LANSING ? The Michigan Technology Network last week announced the winners of an annual Fellowship program, awarding $2,500 to three very diverse recipients to use for technology-based educational programs.
Winners this year include Teresa Roberts, a returning adult learner striving to refresh her technical skill set at Lansing Community College, and David LaGrave, a high school student planning to use the funds to pay for a technical summer camp. The remaining portion went to the Michigan State University Media Summer Camp program.
The Michigan Technology Network (MITN.Org) was created a few years ago by some passionate people in the Lansing tech community who decided to form a non-profit organization that promotes education, networking and the community. The group continuously supports Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math related careers through Fellowships, green initiatives with Electronic waste recycling events, as well as showcases strong female leadership.
Amanda Kruger, Director for the MSU Media Summer Camps and MITN Volunteer, allocates the MITN Fellowships for the camp based on the most need.
“MITN?s commitment to empowering youth with technology skill‐building opportunities enriches our community,? Kruger said. ?MITN has enabled our Department to offer several more students a pre-college experience that will enrich their lives through project‐based education, hands‐on learning, college curriculum exposure with faculty, and peer collaboration.”
Kruger adds: “Scholarship opportunities changes lives in a very positive way? building confidence, increasing interest, and promoting persistence in these STEM subjects. We believe these students will make more informed decisions about their college and career choices as a result of participating in these technology-focused experiences.”
Another part of the MITN mission includes giving back to the community. This year, the group goes Green with the third annual E-Cycle event, which allows the public to drop off electronics like cell phones, computers, gaming systems, laptops, TVs, cables, and other digital equipment that would otherwise end up in a land fill. Almost all electronics and batteries should not be thrown out as regular trash. E-waste represents only 2 percent of America’s trash in landfills, but it equals 70 percent of overall toxic waste. There will be a free drive thru service on February 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Devon Self Storage in Old Town.
“This is our third year for the MITN E-Cycle event. Last year we collected over 4,000 pounds of electronic waste and were able to donate select usable items to other local non-profits for a greater good,? said Lisa Nowak, MITN Chairman. ?Not only is it a great way to help the environment, but it also turns out to be a very fun volunteering event. We learn more each year and this year we are excited to have the ability for simple drive thru, drop off system. We are hoping for good turn out to make this year a success.”
MITN, which has a great line up of events planned for 2014, is backed by a diverse leadership board. The last two Presidents were women and the board continues to have an even balance of men and women, young and old, volunteering and leading. This is an incredible way to develop women leadership skills at a time when Catalyst.org contends in a January 2014 report that women hold just 4.6 percent of CEO jobs in both Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies.
It is clear that MITN has a diverse approach in leadership, programs, and offerings that strengthen their ability to serve the Michigan technology community.
For more about the upcoming E-Cycle event or more about MITN, Click on MITN.Org
Associate Editor Nicole Johnson leads MITechNews.Com?s efforts to foster STEM education, as well as provides coverage for her fellow women in computing. If you have a story idea for Nicole, email [email protected]
