We're in This Together: Profile of Roger & Markisha Gibson
Markisha and Roger Gibson do just about everything together.
Each weekday, Roger drives them to Bloomingdale High School where he is a senior and Markisha is a sophomore. The weekends are spent together going to church, hanging out with friends or spending time with Mom and Dad. And every Thursday evening the pair attend computer literacy classes at Computer Mentors.
Markisha and Roger Gibson receiving IC3 certification certificates
The pair took togetherness to a new level when they both earned their Internet & Computing Core (IC3) certification at the same time. Both of the siblings took the test twice before acing the exam on the same night – March 8, 2007.
Ralph Smith, executive director of CMG, says since only a small percentage of his students pass the IC3 certification it’s not frequent for two students to pass the test on the same day let alone a brother-sister duo.
I couldn’t be more proud of them, Smith said. “They have the typical sibling rivalry, but in reality, they really motivate each other and are instrumental in each other’s success.”
Even though neither one of the siblings wants to pursue careers in computer technology, they each are glad that they have a skill to fall back on in case their original plans don’t work out.
"If you're good at computers, you have a lot of options. You can get a lot out of it," said 17-year-old Roger, who plans to pursue a business career after college.
Markisha, 16, said she didn't regret spending her Thursday nights at CMG. "I want to be hair stylist but I’m glad I have good skills in case I need to find another job," she said jokingly. "It was worth it."
CMG Open House in Plant City
To celebrate the opening of the new Computer Mentors lab in Plant City, the public is invited to an Open House at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25. The lab, which opened in February, is located in the Hispanic Services Council building at 602 S. Collins St. Refreshments, door prizes and networking opportunities are just a few reasons to come by and meet staff members from both organizations.
"The expansion into the Plant City area is an exciting opportunity to reach an under served population that is eager to learn about computer technology," executive director Ralph Smith said about the collaboration with the Hispanic Services Council. To enroll in classes for students and adults at either facility, call the CMG office at (813) 236-1191.
Summer Internships
Computer Mentors is seeking summer employment and internship opportunities for youths currently participating in its advanced computer training program. The summer internship program is an important component in providing the youths with the experiences they need toward beginning careers as IT professionals.
The students participating in the internship program are 16 to 21 years of age and are available for full and part-time positions as soon as the school year ends. This population of students includes both high school and returning college students who have previously graduated from CMG's computer literacy program and are currently on scholarship with us.
Each student has received individualized training on personal computer hardware components, operating systems, and the Microsoft Office suite of software applications. All have earned Internet & Computing Core (IC3) certification and some college credit. High school students currently in the program are enrolled in either a Certified Internet Webmaster course or a computer technician’s course.
Here a few things for potential employers to keep in mind:
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Ideal positions would be entry level, computer related, using the skills obtained above or in computer-related firms.
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Though they are not IT professionals, students have distinguished themselves by earning a nationally recognized IC3 certification, therefore, we are asking that each student be paid a minimum of $10/hr.
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Students will be provided with a job mentor assigned from Computer Mentors. The mentor will be accountable to both the perspective employer and the student to assure a successful internship.
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Students will be responsible for their own transportation.
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Like all employees, students should be interviewed before they are hired. They've all been pre-screened but employers are encouraged to interview students for the benefit of both parties. It will be understood by the students that an interview does not guarantee an internship.
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Internships may be paid through Computer Mentors payroll or through the payroll of the employer. Rates and subsidies can be negotiated.
- Students are ready for interviewing beginning in early May. Students will be available for employment as soon as school ends in May for college student and the beginning of June for high school students.
Message from the Executive Director
 Have you thought about what your teenager will be doing this summer?
Will he be at the movies or working a part-time job? Will she be poolside or hanging out at the mall?
While these options might sound attractive to your teenager, to you as a parent, you may want to consider the benefits of a summer program geared specifically to computers and technology.
You may shrug off the suggestion, but when the National Center for Education Statistics reports that 91% of students ages 3 and up use computers and 59% use the Internet, why not use the summer to hone their skills with one of the free sessions offered by Computer Mentors Group.
Computer Mentors has summer technology camps located around the city. All of the programs begin on Monday, June 4. We host a summer camp at our Martin Luther King Boulevard lab from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. five days a week Students, ages 14-18, in this class complete the regular course work in four weeks instead of the usual six months.
We also have the Computer Mentors Kids program in three city parks. The sessions at Grant Park, Fair Oaks Park and Oak Park are held Monday through Friday for students ages 5-13.
Our regular evening classes also resume on June 4. Students take a short break after school ends before returning. A popular segment for these students is hearing from our career speakers. For 15 minutes each night, professionals from different fields discuss their occupations and how technology helps them in their jobs. Give us a call if you are interested in being a career speaker. You don’t need to be an IT techie to participate; just someone who is comfortable interacting with teenagers.
Michael Grant with students during Career Night.
With all these options, there has to be one that accommodates the busy schedule of your teenager. Computer Mentors wants to make summer count for our students. It may be one they never forget.
Best Regards,
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