Friday, September 12, 2008

Tech Citizenship

Local techs lending a hand

Comcast honors seniors with $1K scholarships

Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA) honored 121 graduating high school seniors statewide with $1,000 scholarships from the Comcast Foundation. The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program, one of the Comcast Foundation’s community investment programs, annually recognizes students who have demonstrated leadership skills, academic achievement and a commitment to community service.  

Community organizations throughout Massachusetts, including Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger and Rosie’s Place, have benefited from the service and leadership of this year’s recipients. 

“As the cost of college continues to rise, Comcast is proud to present each of these young people with the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship in recognition of their hard work, leadership and commitment to their communities,” said senior vice president of government affairs for Comcast’s NorthCentral division Mark Reilly, who oversees the company’s community investment initiatives in New England. “These students represent our future leaders and they embody Comcast’s belief in giving back to the communities where we live and work.”

Nationally, 1,965 high school seniors received $1,000 Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarships this year, including 196 from New England. In the eight years since the program began, Comcast has awarded nearly $10 million in college aid to more than 9,000 students.

Microsoft donates $500K in software to Dimock

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has given a $503,000 software grant to Dimock Community Health Center for its information technology infrastructure. Dimock is the largest and oldest nonprofit organization in Roxbury.

Microsoft has also contributed to the Red Sox Foundation over the past three years in support of “Doubles for Dimock.” Every time a Red Sox player hits a double, Microsoft donated $750 to the program. Its contribution helps fund the after-school mentoring and homework tutoring program at the health center.

Museum of Science hosts Intel world teen summit

The Intel Computer Clubhouse Network hosted the Teen Summit in Boston for more than 300 youth leaders and chaperones from 20 countries. Participants ranged in age from 13 to 18 years old and came from countries such as Brazil, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Russia and South Africa.

Chosen for their leadership skills, technical and creative ability, and community contributions, these Teen Summit youth worked together on projects that address socially conscious challenges such as reducing urban violence and improving the environment. They used technologies in graphic design, animation, digital art, music, radio and video production, and 3-D modeling.

The Computer Clubhouse, headquartered at the Boston Museum of Science, is an out-of-school learning program celebrating its 15-year anniversary.

With support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, the Computer Clubhouse provides a safe learning environment where young people from under served communities work with adult mentors to develop 21st century skills and find pathways to success using technology. Since 2000, Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) has committed $30 million to the program, according to company reports.

Genzyme highlights grad student education Fellows

Cambridge-based biotechnology company Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) hosted the fourth-annual Fellows Showcase. The event recognized 27 graduate student leaders who were awarded the Education Pioneers Fellowship for their commitment in working to transform kindergarten through 12th grade urban education. 

Education Pioneers runs a best-in-class fellowship program that provides high-achieving graduate students in business, education, law, public policy and other programs with an opportunity to make an impact while building the skills, knowledge and networks required to launch successful careers after graduate school. The organization works to meet the needs of developing talented, multidisciplinary leaders who will work to support education reform nationally. 

TechBoston, Geek Squad host Summer Academy

Local Geek Squad agents teamed up with TechBoston to host the Boston Geek Squad Summer Academy. 

The participants learned how to network multiple computers and peripherals, build their own personal computers, understand programming and hypertext markup language, and perform digital imaging.

The Geek Squad is a division of Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY). Roxbury-based TechBoston is a department within the Boston Public School system that supports advanced technology courses in the district’s high schools and middle schools. The organizations works to provide students with access to technology resources and opportunities that positively advance their academic and career aspirations.

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