RIT Helps Students Build Computers and Life Skills in Preparation for Future Careers

Students will donate three personal computers to Just Friends Senior Center Aug. 12

The teenage years can be a challenging time for students as they try to find acceptance among their peers, make good choices and think about future college and career goals.

Rochester Institute of Technology is helping area students, ages 14 and 15, build life skills along with personal computers during a workplace readiness initiative, Summer Youth Employment Program. RIT’s B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences and RIT’s Office of K-12 are hosting the program.

Throughout the six-week camp, students have built personal computers and installed and tested software. At the conclusion of the program, each student will receive a free computer.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the students will donate three newly built computers to the Just Friends Senior Center, 800 Carter Street, Rochester. The senior center is part of Catholic Family Center. The event begins at 10 a.m.

In addition to the computer-building portion of the program, students have done mock interviews with various Rochester employers. Teambuilding, resume writing and public speaking workshops have also been conducted.

Two-thirds of the students enrolled in the program are young women. The camp is another example of the various outreach programs RIT conducts to encourage young women to enter the computing field.

The camp is sponsored by a $48,000 federal grant offered through Rochester Works. Microsoft donated more than $8,000 in software and RIT’s Golisano College department of networking, security and systems administration donated the computer monitors.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Denise Smith-Oquendo, program director, (585) 259-0893


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