Twenty-nine middle school students from Raul Yzaguirre School for Success [RYSS] traveled to T.H. Rogers School to mentor their photography/art students [9-12] in the use of graphics software to create digital art.

The RYSS students learned how to use the software from Tom R. Chambers, Technology Applications teacher. They used the software during the first semester of this school year to make digital art for a project based on Grade 8 TEKS/TAKS Social Studies; and they used it last school year to make digital art for a project based on Grade 7 TEKS/TAKS Science. The digital art creations of Chambers' students were on display [slide show] at the 5th Annual Carnival of e-Creativity and Change-agents Conclave in the new Himalayan Indian state of Uttarakhand, India, February, 2010; and their work will be displayed [slide show] again at the 6th Annual Carnival of e-Creativity and Change-agents Conclave in the new Himalayan Indian state of Uttarakhand, India, February, 2011.

Chambers takes student engagement and empowerment so seriously that most of what is learned and produced transcends the classroom and school system to have community and international impact. As a result, his students are motivated to do more, and in this case, they became mentors for students at another school.

This mentorship process involved an intensive session of learning/practicing, and project application to make digital art. The RYSS eighth grade students succeeded in not only keeping the attention of the T.H. Rogers students, but also making them comfortable with the software and producing gratifying results. The two groups were so engaged throughout the day that the teachers present during the process seemed secondary. The RYSS students had successfully gained a skill, and were empowered to convey what they knew to others.

This mentorship project between RYSS and T.H. Rogers School is the second student workshop. The first one was held last school year at Crespo Fine Arts Academy.

Photographs and a movie follow to indicate the degree of activity and working relationship between the RYSS and T.H. Rogers students: