Silver Creek student wins iPad in Longmont’s Google-wooing video contest

It was that slightly edgy feel to the video that Payton Peterson believes won him the coveted contest prize, a new Apple iPad.

Vincent Jordan, president and CEO of RidgeviewTel, left, applauds the winner of the Google video contest, Payton Peterson, at the Longmont City Council meeting Tuesday night. Nissa Lapoint photo

“I was surprised,” said 15-year-old Peterson. “We decided whoever wins will share (the iPad) anyways.”

The Silver Creek High School received the prize after Longmont City Council announced him as the winner of the best Google contest video Tuesday night. The council launched the contest as part of its effort to persuade the Internet giant to build an ultra-high-speed broadband network in Longmont. Under the sponsorship of RidgeviewTel,  a Longmont company that provides wireless service to the city, students from the St. Vrain Valley School District were asked to create videos touting Longmont.

Peterson’s video showcased important areas and businesses around Longmont to the sound of “High Roller” by Crystal Method. Each video clip began by spelling out a letter of Longmont and listing a reason why the city would be a prime location for Google.

Google started its own contest to find the quickest and easiest location to build the network, which promises to deliver Internet speeds 100 times faster than what most Americans have today, according to the city.

Longmont leaders say the city is a perfect location because the city owns its electric utility, has an existing fiber-optic ring and is home is several telecommunications companies.

Peterson competed against Scott Hardy, Aria Bragalone, Paul Schow and Joseph Valencia, all of whom received an iPod nano.

Vincent Jordan, president and CEO of RidgeviewTel, presented the prizes Tuesday night and said it was “extremely difficult to choose a winner.”