Rural NKY school gets high tech bonanza

MORNING VIEW, Ky. - It's was like an early Christmas at Piner Elementary School, as dozens of laptop computers and other high tech gear were unveiled to the students Tuesday.

"It's approximately $45,000 worth of technology," says the school's principal, Christi Jefferds.

That sort of windfall doesn't happen very often.

"Our budget's not really very big," she says.

But thanks to a national contest and a very persistent secretary, this tiny school of 350 students in rural Kenton County is now running with the big dogs.

"Its gives them the same opportunities that students in a more metropolitan environment have," Jefferds says.

School secretary Trina Mardis entered the 'Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes,' put on by CDW-G and Discovery Education, the folks behind the Discovery Channel.

"I just entered every day," says Mardis. 

Every day for several months. Even on weekends.

That tenacity beat out over 600,000 other contestants across the country.

"We were just ecstatic," Mardis says.

The prize: Lenovo Thinkpads, Qwizdom student response system, an AverMedia document camera, a Sony Handycam, $5,000 in Discovery Education professional development and on site training to figure it all out.

The students, even the third graders, are psyched.

"You can learn more stuff," says 8-year-old Olivia Miller, "and get better information."

"I think it's going to make a lot more people like going to school," says 9-year-old Daniel Fagan.

And that's all the thanks Trina Mardis could hope for.

"I love it here," she says. "I went to school, here. My kids went to school here... It's just a cool place."