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Hostway
Names 'Youngest Web Wizards' After National Search for Whiz-Kid Designers
Fourth-grader and eighth-grader earn national recognition in Hostway's
first search for "America's
Youngest Web Wizard" |
Chicago, IL—Thursday,
April 14, 2005—After a four-month nationwide search to
find the most talented K-8 Web designers, global Web hosting leader Hostway Corporation today named Eric Fancher and Danika Young “America’s
Youngest Web Wizards.”
Eric Fancher, 10, of Atlanta, Ga., a fourth-grader at Dunwoody Springs
Elementary School, created a Web site dedicated to his Cub Scout den.
Danika Young, 14, of Atkinson, Neb., an eighth grader at Atkinson Junior
High, created a Web site as a study guide and homework resource for “Maniac
MaGee,” an award-winning children’s literature book taught
at her school and at schools across the country.
Hostway awarded each of the two “Web wizards” a Dell Inspiron
8699 laptop ($1,500 value) and 12 months of free Web site hosting.
“On behalf of Hostway, I would like to congratulate the winners,
finalists and entrants that shared their creative and inspirational
Web sites in Hostway’s first national ‘Web Wizard’
search,” said John Lee, vice president of marketing, Hostway.
“I’m happy to say it was extremely difficult to judge the
Web sites as they were all very professionally developed.”
Fancher, winner of the K-5 division, said that he created his site, www.pack266drag
onpatrol.org, to help his Cub Scout den stay on top of their busy
schedule.
“I made all of my best friends at Scouts, and I wanted to help
bring us all together since we are from four different schools,”
said Eric Fancher. “I started designing the site in October, and
by February, it was complete. I took it slow and tried to learn and
master at least one item a week. So far, I have learned 25 different
things about designing a Web site.”
Fancher, a very tech-savvy fourth-grader, plans to use his Web development
skills this summer by creating Web sites for local businesses that do
not have a Web presence.
“It amazes me that many restaurants and stores my family and
I go to don’t have Web sites,” said Fancher. “This
summer I plan on setting up as many Web sites as I can for them. I will
also use the free Web hosting I won in this contest to set up my own
Web design company.”
Young, 14, winner of the 6-8 division, said she created her site, atkinson.esu8.org/maniac,
to show how much she enjoyed reading the book, “Maniac Magee.”
What started as an after-school project turned into an extremely helpful
resource for teachers across the country.
“I have received many e-mails from teachers nationwide thanking
me for creating such a useful and fun site for them to use along with
their regular ‘Maniac Magee’ teaching materials,”
said Danika Young. “Some teachers assume that I am a teacher and
ask where I work. They are shocked and amazed when I tell then I am
only in eighth grade!”
This is the second Web site Young has designed. She previously designed
a Web site that earned her second place in a statewide Web design competition.
“My fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Morrow, was my inspiration for
the Web site,” said Young. “She basically taught me everything
I know about computers.”
Across the nation, elementary and middle school students design Web
sites without receiving the recognition that they deserve. Hostway developed
the “Web Wizard” search to honor these tech-savvy students
and increase the awareness of technological education.
Student-submitted Web sites were judged by a panel of executive judges
from Hostway and competed on the basis of content, structure and navigation,
visual design, functionality and success of their Web sites.
About Hostway Corporation
Hostway Corporation provides Web hosting and managed services to more
than 300,000 customers worldwide. Hostway helps individuals, small businesses
and large enterprises achieve more value from state-of-the-art Web-based
technologies by reducing their complexity and cost. Founded in 1998, Hostway
is one of the five largest Web hosting companies in the world with offices
in North America (Chicago, Tampa and Vancouver), Europe (London and Amsterdam),
Asia (Seoul) and Australia (Sydney). For more information about Hostway
Corporation, please visit www.hostway.com or call 1-888-290-5170. |
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