Five New Mexico High Schools Receive
Computers for Kids Grant

(Santa Fe, NM)— The New Mexico Information Technology & Software Association (NMITSA), Workforce Education Alliance (WEA) and Technology Integration Group (TIG), have announced the winners of grants in the 2004 Computers for Kids program.

The Computers for Kids Program was initiated by the Technology Integration Group, which provided the raw components and system software for 40 PCs. The program requires that the systems be placed in New Mexico public secondary schools. VanDyke Software, Inc. and Apogen Technologies are contributing funds this year to equip the new PCs with licenses for the Microsoft Office Suite.

New Mexico Public Education Department distributed the applications for this grant statewide last spring. More than twenty proposals from public high school teachers around the state were received. In order to be selected for a grant, applicants needed to demonstrate an innovative application of technology in the classroom that would not be possible without the award. Grants requesting between 5 and 20 computers were considered.

Secretary Veronica C. García said, “I am grateful to the Technology Integration Group (TIG) and their technology partners: The New Mexico Information Technology & Software Association, the Workforce Education Alliance, Microsoft, Sony, CA, Kingston Technology, Maxtor and Network Associates. Without the generous support these companies offer, the Computers for Kids Program would not exist. Providing access to technology in the schools is a vital component of student preparation.” This year's Computers For Kids recipients are:

· Vince Case of Albuquerque School on Wheels Alternative High School for an interdisciplinary project to design, build, and operate a green-house to feed a family of four (5 computers)

· Mary Fusco of Santa Fe Capital High School for NASA/SETI "Voyages through Time" science curriculum (10 computers)

· Kerri Lathrop of Albuquerque East Mountain High School for Freshman Environmental Science projects (10 computers)

· Dega Patterson of Moriarty High School for Biology projects (10 computers)

· Patrick Prescott of Albuquerque West Mesa High School for Law and History projects (5 computers)