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Engineering Experience: Bellaire Grads’ Video Finalist

By Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Staff writer | July 14, 2015

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Ridge Liu and Jason Weilee (from left), friends from their days at Bellaire High School, teamed up to create this video, which has been selected as a national finalist for the People's Choice Award for the National Academy of Engineering's "Engineering for You 2 Video Contest."

Jason Weilee and Ridge Liu, friends from their days at Bellaire High School, teamed up to enter an engineering video contest and their clip was recently selected as a national finalist. Jason, an incoming sophomore at UT Austin, is interested in computer animation, and Ridge, an incoming sophomore at Rice University, is studying physics. These 2014 Bellaire grads created an animated film set at the “Real E. Old School” with Dr. Seuss-like rhymes, which displays a new way of engaging students with engineering using technology.

Bellaire High School grads Jason Weilee and Ridge Liu teamed up to create this video, which has been selected as a national finalist for the People's Choice Award for the National Academy of Engineering's "Engineering for You 2 Video Contest." Like their video here to vote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5JVQiQjDkk.

“I decided it’d be cool if we could tell a story,” Jason said, “I feel like that’s a good way to engage audiences and get someone interested in watching the video.”

Their video is in the running for the People’s Choice Award of the “Engineering For You 2 Video Contest,” sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering. The video with the most YouTube likes will win. Support these Bellaire alums by liking the video on YouTube or by voting through the site by Aug. 3.

Participants in the The ACE Mentor Program in 2013 (from left): Breann Koep, Raynor Goh, Johnnie Sinclair, Mercedes Wood, Jason Weilee, Ridge Liu, Fadi Wakim.

Jason and Ridge were inspired to enter this contest at the suggestion of their mentor from high school, Breann Koep. During high school, they participated in a program called The ACE Mentor Program for students interested in architecture, construction and engineering and worked with engineers like Breann from Bechtel Corporation, a Houston oil, gas and chemical company. When Breann passed on the contest information to Jason and Ridge, they opted to enter even though it was a last-minute decision.

“It was great to be able to connect with our mentor again and work on something together even though we’re at two different schools,” Jason said.

Watch the video and like it on YouTube by Aug. 3 to vote.