County Executive John Leopold doesn't own a personal computer. He reluctantly invested in a cell phone recently, so he can be reached in emergencies. But he doesn't listen to his voicemail.
"I'm not a techie," he said, noting that he still "recognizes the value of all the technology we use today."
So to stimulate creativity in the information technology field, he has developed the first annual Community and Information Technology Competition, and it's for students in 10th through 12th grades.
The teenage contestants will identify an informational technology need that would better deliver existing county services or information to a segment of county residents.
The winner of the contest earns a paid internship with the county government.
They will present their project through a proposal, not as a finished product. The proposal will identify the need, its solution, additional resources required, and the anticipated end result.
The finalist or finalist team will make a full presentation to IT professionals from the departments where they might spend their internship.
Contestants must be county residents who are students in public, private or home-school programs for 10th, 11th or 12th grades. It is open to individuals or two-person teams.
The winner must provide his or her own transportation to county offices.
Naturally, the project proposals require an electronic solution. The contest deadline for preliminary proposals is 5 p.m. March 3.
The internship will take place during the upcoming summer school break. If there is one winner, that person can work up to 40 hours a week.
If a team wins, the two members may work a total of 20 hours apiece each week.
The salary is the minimum wage - $6.15 per hour.
County officials are hosting a competition kick-off and information session at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Carver Development Center, 2671 Carver Road in Gambrills, just off Route 3.
Officials plan to describe the details of the competition, answer questions, provide proposal templates and offer light refreshments.
To reserve a spot at the session or for more information, contact county spokesman Marina Cooper at 410-222-1821 or at mhcooper@aacounty.org.
If you cannot attend the session, call Ms. Cooper for details and a copy of the proposal template.
A flyer describing the competition is available on the county Web site, http://www.aacounty.org/.
On the home page, under the News Flash heading in the right-hand column, click on "Community and Information Technology Competition."
"Identify a need, based on what you see on county Web pages and other sources," suggested Karla Hamner, special assistant for communication and media.
"We'll identify and guide contestants through resources we have available that will help them in preparing their proposal," she said Tuesday. "Say they want to create a lost and found Web site for pets in the county. They might need information from county resources, including Animal Control."
"The proposals will be judged upon the feasibility of the project," added Ms. Cooper. "What a student proposes needs to provide a service and be an accomplishable goal, but not necessarily done by the student-intern alone."
During the internship, the county will provide resources and information to "get the project going."
The judges for the competition are: Mr. Leopold; Bill Ryan, director of the Office of IT; Betsey Kirkpatrick-Howat, county Web master; Val Emrich, instructional technology coordinator for county public schools; Erik Robey, assistant chief administrative officer; Ms. Hamner and Ms. Cooper.
A contest announcement has gone out to high school principals at all county public and private high schools, CAT North and CAT South, the International Baccalaureate Programme coordinators, Advanced Placement Resource teachers, AVID coordinators and the Chesapeake Region Association of Student Council advisors.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime for someone considering a career in this area," said Ms. Hamner. "These kids will offer a fresh perspective on web services offered by the county."
"I'm not a techie," he said, noting that he still "recognizes the value of all the technology we use today."
So to stimulate creativity in the information technology field, he has developed the first annual Community and Information Technology Competition, and it's for students in 10th through 12th grades.
The teenage contestants will identify an informational technology need that would better deliver existing county services or information to a segment of county residents.
The winner of the contest earns a paid internship with the county government.
They will present their project through a proposal, not as a finished product. The proposal will identify the need, its solution, additional resources required, and the anticipated end result.
The finalist or finalist team will make a full presentation to IT professionals from the departments where they might spend their internship.
Contestants must be county residents who are students in public, private or home-school programs for 10th, 11th or 12th grades. It is open to individuals or two-person teams.
The winner must provide his or her own transportation to county offices.
Naturally, the project proposals require an electronic solution. The contest deadline for preliminary proposals is 5 p.m. March 3.
The internship will take place during the upcoming summer school break. If there is one winner, that person can work up to 40 hours a week.
If a team wins, the two members may work a total of 20 hours apiece each week.
The salary is the minimum wage - $6.15 per hour.
County officials are hosting a competition kick-off and information session at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Carver Development Center, 2671 Carver Road in Gambrills, just off Route 3.
Officials plan to describe the details of the competition, answer questions, provide proposal templates and offer light refreshments.
To reserve a spot at the session or for more information, contact county spokesman Marina Cooper at 410-222-1821 or at mhcooper@aacounty.org.
If you cannot attend the session, call Ms. Cooper for details and a copy of the proposal template.
A flyer describing the competition is available on the county Web site, http://www.aacounty.org/.
On the home page, under the News Flash heading in the right-hand column, click on "Community and Information Technology Competition."
"Identify a need, based on what you see on county Web pages and other sources," suggested Karla Hamner, special assistant for communication and media.
"We'll identify and guide contestants through resources we have available that will help them in preparing their proposal," she said Tuesday. "Say they want to create a lost and found Web site for pets in the county. They might need information from county resources, including Animal Control."
"The proposals will be judged upon the feasibility of the project," added Ms. Cooper. "What a student proposes needs to provide a service and be an accomplishable goal, but not necessarily done by the student-intern alone."
During the internship, the county will provide resources and information to "get the project going."
The judges for the competition are: Mr. Leopold; Bill Ryan, director of the Office of IT; Betsey Kirkpatrick-Howat, county Web master; Val Emrich, instructional technology coordinator for county public schools; Erik Robey, assistant chief administrative officer; Ms. Hamner and Ms. Cooper.
A contest announcement has gone out to high school principals at all county public and private high schools, CAT North and CAT South, the International Baccalaureate Programme coordinators, Advanced Placement Resource teachers, AVID coordinators and the Chesapeake Region Association of Student Council advisors.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime for someone considering a career in this area," said Ms. Hamner. "These kids will offer a fresh perspective on web services offered by the county."
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