Web Design Competition

Student designs MPP’s website

By: Craig MacBride – June 16, 2007

A Loyola Catholic Secondary School student took home top marks yesterday for creating a new website for Harinder Takhar, Mississauga Centre MPP and minister of small business and entrepreneurship. Yuriy Dyrenko, a Grade 9 student at Loyola, created the minister’s new site after Takhar challenged area students to do so in May.

Five teams from three schools took part, but it was Dyrenko’s site that was chosen by a jury of internet professionals.
“It’s something I do as a hobby, and I thought I’d take part because it’s a good opportunity to show your skills in the real world,” said Dyrenko after finding out he had won. The judges commended the usability of Dyrenko’s design, and also the originality. “I’m just amazed,” said judge Julie Sheldon, who is a website designer at Brightworks Interactive marketing. “Seeing them use Flash, and the way they’re tying in their elements, it’s stuff I’m seeing now in the industry.”

Two teams that took part came from Loyola, two from John Fraser Secondary School, and one from Erindale Secondary School. Takhar was pleased with what he saw from the students, saying he hopes to take a little from each design.
“I wanted to give the students a chance to showcase their talents, and a chance to meet with the experts,” said Takhar. “At thesame time, I needed a product.”

With some tinkering, Dyrenko’s website will become Takhar’s new site in the future.

To see Yuriy Dyrenko’s portfolio, visit iamyuriy.com.