CTEP Awards Computers to 14 Local HS Scholars

December 28, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - Fourteen Putnam County high school students are the beneficiaries of a partnership involving DePauw University's Community Technology Enhancement Program (CTEP). 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, and has provided 350 machines to date. The high school students completed a five-week computer workshop earlier this month and received refurbished computers. (photo, l-r: Eric Wolfe, 4Community coordinator; Roberta Allen, 21st Century Scholars coordinator; CTEP associates Shannon Norman, Greencastle City Planner; Nathan Day, Brian Winstead, Emmanuel Greene, Ashley Schilling; and Nate Romance, associate director of ITAP)

The 21st Century Scholars Program selected freshmen from each of the four Putnam County high schools to participate in the program. The workshop series and the refurbished computers were presented by CTEP's staff. The workshop series covered such topics as hardware basics, file management, word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, and Internet security. DePauw students involved in the project were Nathan Day '07, Emmanuel Greene '08, Ashley Schilling '06, and Brian Winstead '06.

"The great thing about CTEP is that it is student-run and student-driven," says Dennis Trinkle, associate vice president for academic affairs and chief information officer at DePauw. "It is DePauw students who recognize the importance of being engaged in the community," adds Dr. Trinkle, a 1991 graduate of the University.

The partnership was made possible by a $1,000 Partners for Youth grant from the TechPoint Foundation which was awarded in May to DePauw University and 4Community, an initiative of the United Way of Putnam County. The partnership merged the efforts of three local programs devoted to improving education in Putnam County: 4Community, CTEP, and 21st Century Scholars. Eric Wolfe, coordinator of 4Community and a 2004 DePauw graduate, brought CTEP into the process. "Part of what we do is convene groups," notes Wolfe. "So we are looking at folks who have not worked together before in the community and then put them together in a partnership."

"The Twenty-first Century Scholar Program is committed to providing the support needed to make our scholars successful in high school and college," says Roberta Allen, 21st Century Scholars coordinator. "Two crucial components for academic success are mastering technological skills and having access to the technology. The workshop sessions and the award of a computer satisfied both of those elements for our freshmen 21st Century Scholars starting their high school careers."

"The 21st Century Scholars Program has the great mission of trying to help more students see their potential to attend college," adds Dr. Trinkle. "CTEP wants to reach out to members of the community and help them not be at a disadvantage because they don't have exposure to technology. The two working together can give students the technology preparation."

Learn more about CTEP by clicking here.

Visit the 21st Century Scholars online here, and 4Community here.

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