Media journalism teacher Howard Ruffner just found out that he is one of the 1,300 winners across the United States who has won the $2,500 Best Buy teaching award, an award that gives money to schools that use technology to help students learn.

“I applied for the award because it looked like a good opportunity,” said Ruffner. “This is an excellent opportunity for teachers, anyone should apply.”

Ruffner will use the money from the award to buy new technology from Best Buy. Among his purchases will be 12 digital cameras

“Our students use cameras for their school newspapers, magazine, Web site and yearbook,” Ruffner said. “They also use cameras for individual projects.”

Media Academy students expressed their excitement about receiving the award.

“It is really cool that our school won something and now we can get new stuff and we don’t have to be using the old stuff,” said Media sophomore DJ Napier.

The supplies purchased will also be used for a project in which Ruffner’s ninth grade students will work in groups to discover the diversity in the class and in their own backgrounds.

Their work will be published in a full-colored 13x19 page. Students will share something from his or her culture. The final products will be posted in their classroom.

Media freshman Sara Chavez said she felt happy about the equipment that Media will receive "because we are going to get new stuff; the old stuff is alright, but we should get better."

Media Principal Benjamin Schmookler was also very enthusiastic about the award.

“It’s great because we’re able to buy new cameras for the Media classes,” Schmookler said.

Ruffner also has had success with his own photography. The former professional photographer earned first place in a competition sponsored by the Sierra Club, an environmental club that protects the earth.

He won first prize for a photo that he took of Ocean Beach and was runner up for a photo that he took of a fern leaf.

These photos will soon be displayed in a gallery close to Walnut Creek.