows the scoreboard information and the other displays the student- produced advertisements that bring in money for clubs.
The teens want to take their work beyond static ads by producing television-like commercials. They recently refurbished five donated computers for video editing and landed their first gig.
Brian Copple, a Sultan chiropractor, said he bought four 15-second spots to support students and bring patients to his practice. He’s keeping details under wraps before the ads debut.
“They aren’t going to be typical, I’ll tell you that,” he said.
The tech students double as the school broadcast club. They produce a webcast at sports games for TurkPride.tv.
Nambo said the scoreboard has made it easier to keep track of the action while reporting from the sidelines. The new system also saves time, allowing journalists to improve the broadcast, she said.
Club members are making their mark in theater, too.
They’re producing special effects for the upcoming school production of “Wizard of Oz.”
“We’re bringing out tech,” Nambo said. “That’s what we’re known for.”
Students recently shot video of the green-clad actor who is playing the wizard. They had him recite his lines in front of a green screen so only his head would appear. They’ll project the moving images onto the set during the show.
Next, the tech club wants to get into animation. Members are planning to use a projector to show animated projects, ads and player profiles onto the gym walls during games.
“We’re looking forward to taking it to the next level,” Moon said.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
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