Chicago Students Capture Awards in Hostway's Web Design Contest

Von Steuben student wins $2,500 and paid internship for developing school's official Web site

Chicago—July 22, 2003—A senior at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, a Chicago public high school, took top honors today in a contest to find the best Web sites designed by Chicago area high school students.

Ian Melnick, 17, who entered the contest "to represent Von Steuben and show the world just one of the many opportunities my school has offered me," won a $2,500 cash award and a paid internship at Hostway Corporation, the Chicago-based contest sponsor and one of the world's top five providers of Internet hosting services. Melnick was the unanimous top choice of contest judges for creating his school's official Web site, www.vonsteuben.org.

The site is an attractive, comprehensive resource for students, teachers, staff and other members of the Von Steuben community, including extensive information on academics, activities and student services, in addition to a faculty and staff directory and other important links. Melnick created a content-management system that enables the site to be easily updated without requiring any special technical training.

Joining Melnick in the winners' circle at today's award ceremony at Chicago Public Schools headquarters were a trio of students from Whitney Young Magnet School, another Chicago public high school, who took second place for their school-community site, www.antiskewl.com. Steve Granda, Richard Otap and Stan Lipski - all juniors at Whitney Young - will share the second prize award of $1,500. Third prize of $1,000 went to Thomas Wolfe, a senior at Brother Rice Catholic High School, Chicago, for his personal site, Blackphiber (blackphiber.no-ip.org). Wolfe resides in suburban Orland Park.

"We congratulate the winners, finalists and all entrants who shared their creativity and technical skills by entering our High School Web Designers of the Future contest," said Lucas Roh, CEO and president of Hostway.

"Based on the very high quality of these Web sites," Roh continued, "it's safe to say that Chicago will be at the center of Web design and development as this generation of high school students matures and enters the work force. We look forward to seeing these students achieve successful careers within our local technology community. They're the people who will help society realize the full potential of the Internet and reap its benefits throughout the 21st century." Also providing support for the contest was Mayor Richard M. Daley's Council of Technology Advisors. Council Co-Chairman Michael Krauss was on hand at the award ceremony to congratulate the winners and finalists.

Area students submitted more than 50 original Web sites for judging. Contest entries were reviewed and winners selected by a distinguished panel of judges, including Robin Schabes, former technology advisor to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; Michael Lach, Chicago Public Schools science director; Janice Chen, editor CNET reviews; and Hostway's Roh. Students competed on the basis of content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality and success of their Web sites.

Other contest finalists were Steven Lawless, a 2003 graduate of V.J. Andrew High School, Tinley Park, IL, lead designer of Andrew High School's official Web site, www.d230.org/vja; Brian W. Krall, a 2003 graduate of Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Ill., whose www.iversonpark.com is a fan site honoring NBA basketball superstar Allen Iverson; Patrick J. Murphy, a senior at Naperville Central High School, for his site, www.ubergaming.net/melee, devoted to the Super Smash Brothers Melee video game; and Alison Kane, a senior at Geneva High School in Geneva, Ill., whose www.starnickel.com personal site is an outlet for her graphic arts and design skills.