About 13,000 students from across the state were in Rupp Arena yesterday for the state stop competition.

Stop stands for Student Technology Leadership Program.

Our Kelsey Starks was on the scene and has this report.

Right now, thousands of students are in Rupp Arena to show off what they've been learning when it comes to technology in schools all across Kentucky, Pennsylvania.

It isn't every day you see kids this excited about what they're learning, but it's happening in nearly every school across the state.

Stop was sort of launched as a way to demonstrate the effectiveness of getting computers and Internet into all the schools.

And now, 30 years later, it's integral.

It's everything that they do.

It's embedded in it, just like every aspect of learning.

It's a Department of Education program unique to Kentucky.

In fact, other states have tried to model programs like it since it started three decades ago.

A pivotal time for technology and Internet in schools.

We are the pioneer and national leader in most aspects of education technology always looking to get better, And a conference like this helps us get better in a competition like this.

But this is something that Kentuckians should be very proud of.

It includes everything from designing robots to Minecraft graphic designs, creating new music or videos.

That's the technology part.

But leadership is just as important.

Most of these students have identified problems in their school or community and come up with a solution using technology.

One of our problems in our middle school was that too many people were vaping and we had too many reports.

We made a survey that you scan or QR code, and then after you scanned it, it would take you to a Google form and then it would alert others and they would go in and excavate.

It learns that everybody has like strengths and weaknesses.

My strength was being like the leader, but my other friends, they had some.

We're better at technology.

Our project is to help our fresh community.

Our values are such as helping out other kids.

How much many of you disagree with this?

Over $6,000.

It just feels really good because we just like helping out our school community and other schools around us and for us to be helping our school and another school.

It feels pretty good.

The future is bright and Stilp showcases that at Rupp Arena every year a venue fit to celebrate these students accomplishments.

This is the biggest state competition of any time.

Academics, sports clubs.

This is by far the biggest competition that's out there, and I think it's obviously the most meaningful in the medium and long term.

We want our students to be hyper competitive.

We want the Kentucky jobs that are available today.

We want Kentucky kids to fill those jobs.

And when our students come through our public schools, they have the opportunity, the opportunity to do that.

It feels great.

And I think I'm proud of myself and my team here.

We worked hard.

This is a great demonstration of the added value of technology to the learning experience and and for superintendents and principals and parents to see it in committee members.

It's a great demonstration of that of the investment because it's a large investment in it and you want to see it.

It adds value to learning experience.

And I think this demonstrates that it does.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Kelsey Starks.

Thank you, Kelsey.

The competition is open to all students in Kentucky.

Public schools, grades K through 12.