Contacts:
Steffen Schmidt, Iowa State University, (515) 294-3825
Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720 [email protected]
ISU PROF LAUNCHES AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WEB DESIGN CONTEST
AMES, Iowa -- An Iowa State University political science professor has launched a web design contest to get high school students more interested in politics and American government.
The contest, the brainchild of ISU political science professor Steffen Schmidt, offers a $20,000 Iowa State University scholarship to a high school student who designs the winning web site. Two $10,000 prizes also are offered, as well as awards for teachers/mentors who help students in their web projects. This is the second year for the contest.
"Students are completely dropping out of politics," said Schmidt, who hosts a weekly Iowa National Public Radio program called "Dr. Politics." "The statistics all point to cynicism, declining participation, dropping young people's voter turnout and decreasing knowledge about government and politics. Getting students to speak about politics with their voice from their zone of interest through web design might help us understand what could turn them on to public life and political participation."
Students who enter the ISU contest must design a web site around topics or subjects covered in an honors or advanced placement high school American government class. Sites should have legitimate academic content, raise the level of interest in American government and appeal to high school students, said Schmidt.
The contest is open to high school students across the country. Information on the contest and sites created by last year's winners can be found at http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/contest/. Deadline for the contest is Feb. 1.
Schmidt is Schmidt can be reached at [email protected]; or, (515) 294-3825.
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