Gift of 150 Computers Will Soon Be Distributed to Local Community Via DePauw's CTEP

July 25, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - A DePauw-administered program that has enriched the lives of hundreds of Putnam County residents will soon be touching many more people. DePauw University's Community Technology Enhancement Program (CTEP) has just received a donation of 150 computers from Plainfield Community Middle School. As one of DePauw’s 361° technology initiatives, CTEP collects used computers from the university, local schools, and the community to be refurbished and donated to low-income families and nonprofit organizations. (photo shows, l-r: Nancy Burns (Plainfield MS), Robbie White Bonner Scholar ’07, Nathan Day (CTEP Associate ’07), Brian Winstead (CTEP Associate ’06), Dan Price (Bonner Scholar ’06), Anne Burns (Plainfield MS)

To date, CTEP has donated approximately 340 computers. The 150 computer contribution from Plainfield Community Middle School is among the largest donations in CTEP’s four-year history and has nearly doubled the program’s inventory. "Plainfield has been a great supporter of CTEP," says Bob Hershberger, associate professor of modern languages and film studies at DePauw and coordinator of CTEP. "Large donations such as this from area schools have been crucial to fulfilling CTEP’s mission."

The Plainfield donation consists of Pentium III and Pentium 4 computers, which Dr. Hershberger says, are the highest-quality machines received to date. This is the second donation from the Plainfield Community School Corporation, which provided CTEP with 85 computers in June 2004. The recipients of those machines included the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School -- an Indianapolis-based charter school; and the newly established Family, Youth & Community Development Center in Greencastle.

In late June, CTEP completed relocation to its new facility in the basement of the Julian Mathematics and Science Center. Julian 013 will serve as CTEP’s primary location for storage and technical operations. The program will also be setting up a small office in the basement of the Family, Youth & Community Development Center at 605 Crown Street. This office will serve as CTEP’s primary community interface and allow the DePauw organization to collaborate on computer workshops with the community center.

In May, CTEP, in partnership with 4Community, an initiative of the United Way of Putnam County, received a Partners for Youth grant from the TechPoint Foundation. The grant will fund a program to promote enrollment in 21st Century Scholars while providing computer access and training to sixteen students each semester.

Learn more about CTEP by calling (765) 658-5920 or clicking here.

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