District News

High school group to help business make commercial

 

Dec. 8, 2011

 

When the Lions Club held its variety show in Canajoharie on Nov. 4, the owners of Judy King insurance in St. Johnsville noticed how well the members of Canajoharie High School’s Generation Yes program handled the show’s technical work.

That is why owner Stephen J. Stortecky hired the group to make a commercial for his business. He also plans to buy advertising space on the Generation Yes website.

“The GenYes kids did all the technical work for the Lions Club variety show and Steve thought they were so terrific and responsible, he wanted them to do work for him,” said Canajoharie High School teacher/librarian Tammy Jones.

“It’s going to be a group effort. Students Katie Walther and Tony Brock will probably direct the commercial and Jake Coso will edit it.”

Generation YES (Youth and Educators Succeeding), is a national program that provides teachers and students the ability to improve education through technology. The local branch – comprised of 18 students – delivers and repairs technology equipment throughout the school and also dabbles in web design. If someone has a software question in the school, they usually send a request to the group.

Senior Jake Coso said he looks forward to working on the commercial because it gives him a chance to help a local business while earning “real world” experience.

“It will be good to get a chance to work for an actual business with tough standards that must be met on time. That’s how it goes in the real world. Teachers give extensions; companies want it on time and done right the first time. I need as much experience as I can get and it’s great to have it in high school," he said.

Sophomore Jerry Zapatka agreed, saying he looks forward to building his resume early.

“It will be good for me to get some experience even as a sophomore. When it comes to getting into college, you can’t start too early,” he said. “Being in GenYes has been great for me. You can work with things you enjoy, but never get the option to in the usual high school courses offered.”