Here at Best Buy, we’re all about providing our customers with the tools they need to keep on growing, helping them pursue their passions and enrich their lives with the help of technology. But we also recognize that in addition to the right tools, we also need the right people in our lives to guide us, teach us, and help us reach that next level in our development.
For Back to School this year, we want to celebrate those people, those teachers who faced a year of unexpected challenges and adapted to them, arming themselves with the right tech to keep teaching so that we can all keep learning.
To do so, we partnered with two prominent content creators: multidisciplinary designer Will Selviz and visual storyteller Tyler Stalman. Check out the videos below to see how we helped each of them reconnect with an influential mentor, while giving them tech and tools to fully show their appreciation to people who’ve made a huge impact in their lives.
Will Selviz, Multi-Dimensional Designer from Toronto, thanks an influential mentor who helped with his career development and discusses the value of paying it forward as a mentor himself.
Will was a co-facilitator for a program led by Jessica Yamoah, Founder and CEO of INNOVATE INC. The program gives youth access to professionals and corporate settings to raise awareness about career paths in business, innovation, and technology. Karl was one of the youth who participated in the program, and as a result Will mentors him today. Will’s organization: RENRD FOUNDATION is focused on digital design. They collaborate with Jessica, other industry leaders, and organizations who support their work to provide mentorship, direct access to industry standard equipment, and culturally diverse programming.
In the video, Will discusses how creating 3-D animations and other 3-D work requires special equipment and he knows he can count on Best Buy to have the technology he needs, like many Microsoft technologies he showed in the video including the Microsoft Surface Pro.
Tyler Stalman from Calgary thanks the high school teacher who encouraged his creativity and interest in video production
Tyler showed several devices that are ideal for anyone learning or teaching video production. These include the ideal vlogging companion, a Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 Digital Camera; the compact and light Deity D4 DUO Microphone for crystal clear audio indoors and outdoors; a Manfrotto Beefree Live Aluminum tripod and Zhiyun Weebill-S gimbal stabilizer, two products essential for high resolutions still and smooth and steady video footage; and to store the footage and enable fast data transfer to a computer for processing, a Lexar Professional 128GB memory card.
Who inspired you to learn
Having the right tech while learning is very important; but we also need to meet wonderful teachers and mentors along our educational journey. We all have a story to tell of one or more teachers who elevated our learning or inspired us. I can think of several in my life, and I also have one teacher from when my children were in school: their grade 3 teacher, Mr. Bonenfant, inspired me to be a better parent with his amazing teaching style and patience. Let us know about the tech you think is essential for learning and who inspired you. Enter below and nominate one teacher or mentor for a chance for you or the person you nominate to win a $750 Best Buy gift certificate.
How to enter
Entering this contest is easy and you can enter once for yourself and once for someone you know:
- Leave a comment below this article and tell us the first name of a mentor who helped you learn and what tech available at Best Buy do you consider to be essential for students going back to school
- Send an email to “bestbuyblog@bestbuycanada.ca“ AND CC a teacher or mentor so they are aware that you entered them in this contest. In the subject line put: “What tech will help you achieve contest” and in the body of the email tell us which teacher or mentor you are nominating to win this contest and why.
NOTE: do not put your teacher or mentor’s last name or personal email in the comments below; they should only be mentioned in the email.
What you can win
At the end of this contest we will randomly select one winner from all comments left on the blog article for this contest (French and English) AND randomly select two winners from all nominations sent via email so the person nominated can win the prize. Each winner will receive a Best Buy Canada Gift Certificate worth $750.
This contest runs from August 30th until September 30th.
Remember you can enter once for yourself in a blog comment AND once for a teacher or mentor who inspired you in an email as mentioned above.
What will tech help us achieve Contest Rules and Regulations
Good Luck
Table of Contents
My mentor for tech is my grandson, Owen. A laptop computer is essential at school.
My dad was my mentor for sure and taught me my most valuable life lessons and skills. I’m sure any student wouldn’t survive without the latest high tech laptop
My first bookkeeping teacher, Vicky, was instrumental in helping me learn to love accounting. As education has changed dramatically from in-person to online I think that the Epson EcoTank ET-2760 Wireless All-In-One Supertank Inkjet Printer
Model Number: C11CG22203 would be essential for students returning to school.
My photography teacher was my first mentor who helped me to learn photography. And the Apple MacBook Air is essential for students going back to school for learning.
My mentor’s name was Nathan and I think Canon PIXMA TR7620 Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer is necessary for back to school!
My figure skating coach was a huge mentor for me. Going back to school, every student should have an iPad.
My UoG professor Bernie was an amazing teacher. I wish I had a laptop to take notes in his class and every student should have one.
My mentor was Andrea.
I consider laptops to be essential for students going back to school.
My mentor was Mary. I think laptops are essential for students going back to school.
My good friend Sylvain is my mentor and a good computer is essential for everyone.
My mentor is my mentor and a laptop is the most essential.
Awesome contest! My Drama teacher Pat inspired me to become a drama teacher and I’m currently living the dream. It’s been a tough year, but in my opinion, Bluetooth speakers are essential for practicing musical theatre shows in drama class. If I win, I’ll buy a few for my school! Thanks for the chance!
My grade 10 teacher. Laptops are essential.
My mentor’s name is Tamara: laptops are essential for students going back to school
My mentor was Don and he thought me all about computers in the 80’s. I think a new laptop is a must for students nowadays.
My Boss was my mentor, and I think that a good laptop is essential for school.
Where I taught my Mom all about VCR’s and DVD’s, my son Michael is now teaching me about apps and how to get those @#$^$$$ receipts into frame so you can see them because there are many evil promotional contests that want a picture of your receipt uploaded instead of just talking about essential tech like upgraded laptops to handle the courses at university.
Michael is my mentor and you need a laptop that has a webcam along with a good quality mic for online classes.
The first thing after seeing this contest the first one got in my mind was my best friend shaibazudhin who taught me every inch of the system before I had it on my hands. Coming from the basics and the latest technological terms. In my view, is one the best champs.
My mother was my mentor. A good quality laptop is essential for school.
My mom and my dad were my greatest mentors. A new laptop would be very helpful for them.
My step father was my mentor when it comes to tech, he is a genius. A laptop is a must these days.
My high school English teacher. Students today need a good laptop.
My mentor Larry. Gotta have a laptop!
A great all round mentor is Tim. Back to school these days always needs a laptop.
great mentor was Evan from the college
replacement for old laptop which is slowing down….quickly…..
Both my Mom and my Dad were my greatest mentors and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. A good laptop is certainly essential for todays students.
Every kid needs a Chromebook or an ipad just because. They allow kids to access tons of apps and they can access books online to read and listen to reading
My grade 5 teacher. I still remember her compassionate support. I never had another teacher like her.
All students needs good tech! Not only to do homework, but to enable home schooling if that happens again. My son and I struggled in 2019 and 2020 with his horrible tech. He needs a good computer like https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/acer-nitro-5-15-6-gaming-laptop-black-intel-core-i5-10300h-512gb-ssd-12gb-ram-nvidia-gtx-1650/15322836?icmp=Recos_3across_tp_sllng_prdcts&referrer=PLP_Reco.
My dad was my mentor, and I think that good laptops are essential for school.
My dad was my mentor, and I think that a good laptop is essential for school.
My high school math teacher Ian was my most influential mentor. He’s the reason I’m an engineer today. I think a laptop is the most essential tool any student can have for college or university.
My dad is my mentor. He has taught me so much. I have no idea what I would do without him.
I think a laptop for sure is essential for any student.
My mother is my mentor, she’s done so much to show me how to work hard and persevere even when times get tough.
I think a laptop is essential for back to school.
My mentor has passed many years ago, but her name was Anne P. and she taught me a lot about editing my novel and cheered me on as I pursued getting published. For me a laptop is essential tech.
Editor’s note: Surname is replaced with an initial.
My parents, you need a tablet for back to school!
My high-school teacher mr.turner was important. A tablet is necessary for students.
My dad was my mentor, and I think that a good laptop is essential for school.
Theresa is my aunt and mentor extraordinaire who helped me with accounting classes after long days of being a Vice Principal at a Toronto High School. A laptop and mouse are essential for learning.
My mentor is Rinpoche, and essential tech for learning would be a good laptop. Thanks for the contest!
Mr kavadas aka k-vad first name spiros
I think an Ipad Pro is very important for school
my 98 year old grandmother is my mentor, she is incredible and has been through so much and has taught me so much. Lenovo Legion 7i Laptop or any other laptop from bestbuy is essential for any student. a quick reliable laptop.
My parents have been my greatest mentor, wow! I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Youth really need a quality laptop/tablet for back to school!
matthew pedlar is an inspiration and a SkyTech Chronos Gaming PC (AMD Ryzen 7 3700X/1TB SSD/16GB RAM/GeForce RTX 3070) – English is essential
matthew pedlar is an inspiration and my computer is essential
My mentor is my father who overcame so many obstacles in his life and was still a positive person. I remember he would thank God every single day for what he did have, rather than dwell on or ask for what he didn’t have. I think the Micro Surface Pro or Chromebook would be great for the kids return to school!!
My grandpa was my first mentor that taught me photography! And I think the Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ w/ Touch ID is perfect for students.
Mentor-Atha … Students need a reliable laptop.
My hubby and I would love a laptop that works properly.
My teacher’s first name was Ken – and I suggest the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4″ Touchscreen Laptop for back to school
My mentor is my husband Dan who is also a mentor, teacher and problem fixer for his many clients. An essential tool for students would be a laptop like the HP 15.6″ one available at Best Buy.
Comments are closed.