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"I Am What I Learn" Contest Winners

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:24:24 -0500

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that the following students are winners of its “I Am What I Learn” video contest: Rene Harris, Alex Hughes and Jordan Lederman. Watch the web chat between Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the winners below:

The contest, launched Sept. 21, asked students to create videos, up to two minutes long, about the importance of education in achieving their personal goals. Students across the country submitted more than 600 videos, which featured stories from diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Communications and Outreach carefully reviewed each of the videos and narrowed the group to 10 finalists, which were announced on Nov. 16. More than 28,000 votes were cast between Nov. 16 and Dec. 4. The winners were the top three vote getters and will each receive a $1,000 cash prize from the U.S. Department of Education.

The videos of the winners and the rest of the finalists can be viewed at www.youtube.com/iamwhatilearn.

Eddie Lee is Confidential Assistant in the Office of Communications and Outreach at the Department of Education

Voting for Department of Education Video Contest Begins

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:52:28 -0500

Since September 21st, hundreds of students across the country responded to the President’s call to take greater responsibility for their education by creating videos explaining why education is important. In less than two months, students submitted more than 600 video entries.

In their entries, students talked about the goals they had for their future and the steps they would take to meet them. The submissions came from students from diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds, and the content ranged from music videos to short skits. The common theme in all of these videos was the understanding that education was the key to success.

Secretary Arne Duncan recorded a message thanking all the students who submitted videos:

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Communications and Outreach has carefully reviewed each submission and narrowed the submissions down to 10 finalists based on creativity, strength and originality of content, and ability to inspire. These videos are now available for voting at www.youtube.com/Iamwhatilearn.

Voting for the videos runs from November 16th to December 4th. The three videos with the most votes at the end of this period will each win a $1,000 prize issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

Eddie Lee is Confidential Assistant in the Office of Communications and Outreach at the Department of Education

Melody Barnes and Rahm Emanuel Tell Stories at "Read to the Top!"

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:10:00 -0400

On August 10, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes joined Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for the Department of Education’s summer reading initiative, "Read to the Top!" During the event, Barnes read "10 Things I Can Do to Help My World" to encourage students to take practical steps to save our planet. Rahm Emanuel read "Duck for President," a story about a duck who overcomes the odds to take the highest office in the country. After the event, the students snacked on popsicles and read their own books in the shade – a welcomed break from the summer heat.

The event was part of a weekly reading series aimed at combating summer reading loss. Previous White House participants include: Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu, First Grandmother Marian Robinson and White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod.

Eddie Lee is Director of New Media at the Department of Education