Computer Clubs

Our Activities

Provide after school training in computer science skills using a variety of tools such as Flash, Alice, AppInventor, SketchUp, C++, HTML, Java, Scratch, and Python.

Conduct intra-school and intra-district computer science competitions.

Sponsor teams for state, national, and international computer science competitions.

Promote Stratford computer classes to Stratford students and middle-school students.

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2012-2013 Remaining Activities

Android App Programming Camp: A week-long, after-school Programming Camp is planned for April 29-May 3. Students will create apps for Android powered phones and tablets using the Android App Inventor provided by the MIT Center for Mobile Learning.

Summer Camps: For current 7th graders. Scheduled for 7/15-7/18 and 7/22-7/25. More information to follow.

2013-2014

Exploring Computer Science Camps: Two week-long, after-school camps are planned for 8th graders.

3D Graphics Camp: A week-long, after-school camp to continue creating and uploading into Google Earth 3D models of campus buildings.

CyberPatriot Competition: Cyber Knights plans to compete in the sixth CyberPatriot competition sponsored by the Air Force Association.

Android App Programming Camp: A week-long, after-school camp where students will create apps for Android powered phones and tablets using the Android App Inventor provided by the MIT Center for Mobile Learning.

Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition: Cyber Knights will again field a team in the PCDC competition.

Guest Speakers: Several guest speakers are planned to talk about computer careers, especially for women and minorities.

First Ever Stratford High School Computer Science Fair: This is probably our biggest project so far. Plans are currently being made and more information will be provided at a later date.

Our Meetings

Cyber Knights - Tuesdays, 3:35-4:30, Room 327

Our Faculty Sponsor

Mr. Eason, Room 327, Email

Our History

A co-ed Cyber Knights was formed by Alex Nico and William Stanley in January 2009. Araceli Cruz was president during the 2010-2011 school year. For 2011-2012, we had a separate girls' computer club called Digital Damsels lead by Nicholette Alonge and Zoe Hofmann. In September 2012, we returned to the co-ed club structure with co-presidents Brandon Bullock and Camille Dickerson, and vice president Max Stemstrom.

2012-2013

Robotics Camp (girls only): Twenty middle school and high school girls worked in teams to construct and program LEGO® MINDSTORM® robots.

Middle School Computer Science Camps - A total of thirty-five 8th graders attended one of two week-long, after-school camps where they created web pages using HTML, a 3D model of a campus building using Trimble's SketchUp (that was successfully uploaded into Google Earth), and an interactive, 3D, flying game. The free software we used in the camps and other interesting links can be accessed at Computer Science Camp Links.

3D Graphics Camp - Held December 3-7. Four new 3D models of campus buildings are now visible in Google Earth. They are the triangular-shaped carpentry building, the triangular-shaped maintenance building by the bus parking lot, the main football concession stand, and the small concession stand at the north end of the home football bleachers.

Flash Animation Competition - More than forty competitors participated in this year's annual competition. The eleven best entries were recognized at the Cyber Knights meeting on November 27 (see photos). Like last year, it was tough to separate the podium finishers from the Honorable mentions, as well as the Honorable Mentions from several other submissions. The judging criteria covered many factors, including Flash proficiency, creativity, and a popular vote. You may also review all of the submissions and the Entry Requirements.

USCyberPatriot Competition - Five students investigated this competition and Lockheed Martin offered to pay our $375 registration fee. We ultimately decided to pass on this opportunity this year, but we hope to compete next year. If you are interested in participating, please see Mr. Eason for more information and check out the information at www.uscyberpatriot.org.

AppAthonContest - Three Cyber Knights (senior Tony Simmons and 9th graders Benjamin Henderson and Christian Morse) participated in the first ever AppAthonContest sponsored by USC College of Engineering and Computing and IT-oLogy. Tony, Benjamin, and Christian met with Mr. E everyday after school for more than two weeks to create their Android-based applications. Although they didn't win this year, they created the best applications out of more than 1,600 Stratford students that didn't participate.

Business Card Design Competition - Mr. Eason’s Integrated Business Applications 1 class participated in a competition sponsored by the Cyber Knights computer club and Ms. Isabella Peréz (former Stratford teacher and owner of Isabella, a new, online, fashion boutique).

The students were asked by Ms. Peréz to design a business card for the online store she recently started. The twenty-seven students created fifty-nine different business cards. Ms. Peréz reviewed their designs and selected her two favorites. One card was created by Katherine Brant and the other was created by Caroline Price. The two winners each received a certificate, a thank you card from Ms. Peréz, and $15 in prize money provided by Ms. Peréz.

2011-2012

SPAWAR Speakers - On Monday, May 21, SPAWAR employees Dale Messer and John Judd made two presentations at Stratford. The first was during Mr. Eason's 7th period class Foundations of Animation. The second presentation was immediately after school and was open to any interested student or teacher. The topic was Cyber Security and it included white-hat computer hacking, computer forensics, and related topics. SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command) is located in North Charleston and those guys get to play with the very latest computer and communications technology. It was an interesting and exciting presentation.

3D Graphics Camp - Stratford's first ever 3D Graphics Camp was May 7-11. Ten students participated and learned to use SketchUp. Two maintenance buildings at the baseball field and the football stadium ticket booth were completed and accepted into Google Earth. These three buildings join three models already live in Google Earth and Google Maps (baseball 3rd base (home) dugout, the electronic sign, and the flag pole).

Google Speaker - On April 3, Googler Neal Menkus visited Stratford to discuss computer science careers. He spoke to Mr. Eason's animation class during 7th period and then to the computer clubs after school. Mr. Menkus described the benefits of studying computer science regardless of your career path and how computer technology is affecting a variety of careers.

Flash Animation Competition - Digital Damsels and Stratford student Tykeem Green sponsored an intra-school Flash animation competition. More than forty students participated in this year's competition, only the second one ever held at Stratford High School. Tykeem's generous donation provided very nice trophies and his sponsorship was indicated on each trophy. Thank you, Tykeem. It was really tough to separate the Honorable Mentions from the podium finishers, as well as the Honorable Mentions from several other submissions. The judging criteria covered many factors, including Flash proficiency, creativity, and a popular vote. You may review the top ten, all of the submissions, and the Entry Requirements.

Campus in 3D Project - To kickoff the Stratford Campus in 3D project, Mr. Eason created and uploaded two models into Google Earth and Google Maps, the school's electronic sign and the flag pole. Club members Robert Bailey, Zoe Hofmann, Eric Robles, and Trey Turbeville then completed the baseball 3rd base dugout. Several other buildings are under development in SketchUp.

Robotics Camps - Stratford's first Robotics Camp was held in fall 2011. There were two camps, each one week long. The Digital Damsels Robotic Camp was held October 3-7 and the Cyber Knights Robotic Camp was held October 17-20 and 24. We used LEGO® MINDSTORM® robots borrowed from the SC Department of Education and we made the local newspaper (see "Robots attract a female following at Stratford").

2010-2011

Build-a-PC Competition - Trey Turbeville won the Cyber Knights sponsored Build-a-PC competition. The runner-up was Tyre Young. The competition began with eight competitors and took place over three days. For more information, see the Full Competition Results.

ThinkQuest Competition - Cyber Knights sponsored five teams in the ThinkQuest Competition held by the Oracle Education Foundation. Zoe Hofmann and Camille Buckner created It Hurts to be Bullied, a public service announcement about bullying in high school. Kristen Oliver and Autumn Shavalier created Sea Turtle Tipster, a web site about endangered sea turtles. Harold Bazzel, Michael Hutcheson, and Michael Lampkin created Buddies Not Bullies, a web site about bullying. Pierce Watson designed a database for Disaster Relief Efforts in the aftermath of tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, etc. Tre Addison, Araceli Cruz, and James Parnell created a web site called Endangered Species. You may view the 2011 Winners at ThinkQuest.

2009-2010

Flash Animation Competition - Cyber Knights sponsored an intra-school Flash animation competition and twelve students participated. Araceli Cruz created the winning advertisement. Brandon Bullock, Konner Smith, and Jonathan Spivey received honorable mentions.

2008-2009

ThinkQuest Competition - Cyber Knights sponsored two teams in the ThinkQuest Competition held by the Oracle Education Foundation. Ryan Geary, Michael Poston, and Carlissa Pugh submitted Classical Times, a web site about the history of classical music. Priscilla Banda, Araceli Cruz, Jeremy Ratcliffe, and Konner Smith submitted Cyber Crime, a web site that provides extensive explanations of what is meant by the computer terms: viruses, trojans, worms, spam, black hat crackers, gray hat hackers, and white hat hackers. You may view the 2009 Winning Sites at ThinkQuest.