Kelvin Henry - A Pioneering High School Student

Kelvin Henry, a CMG Teen Student, has chosen to attend a new Hillsborough County charter school. Newpoint Charter High School , located in Valrico, Fl, will have a technology emphasis. Each student will have a computer. Students will use Apex Learning programs, which is an internet-based curriculum that replaces textbooks. Apex eliminates the need for traditional-style lecturing. Instead the teachers will lead small-group discussions and pull aside individuals. Students can work at their own pace, provided they finish their lessons by the due date.

The Valrico school will only have 9th and 10th graders in the 2009-10 school year. As a 10th grader, Kelvin will have the honor of being in the first graduating class. At Newpoint, Kelvin will have a computer technology major.

Kelvin Henry IC3 Certification Recipient

Kelvin has been prepared for this new experience by attending the CMG Teen Program. He started attending in August, 2008. In July, Kelvin received his Certiport IC3 Certification. This certification was awarded by Certiport for proficiency in its internet-based lessons in basic computer hardware, utilities, and application software. As a part of the certification, Kelvin has also earned a college credit that he can transfer as soon as he finishes high school.

Kelvin looks forward to a long-term computer career. CMG is proud to have offered Kevin a solid preparation for his high school choice. We will monitor his progress closely as he now enters the CMG High Achievers Program.

CMG wishes success to Kelvin Henry and Newpoint High School.

Florida Senate IT Makes Computer Donation

On Monday, August 10th, Senator Arthenia Joyner arrived along with promised donation of computers by the Florida Senate Office of Information Technology Services (FSOITS). FSOITS, headed by Senate President Senator Jeff Atwater, provided 70 units which included laptop computers, desktop computers, and flat panel monitors. As we mentioned last month, Senator Joyner was 100% responsible for Computer Mentors being selected as a recipient. We cannot say "Thank You" enough to her Not only for this donation, nor her personal donations, but also for continuing to keep us informed of opportunities and legislation which affect our organization and our community.

Senator Joyner pictured with CMG Student Kaleb Brooks and donated computers

2009 Back-To-School Computers For Youth Campaign

Great news! Thanks to generous equipment contribution of CRT monitors from the A Plus Technology Partners, along with the donation from the Florida Senate and a previous equipment computer donation from Hostway Global Solutions, we anticipate that we will be providing 200 computers for our Back To School Computers for Youth campaign this year. This year the campaign is being done as a joint fundraiser with local churches. The churches included thus far are Beulah Institutional Baptist Church, Bible-Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace, Hope Outreach Christian Ministries, College Hill Church Of God In Christ, and we are expecting others to join.

We are very appreciative of our equipment donors, Microsoft Corporation, who supplies the software, Jim Lawler of Quicksilver Recycling Services who connected us with A Plus, FedEx Kinko’s, and City of Tampa who also made significant equipment donations that saved our Back To School campaign. Thank you all for hearing the call and allowing us to increase the number of computers to be provided, even in a down economic year when we thought we would not be able to provide this service to the community.

From The Director

Hello everyone. Can you believe it? Summer is almost over. In another week students will return to school, summer vacations will end, and we’ll swing back into a regular schedule. Last we I was able to travel to Raleigh NC for the BDPA National Conference. I went as part of a marketing campaign to promote our Tech Teen curriculum (“Smart Charlie”). I’ll have to admit that “Charlie” didn’t do that well, but I also was able to be there to support the team of youth that represented the Greater Tampa Bay Area BDPA chapter in the High School Computer Competition. I want to thank Frank Shines, BDPA chapter president, Manish Kharod and Patrick “Paddy” O'Brien, trainers, and especially Antony “Tony” McClay, trainer and chaperone for the trip to Raleigh. But the biggest congratulations have to go to the students for the way that they proudly and represented the Tampa Bay area. We were represented by our team leader Rhys Campbell (Junior - Home School and Tampa Bay Technology High School), Daniel Grant (CMG student and Sophomore at Steinbrenner High School), and Ayele Gibson (CMG student and Freshman at Middleton High School). They really represented themselves, Tampa BDPA, Computer Mentors, and all of you who helped support the trip with your time and contributions.

Pictured left to right: Daniel Grant, Ayele Gibson, Rhys Campbell [Team Lead]

Special thanks to Nielsen Media and Amy Rettig who made it financially possible for the trip to occur. Amy, we couldn’t have done it without you and we appreciate the support of Nielsen Media by allowing Tony to participate without having to use personal time, providing funding for the trip, and supporting Computer Mentors Group for the upcoming Technology Bowl. You are showing your commitment to our community and we appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Email: rsmith@computermentors.org
Phone: (813) 236-1191