Summer Employer Host Sites Needed!

Through a collaborative project with the City of Columbus Mayor’s Office of Education and TECH CORPS Ohio students from around Franklin County are learning technology skills to enrich their learning and prepare them for future employment in the field of technology.

City Student TECH CORPS is an innovative program funded by Franklin County Jobs and Family Services. This program provides students (ages: 14-18) with 32-weeks of computer skills readiness and employment soft skills training.

Students who successfully complete the program are assigned a 10-week paid summer job where they can apply the technology and soft skills they have learned in a real-world setting.

We need your help! Please get involved with the City Student TECH CORPS program by providing our students with a 10-week (June 16– August 22, 2008) technology-related work experience. Students will visit your site 30 hours each week and we ask that you provide them with the opportunity to apply the technology and soft skills they have learned in the program. City Student TECH CORPS will supplement the students’ salary at $7/hour. Therefore, there is NO COST to you!

The skills the students learn as a result of their participation in the City Student TECH CORPS program will have lifelong benefits. We ask that you partner with us to support your next generation of employees! Whether or not you are able to place one student or 10 - we need your support! Please email lisa@techcorpsohio.org or call us at 614-583-9211.

Thanks to all of our 2006-2007 Host Sites: AARP, Children’s Hospital, City of Columbus: Department of Technology, Columbus Division of Fire, Franklin County Treasurer’s Office, HAZ Technologies, Ohio Historical Society, The Ohio House of Representatives, The Ohio State University, Sophisticated Systems, Inc., Town and Country Animal Clinic and the Wexner Center.

City Student TECH CORPS Ambassadors Help Commissioners Kick Off National County Government Week

April 8th, Franklin County kicked-off National County Government Week (NCGW) during which Commissioners were joined by ten students from area high schools at their weekly General Session meeting.
NCGW, sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo), was first celebrated in 1991 to raise public awareness and understanding about the roles and responsibilities of the nation’s counties. The theme for this year’s celebration of NCGW is “Protecting Our Children.”
“Our essential goal in Franklin County is providing help to children and families in need,” Board President Marilyn Brown stated. “National County Government Week creates awareness of the vital services offered through the county.”
“It is fitting that this year’s theme is ‘Protecting our Children’,” said Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy. “From ensuring that families have access to affordable health care to building partnerships that support education, especially science, technology, engineering and mathematical education, to recruiting and retaining good jobs for our youth as they become adults, county government plays a huge role in the lives of children.”
Commissioners honored the students with certificates for participating in National County Government Week. Several students who were involved in the county funded City Student TECH CORPS program spoke to the Commissioners about the positive impact the program had on their lives. The students also attended a reception and tour of the county courthouse.

City Student TECH CORPS Ambassadors spent time with County Treasurer Ed Leonard, County Sherriff Jim Karnes, County Engineer Dean Ringle and Judge Tim Horton.

The Session can be viewed on the Government Television Channel 3 (GTC-3). General Sessions are broadcast each Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 10 a.m., Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Monday at 12 noon.

City Student TECH CORPS Names 2007-2008 Youth Ambassadors

The City Student TECH CORPS Youth Ambassadors are students that participate in the City Student TECH CORPS program and were identified for outstanding improvement or achievement.

2007-2008 City Student TECH CORPS Ambassadors
Shayla Birtcher, West HS, Tanisha Coffee, Briggs HS, Malcolm Dawson, Eastmoor Academy, Sheron Edmonds, Horizon Academy, Nakita Likely, Columbus Virtual HS, Kateresa Lee, Eastmoor Academy, Mikal Leggon, Northland HS, Mohamed Ndiaye, Independence HS and Jordan Sellers, Columbus Alternative HS

Each year, TECH CORPS Ohio staff and instructors select no more than 10 students to serve as City Student TECH CORPS Youth Ambassadors. Students must meet the following criteria to be considered:
· 90% attendance at the City Student TECH CORPS program
· Achieved 80% or higher on City Student TECH CORPS Certification test
· Received a City Student TECH CORPS instructor recommendation
· Clearly express in a 300 word essay “Why I will be a great City Student TECH CORPS Ambassador”

City Student TECH CORPS Youth Ambassadors are involved in numerous activities that create public awareness of the City Student TECH CORPS program. Past opportunities have included:
· Representing City Student TECH CORPS at Columbus City Council and Columbus City Schools Board Meeting;
· Representing City Student TECH CORPS at important TECH CORPS events;
· Serving as a City Student TECH CORPS program spokesperson to the media;
· Leading peer activities;
· Youth Ambassadors also receive preferred placement in the Summer Internship Program.

Youth Ambassadors for City Student TECH CORPS will be introduced to the public during TECH CORPS Ohio’s Annual Fundraiser, TECHNight 6.0 which takes place Thursday May 8, 2008. The Ambassadors will make a pledge to take full advantage of opportunities to enhance their knowledge and understanding of technology and use their talents, energies and resources to represent their peers at programs sponsored by TECH CORPS Ohio and other City Student TECH CORPS collaborative partners.

City Student TECH CORPS is an innovative program developed by TECH CORPS Ohio and the City of Columbus, Mayor’s Office of Education. This program provides 100 students with 32 weeks of computer and employment soft skills training. Tech-savvy instructors work in an informal education environment using the Student TECH CORPS® curriculum (http://www.studenttechcorps.org/) to prepare students for Level I Technical Support Certification and to build their knowledge of Information Technology educational and career pathways. Students who successfully complete the program are assigned a 10-week paid summer internship where they can apply their newly acquired skills in a real-world setting; making the training authentic.
Funding for City Student TECH CORPS is from Franklin County Board of Commissioners and administered by the FCDJFS