Scottsdale Community College and Local Organizations Join Together to Bring

Computer Technology to Underserved Youth

~ KidComputers makes a difference in the community:  Partnership between SCC, RedSeven Computer Company, and Scottsdale Rotary make technology available to kids in need ~

Scottsdale, AZ (September 21, 2007) ? Dirk Mathis plans to become a structural engineer and Nader Sabra would like to go into network security, yet both students in the Computer Information Systems program at SCC spend at least two afternoons a week rebuilding old computers that will be delivered to underserved kids and their families. 

Dirk and Nader, students in SCC?s Special Projects class, officially known as the Advanced PC Architecture and Diagnostics class, know where their refurbished computers are going.  ?This one?s going to the Boys & Girls Club,? explains Dirk as he points to the partly-assembled CPU sitting on his workstation.  Dirk, Nader, and their classmates know that when they rebuild computers for the KidComputers program they will be providing a whole new world of opportunities to the kids, and that makes them feel good.   

The Scottsdale Rotary began donating used computers to SCC for repair and recycling in 2003 to support the students at Supai Middle School.  By 2004, the program had expanded to benefit members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in addition to the Supai children.  It had branched out to include merchants in the community who serve as drop-off points for donated computers, and was officially named KidComputers. 

The program, which now has two sources for used computers ? RedSeven Computer Company of Tempe and Scottsdale Rotary, and two beneficiaries ? the Boys & Girls Club and Supai Middle School, supports neighborhoods and protects the environment by recycling and refurbishing used computer technology.  RedSeven, one of the founders of the KidComputers program, has since developed a network of local merchants that serve as drop-off points for the used computers, and the merchants even provide incentives to people who drop off computers at their stores.

?Everyone wins with this program, said Ron Monroig, SCC Computer Information Systems faculty, and one of the founders of KidComputers.

Wayne Nogajewski runs the Special Projects class at SCC where the computers are refurbished by students like Dirk and Nader.  ?Last semester we refurbished more than 100 computers,? said Nogajewski.  ?We were able to provide a large number of computers to the kids in our community?

?I can?t say enough about what a wonderful gift this has been for our students, said Dan Cooper, Principal of Supai Middle School in Scottsdale.  ?Students who are awarded one of these wonderful refurbished computers can use it for school work, and at the same time become familiar with the applications that are valuable in the workplace and home.  Families that normally could not afford this now ?necessary luxury? are able to give their children an edge.?

So far this semester, which started August 18, over 32 used computers were donated to SCC?s Special Projects class by the Scottsdale Rotary, and over 75 computers were donated by RedSeven. 

Some of the donated computers are in relatively good shape, while others have a greater need for repair--which provides students in the Special Projects class with the challenge of applying what they have learned to making the old technology useful.  ?This class gives our students the opportunity for practical application, in addition to their classroom education,? said Monroig.  ?With the hands-on experience they receive in this program, our students have an edge when applying for jobs after graduation.? 

Before they?re done, the students will refurbish, repair, and clean the computers, install antivirus and other computing software, and package them up for delivery.  ?We make sure everything is working,? said Nogajewski.  ?We make sure that we?ve included a mouse, speakers, keyboard, monitors, and whatever we have to give to make a complete system for the kids.?

As for Dirk and Nader, doing well in school continues to be a priority.  Yet a few hours each week, their Special Projects class provides them with the reassurance that they are not only sharpening their own skills to provide for their future, but providing opportunities and making a difference in the lives of many Valley kids.

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About Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College offers over 1,500 academic and non-credit classes each semester. Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the campus is known for its serene atmosphere and beautiful plant and wildlife. With nearly 12,000 students, Scottsdale Community College is proud to offer high-quality, affordable programs in small class settings. From Motion Picture/Television Production and Culinary Arts to Nursing and American Indian Studies, students have a wide variety of programs from which to earn credits for university transfer, launch their careers, train for new ones, or pursue a special interest. The SCC Business Institute offers customized programs to meet the needs of local business. Scottsdale Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.

To learn about the many academic programs at Scottsdale Community College, call us at (480) 423-6000 or visit our website at www.scottsdalecc.edu.

Media contact:
Denise Kronsteiner
(480) 423-6567
denise.kronsteiner@sccmail.maricopa.edu

Computer Information Systems contact:

Ron Monroig

(480) 423-6696

ron.monroig@sccmail.maricopa.edu

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