CMG High Acheiver Match

The recently announced CMG High Achievers program has its initial advanced student/ IT professional pairings.  The advanced students will complete a challenging IT project, of six months duration, suited to his/her individual desires. The professional will be able to counsel as the project progresses. Initiative, thoroughness, maintaining a schedule, and having the student complete his/her goal in a 100% manner will be evaluated by this mentor. One of our first CMG High Achiever pairs is Kaleb Brooks (student) and Sean Brooks (IT  Professional). They are not related.  Kalb is a Middleton High School with a long-term goal to have an IT career. His project is to develop a CMG web server for other CMG students to use.

Kaleb Brooks (left) and mentor Sean Brooks

Sean is a network engineer contractor for the US Special Operations (SOCOM) at MacDill Airbase. This eight year US marine veteran is performing the same IT technical duties in civilian life as he did during his enlistments. He currently commutes between the US and Middle East.

Both Kaleb and Sean look forward to their bi-weekly meeting and resulting project discussions. We are confident that Kaleb will achieve his goal.

Young CMG Curriculum Developers

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.

Regina Nelson, Philip Jentsch, Derek Williams, Mehgan Fish-Stuhl

CMG is in the midst of upgrading current courses and developing new offerings.  New training ideas and methods are needed in this constantly changing IT environment. Listed below are our young developers and their current assignment.

Mehgan Fish-Stuhl (HCC). She is creating a new program for our adult education students. The goal is to make our training more user-friendly for individuals with minimal technical skills.
 
Philip Jentsch (USF). He is creating a Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) program for Middle School youth.  This program is to be available this summer.

Regina Nelson (HCC). She is updating the pre-A+ program that was implemented successfully in the 2008 summer.  Regina was a pre-A+ trainer last year.

Derek Williams (HCC). He is creating a CMG KIDS program for the 8-13 year-olders.

Again, this course will be available in June, 2009.
 
We are proud of the technical and course-writings abilities of these CMG teen program graduates.

TECH BOWL IS COMING!  TECH BOWL IS COMING!

More  News about Tech Bowl 2009, coming  in Our  Next Newsletter, and be sure to visit our Website, for exciting  news, as events unfold.
Upcoming Events

From The Director

Hello Everyone.  Thanks once again for taking the time to read the newsletter.  We’re in exciting times.  Though corporate and foundation funding is way down, CMG still has a big summer planned.  We are doing a program in conjunction with the Sulpher Springs Initiative, a collaboration of multiple for-profit and non-profit agencies committed to making Sulpher Springs a better place, that JPMorgan Chase has financially assisted us with.  We are also once again providing a Computer Pre-Certification Program to 90 middle school students through the Hillsborough County School District, thanks to our Hillsborough County School Board and Maxine Woodside of East Tampa Connection.  We may even be involved with a project with Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance through a project that we've partnered with Brenda Grove and Enabling NonProfits, Inc.  And as a part of our partnership with BDPA, a group of youth are being trained and will represent the Tampa Bay area in the upcoming High School Computer Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina.  All of this is being accomplished because of the great partnerships we’ve been able forge (see list of partners below).

We are also making some exciting changes in our basic program for youth.  Now after the teens complete the first two phases of training and receive an IC3 Certification (and a college credit by the way), we have promised to provide them with advanced computer training until they graduate from high school.  Our new program, called High Achievers, is designed to pair students with IT professional mentors to work on short term (maximum six month) projects that provide skills translatable into the workplace and future employment opportunities.  If you are interested in being considered as an IT Mentor, please contact John Corsell or myself at CMG (813-236-1191).

Tech Bowl is coming!  Yes, we are starting to prepare for the 4th annual Technology Bowl, and this promises to be an outstanding year.  This year the youth will be competing for $10,000 worth of prizes due to the generosity of the Hobbs Family Foundation.  Also, this year we will add a new feature, a silent auction.  If you’re interested in volunteering or sponsoring, please contact Ralph Smith or Sandy Borr at 813-236-1191.

Current List of Partnering Organizations:
100 Black Men of Tampa Bay
Academy Prep of Tampa
 American Association of Retired People (AARP)
All Sports Community Service, Inc.
Black Data Processing Associates, Tampa Chapter (BDPA)
Boys & Girls Club (North Tampa branch)
East Tampa Connection
Enabling NonProfits, Inc.
Florida Department of Children & Families
Greater Palm River Point CDC
Hillsborough County School Board (SDHC)
Hispanic Services Council
Hope Community Center
NFL YET Center at Jackson Heights
NFL YET Center at Mort Park

Sincerely,

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