Westgate High School’s Technology Team reaped real-world benefits twice as their second place finish in a virtual technology challenge also brought them recognition in front of the Iberia Parish School Board.

Westgate’s Technology Challenge Team took second in state this spring in the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s third annual “Louisiana Technology Challenge,” earning itself a laser-etched marble trophy and the pride of their parents, school and supporters.

The 2009 Westgate Technology Team consisted of Whitney Lanza, Brittney Nugent, Robin Wells, Ciara Boutte, Nick Dooley, Carrie Xaisongkham, Travis Le-Blanc, Barry Shepherd, Lacey Williamson, Brenda Sengchiam, Courtney Thibodeaux, Davrian Williams, Kaitlin Dooley and Ian Brasseaux.

Students, educators and Iberia Parish School Board members listen as Iberia Parish Schools Superintendent Dale Henderson congratulates the Westgate High School Technology Team on its finish in a virtual technology challenge. Inness Asher / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

Team coach Jean Thomassie hopes to keep as many of the team members together as possible, although several are graduating seniors. “It would be a shame to separate such a great team,” she said. “They’re so talented.”

On Feb. 18, 42 high school teams from around the state logged into ULM’s Technology Challenge Web site, each tasked with performing various technology tasks in the areas of graphic design, spreadsheet and word processing applications, Web site design and Internet-based information searches. Starting at 8 a.m., they were given four hours to complete the challenge.

“We finished at exactly 11:59 a.m.,” said Thomassie. “We cut it close.”

Work on preparing for the event began once the application to participate in the challenge was accepted by ULM. Students of the technology team were chosen from throughout the school’s student body.

“We met after school, or during computer class, whenever we could,” Thomassie said.

“We broke into teams, with each team working toward their strengths. The Web site development students, for example, were ready to go immediately. In other areas we had to update the software we were using to match what we’d be seeing in the competition.”

Competitors from across the state undertook the challenge, so it was the source of great pride when the team learned it had taken second place the day after the event. Thomassie said while everyone was excited, the real excitement hit home a few weeks ago when the trophy finally arrived.

“The trophy’s beautiful, and we were all so excited to see it, to have it here in school for everyone,” Thomassie said. “That’s when they all really realized they’d won.”

Iberia Parish School Board Superintendent Dale Henderson presented the recognition award to the team and talked about the novelty of their challenge.

“It’s called a ‘virtual fieldtrip’,” said Henderson, clearly pleased at the nature of the event. “It’s true what they say, the times they are changing.”