The REACH Web site Oxford Hills Technical School design team, from left, was comprised of Stephanie Grover, computer electronics teacher, and students Dereck Tuttle, Alishia Thurston and Travis Noble.

REACH, school join to design Web site

PARIS – The Rape Education and Crisis Hotline Web site has a new design and updated information.

Due to financial constraints, REACH staff contacted the Oxford Hills Technical School to see if the computer class might be interested in taking on the project. Stephanie Grover, computer electronics teacher, said yes.

Grover said she hoped to provide a community service opportunity for the students and give them a real world Web design experience. and in return Grover’s and students’ computer skills would be an in-kind contribution to REACH.

Grover said the project was a positive learning experience for the students. Travis Noble was responsible for coding and layout. Dereck Tuttle managed where information would go on the site and navigational tools.

For the project to be a success, Travis and Dereck needed to learn to work together as a team. Alishia Thurston was also part of the team and worked on creating the links page and making edits to the site.

The Web site features information on what to do in the event of a sexual assault, client services, education, resource links, writings by survivors and news and events.

Grover said there were other unexpected positive outcomes. Because it was a real world project, the students felt a sense of accomplishment. Tuttle and Noble commented that it was their way to give back, that they knew people who had been abused.

Tuttle and Noble, both seniors, will attend Central Maine Community College in the fall and will major in computer technology. Noble’s senior presentation included his work on the REACH project, and he is planning to do more Web development because of the experience. Thurston is a sophomore.

For more information about the programs and services offered through REACH, call 743-9777; 24-hour support line, 1-800-871-7741; or www.reachmaine.org. Services are free and confidential.