CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is asking West Virginia students to create a virtual state Capitol building using a video game.
Tomblin's science, technology, engineering and math initiative is one of the hosts for the contest in which students will use Minecraft to create a replica of the current Capitol or design a new Capitol. The contest is open to students from pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade.
The state Department of Education said in a news release that it is also involved along with the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts and The Education Alliance.
Tomblin said in the release that it's important to encourage students as they become interested in technology-based pursuits.
More than $6,000 in prizes will be awarded.
Students must register by June 20 at http://wvde.us/minecraftcontest . Entries are due by July 31.