NEWS
October 2009
Raver - Page 5
Mines students partner with Central HS in “Build a Computer� project
By Dakota Young Raver Intern Native Americans are one of the most neglected miQRULW\ JURXSV ZKHQ LW FRPHV WR WKH ÂżHOGV RI VFLHQFH WHFKQRORJ\ HQJLQHHULQJ DQG PDWKHPDWLFV 67(0 But thanks to a new program this underrepresented group may have a head start in their academic career E\ KDYLQJ D VWURQJ FRQFHQWUDWLRQ LQ WKHVH ÂżHOGV 7KH program is called ‘Build a Computer’ and was established to help Native Americans be more prepared to HQWHU 67(0 ÂżHOGV 7KH %XLOG D &RPSXWHU SURJUDP ZDV HVWDEOLVKHG E\ 'U +HUE 6FKURHGHU ZKHQ WKHUH ZDV D VKRUWDJH RI HQJLQHHUV +H QRWLFHG WKDW LQ SDUWLFXODU WKHUH ZDV DQ DOPRVW non-existent Native American engineering populaWLRQ 6R KH WRRN LW XSRQ KLPVHOI WR VHH ZKDW WKH \RXQJ Native would have to do to get ready for a career in HQJLQHHULQJ DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $ODVND $QFKRUDJH 7KHQ KH ZHQW DURXQG DQG DVNHG VFKRROV DERXW WKH 1Dtive American students and why no classes were ofIHUHG WR KHOS WKHP JHW UHDG\ IRU FROOHJH 7KH\ UHSOLHG WKDW WKH VWXGHQWV ZHUHQÂśW LQWHUHVWHG 6R KH ZHQW DURXQG
and asked students if they were interested in classes OLNH FKHPLVWU\ DQG WULJRQRPHWU\ 7KH VWXGHQWV VDLG WKDW they had an interest but their schools didn’t offer such FODVVHV $IWHU VHYHUDO WULDOV 'U 6FKURHGHU ¿QDOO\ FDPH XS with a project which he sent out to several alliance VFKRROV EDVHG RQ 1DWLYH SRSXODWLRQ 7KH 6FKRRO RI 0LQHV ZDV PDGH DQ DOOLDQFH VFKRRO DQG ODVW \HDU WKH\ LPSOHPHQWHG DW SURJUDP WR 5DSLG &LW\ &HQWUDO +LJK 6FKRRO LQ 5DSLG &LW\ 6 ' 7KH SURJUDP LQYROYHV 1DWLYH $PHULFDQ VWXGHQWV UHDG\ WR EXLOG FRPSXWHUV DQG D GHVLUH WR FRPSOHWH FODVVHV LQ FKHPLVWU\ WULJRQRPHWU\ DQG SK\VLFV 7KH SURJUDP LV RQO\ WKH ¿UVW FRPSRQHQW RI VHYHUDO tracking methods for potential Native American engiQHHUV 7KH RWKHU FRPSRQHQWV LQFOXGH %ULGJH &ROOHJH 5HWHQWLRQ DQG *UDGXDWH 6FKRRO )RU WKH &HQWUDO +LJK 6FKRRO VWXGHQWV WR TXDOLI\ IRU WKLV SURJUDP WKH\ PXVW PHHW DOO WKH FULWHULD ZKLFK LQYROYHV KDYLQJ D *3$ EHLQJ RQ WUDFN IRU WKHLU FODVV
DQG WXWRUV IRU WKH SURJUDP $IWHU WKH VWXGHQWV EXLOG D computer Central has a designated area for the students to keep their computers and to use as long as school is LQ VHVVLRQ 7KH VWXGHQWV DUH DOVR UHTXLUHG WR KDYH WZR hours of tutoring per week while school is in session DQG WKH\ PXVW EH WDNLQJ FRXUVHV LQ FKHPLVWU\ WULJR-
Wiring it up: Central HS senior Kayla Wilson (left) and Mines student Charles Bush work on a computer while Central HS freshman Andraya Hopkins and Mines student Kevin Israel work in the background. Photo courtesy of Royia Decker
Computer lottery: This is the type of computer that the students build and it will be raffled off to Mines’ students that volunteer to tutor the AISEP students. Photo courtesy of Royia Decker
What have we got here? Mines student Kevin Israel helps Central HS freshman Andraya Hopkins. Photo courtesy of Royia Decker
and graduation and an interest in 67(0 ÂżHOGV 7KLV SDVW IDOO VWXGHQWV ZHUH DFFHSWHG &HQWUDO +LJK 6FKRRO ZDV FKRVHQ EHFDXVH they had decided to partner with WKH 6FKRRO RI 0LQHV LQ KRSHV RI making use of their newly established Bush Grant which was made for graduation coaches for 1DWLYH $PHULFDQV DW &HQWUDO 7KH program currently is run on donaWLRQV ZLWK 'U 6FKURHGHU PDWFKLQJ DQ\WKLQJ UDLVHG E\ WKH 6FKRRO RI 0LQHV In the Build a Computer proJUDP VWXGHQWV VSHQG IRXU IRXU hour sessions building a computer ZLWK WKH DVVLVWDQFH RI 0LQHV VWXdents who double as trainers and WXWRUV IRU WKH VWXGHQWV 0LQHV VWXGHQWV -HVVLFD 7VLQJLQH D MXQLRU industrial engineering major from 7XED &LW\ $UL] DQG .HYLQ ,VUDHO a sophomore computer science/ computer engineering major from 3DUNHU &ROR VHUYH DV WKH WUDLQHUV
QRPHWU\ DQG SK\VLFV 7KH GHVLJQDWHG DUHD ZLWK WKH FRPSXWHUV DW &HQWUDO LV FDOOHG WKH ODFRODNLFL\DSL URRP ZKLFK DOVR KROGV WXWRULQJ $IWHU WKH VWXGHQWV FRPSOHWH DOO WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV WKH\ DUH UHFRJQL]HG IRU WKHLU SURgram completion and are awarded special stoles at graduation to show that the student is a graduate of WKH %XLOG D &RPSXWHU SURJUDP 7KH\ DOVR JHW WR WDNH WKHLU FRPSXWHUV KRPH QR VWULQJV DWWDFKHG ,W LV WKHLUV IRUHYHU 7KLV SURJUDP QRW DOVR EHQHÂżWV KLJK VFKRRO VWXGHQWV EXW FROOHJH VWXGHQWV DV ZHOO DV WKRVH ZKR DWWHQG WZR hour tutoring sessions each week will have their name put in for a drawing for one of the computers that the VWXGHQWV KDYH EXLOW $W WKH HQG RI WKH VHPHVWHU D UDIĂ€H is held and a computer is given away to one deserving WXWRU RU WUDLQHU RI WKH SURJUDP $OVR WKLV 0DUFK WZR VWXGHQWV IURP HYHU\ VFKRRO that is participating in the Build a Computer project DQG ZLOO DFWXDOO\ WHDFK SROLWLFLDQV DW :DVKLQJWRQ ' & how to build a computer and earn permanent funding IURP WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (GXFDWLRQ 7KLV PHDQV WKH SURJUDP ZLOO EH IHGHUDOO\ IXQGHG DQG QRW JR DZD\ Any student who is interested in helping with the Build a Computer project may contact Royia Decker LQ KHU RIÂżFH DW &% RU H PDLO KHU DW UR\LD GHFNHU# PLQHV VGVPW HGX