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For the fifth year, middle school technology teacher Heather Janik brought students from Mancelona to the technology showcase in the capitol building.

This year, the two students selected, Danielle Runstrom and Meagan Musall, presented public service announcements they made with their classmates in the 2006-2007 school year.

The announcements were in video form and covered varying topics they thought important, like the environment, mentoring, underage drinking and smoking, bullying and gangs, drugs, healthy living and more.

Mancelona was one of 50 participating schools in Michigan, ranging from elementary to high school-aged students displaying projects. "I think it's a neat experience for kids," Janik said. "A lot of kids in this area don't get to do that kind of thing. It's something they normally wouldn't see."

The students stand at a table with their projects and present them to anybody who comes by. Though the legislators were busy trying to control the budget last week, a few managed to stop and listen. State representative of the 105th District, Kevin Elsenheimer, came by briefly to see the project. Though Sen. Jason Allen did not make it, in the past he has not only met the students from Mancelona, but he has taken them on a tour of the Senate floor.

Janik put together a powerpoint presentation with all the videos, and it was running while the students talked to people, so examples were on constantly on screen.

Teachers from other schools and students also came by the tables to learn about projects.

Janik said the students were surprised to see so many people dressed up in suits. But Janik believes exposure to that kind of environment can be beneficial to the students.

"It's all about the experience," she said. "To interact with that kind of person is different than just interacting with your teacher every day Ð it gives them other types of encounters with adults."

Every year, Mancelona Middle School brings different projects to the showcase students always present projects completed the previous year. Last year, Janik led students through the process of making the public services announcements.

The students wrote the scripts, filmed videos and edited them using Movie Maker. They were uploaded to YouTube as to not overload the school servers. Toward the end of the project they had an academic night where they premiered their movies, popcorn and all.

The following year, Janik picks two interested students to present some of the projects in Lansing. She said she chooses students with a strong interest in technology who haven't had the chance to experience something similar.

"Every time, afterwards, the kids realize they do learn from it," Janik said.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.