Nygel Dukes: Aspiring Computer Animation Professional

CMG is proud that one of its former students is an aspiring computer animation professional. Nygel Dukes is a third year student at Atlanta Intercontinental University. Upon graduation, he will receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (BFA) with concentration in Animation degree. During his past Christmas vacation in Tampa, he displayed one his more challenging class work 3D animation projects to the CMG staff and evening teen students. We were totally fascinated with the realism, detail, and graphics in this demonstration.

Former CMG student, Nygel Dukes.

Nygel was fortunate to receive his early computer training at CMG. As a twelve year older he accompanied his fourteen year old brother to the CMG teen programs. He begged the CMG staff to let him participate in the teen programs. During his trial period, Nygel proved that he had the initiative and skill to be accepted by the teens. In the six years that Nygel attended CMG evening sessions, he was awarded al basic and advanced certifications. He has continued to involve himself with CMG by working summers and vacations at CMG and by being a mentor to our current teen program participants.

Nygel intends to relocate to California when he graduates in 2011. Currently, that state is the center of the computer animation industry. We are certain that he will succeed in his career goals. CMG is honored to have Nygel as one of our recent successes.

A Very Busy Young Man - Gordon Kratz

Wednesday night at Computer Mentors Group is reserved for our advanced students. All of the students have earned their basic computer knowledge IC3 certification. The students receive A+ or webmaster instruction. Gordon Kratz is one of three students taking advantage of this opportunity for advanced webmaster training.

Gordon’s interest is to receive the nationally-recognized Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) certification. With minimal guidance from CMG staffer Christian Silva, Gordon applies himself whole-heartedly for two hours to the interactive webmaster computer-based training. We are confident that Gordon will receive the CIW certification.

CMG advanced student Gordon Kratz.

Besides his participation in CMG training programs, Gordon is an excellent student and is proficient many other non-academic activities. Academically, he is a 10th grade honor roll student at Jesuit High School. He hopes to pursue a computer science or engineering degree at MIT. He will soon be an Eagle Scout. Also, Gordon is a pole-vaulter and plays the drums and oboe. As you can see, Gordon is a very self-motivated, busy young man.

CMG is honored to be a part of Gordon’s personal development achievements.

JPMorgan Chase Provides Grant: Sulphur Springs Program

This summer CMG will be proving a middle school pre-certification program to up to 50 youth in the Sulphur Springs area of Tampa. JPMorgan Chase has provided a grant of $15,000 to assist to provide the program. The program is a continuation of a pilot started last summer with the assistance of Hillsborough County Public Schools. This year the program will become a part of a collaborative called the Sulphur Springs Initiative. The collative includes JPMorgan Chase, the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Conn Memorial Foundation, the United Way, and the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA.

CMG's Ralph Smith receives check from JPMorgan Chase Bill Jones.

The Initiative will be housed the new Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA's Sulphur Springs Community Learning Center. Through this initiative of funders and providers, the YMCA initiated an after school program which will provide more than 100 Sulphur Springs Elementary School students with a safe, supportive, and enriching environment during non-school hours.

The after school program is part of a larger YMCA-led effort to transform an underutilized school facility into an active learning center that enriches the lives of children and families in the Sulphur Springs school community. The center will enhance the quality of life and create greater educational and community development opportunities for Sulphur Springs elementary school families by utilizing the school as its "hub." Modeled after the Beacons Center program, which has strengthened urban schools through education, the arts, and recreation, the Sulphur Springs initiative will also continue its focus on teacher support and parental engagement to achieve greater educational gains and overall personal development. Computer Mentors is happy to be a part of this initiative.

From The Director

Hello everyone. If you haven’t done so already, please sign-up for our golf charity tournament and come on out and have some fun while supporting a good cause. The proceeds will go toward training a group of teens who will represent the Tampa Bay area in the BDPA High School competition in August. The competition is being held in Raleigh North Carolina where up to 50 other communities will also be represented. We expect to have some serious golfers as well as some hackers like myself, but it is assured to be a fun day for all. To sign-up please visit http://www.tournevents.com/cmg2009 .

Sincerely,

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