$6,500 in IT and STEM Scholarships Available to RI Students
Tech Collective, Fibertech Networks, and Lighthouse Computer Services accepting applications for three scholarships; submission deadline April 22nd, 2011.
Providence, RI, March 24, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Three scholarships totaling $6,500 are now being offered to Rhode Island students planning to or currently pursuing IT and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathegmatics) degrees. The scholarships are being funded individually by Tech Collective member companies: Fibertech Networks, a fiber-optic based network services provider, and Lighthouse Computer Services, a technology services and security provider, as well as the Doug Schwinn Scholarship Fund. Tech Collective, Rhode Island’s IT and Bioscience Industry Association, is the scholarship administrator.
As the gap between STEM job applicants and employer talent needs continues to grow, the three Tech Collective and Partners scholarships aim to both raise IT and STEM industry and career awareness among the public as well as aid in the funding and development of Rhode Island’s IT and STEM workforce pipeline.
In Rhode Island alone, over half of employers report they are inadequately staffed in IT. (Report of the RI Information Technology Skills Gap Report. Tech Collective, 2007.) Nationally, co-author of Closing America’s Job Gap, Tapan Munroe, reports: “By 2015, 60 percent of the new U.S. jobs created will require skills held by only 20 percent of the work force according to the ASTD [American Society for Training and Development]… By 2015, more than three-quarters of the new jobs created in the U.S. will require highly skilled workers, particularly in STEM subjects.” (Tapan Munroe. “Munroe: Skills gap at heart of America’s joblessness.” Contra Costa Times, January 29, 2011. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_17218361?source=rss&nclick_check=1. )
Scholarship Details
Fibertech Networks / Tech Collective Scholarship – $3,000 scholarship established for one female Rhode Island high school student pursuing a degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or other IT field.
Lighthouse Computer Services / Tech Collective Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship established for a Rhode Island high school, college, or university student pursuing a degree in the IT, Computer Information Systems or Management Information Systems fields. Students must have an affiliation, either directly or through a parent, to the US Military.
Doug Schwinn / Tech Collective Scholarship - $2,500 scholarship established for a female or minority high school student pursuing a degree in the IT or STEM fields.
All applications are due no later than Friday, April 22, 2011
"Information Technology is one of the fastest growing industries in Rhode Island and across the nation,” said Curtis Fox, regional sales manager for Fibertech Networks. “Fibertech is proud to provide the opportunity to both help young women in our state excel in the field of technology as well as help foster the technical talent that is crucial to meeting the expanding 21st Century business and IT needs.”
“It’s always exciting to see bright young men and women choosing a career in IT, and Lighthouse is happy to support that each year through these scholarships,” said Lighthouse CEO Tom Mrva.
“Tech Collective extends its gratitude to Lighthouse, Fibertech, and our industry partners,” said Jo Ann Johnson, Tech Collective’s manager of youth and education programs. “With their help, we have given out four scholarships totaling $7,500 over the past two years. We are excited to add 2011’s award winners to that accomplishment, and wish the best of luck to applicants.”
Scholarship Applicants must be a legal Rhode Island resident and attend a Rhode Island college or university. Visit www.tech-collective.org for full scholarship guidelines and to download applications.
About Lighthouse Computer Services:
Lighthouse Computer Services, a 70-employee firm, is one of R.I.'s fastest-growing technology companies. Founded in 1995, the company now provides technology products and services to more than 450 midsize to large enterprises throughout the Northeast. Today, Lighthouse offers consulting, integration and maintenance services on the latest hardware and software technologies available, including those from IBM, NetApp, VMware, Microsoft and more. Lighthouse placed number 249 in VARBusiness 2008 ranking of the top 500 IT solution provider firms in the U.S. Lighthouse is also winner of IBM's 2008 IBM Business Partner Excellence Award for North America and IBM's 2006 Beacon Award for Overall Technical Excellence in a Business Partner. For more information about the company, please visit www.LighthouseCS.com.
About Fibertech Networks:
Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., Fibertech Networks is a leader in providing fiber-optic based network services throughout mid-size cities in the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. Fibertech was founded in May of 2000 and has built metro-area fiber networks in 23 mid-size markets in the Eastern U.S., and is led by Court Square Capital Partners of New York, N.Y. Further information about the company can be found at www.fibertech.com.
About Tech Collective:
Tech Collective is Rhode Island’s Information Technology and Bioscience Industry Association. Uniting industry, government and academic stakeholders, our mission is to inspire, engage, educate and employ a high-skill, high-wage Knowledge Economy in Rhode Island. Since its transition from the Rhode Island Technology Council (RITEC) in 2004, Tech Collective has received more than $6M in federal, state and private grant funding to foster industry collaboration, awareness and development through events and initiatives including: GRRL Tech, Women in Technology, Bio-Ed, Tech Laureates’ Night and STEM-based education and training programs for K-16 students as well as incumbent and transitioning workers. For more information about Tech Collective, please visit www.tech-collective.org.
Contact:
Giselle LaFrance
Manager of Media Relations
Tech Collective
401-521-7805 x101
glafrance@tech-collective.org
###
As the gap between STEM job applicants and employer talent needs continues to grow, the three Tech Collective and Partners scholarships aim to both raise IT and STEM industry and career awareness among the public as well as aid in the funding and development of Rhode Island’s IT and STEM workforce pipeline.
In Rhode Island alone, over half of employers report they are inadequately staffed in IT. (Report of the RI Information Technology Skills Gap Report. Tech Collective, 2007.) Nationally, co-author of Closing America’s Job Gap, Tapan Munroe, reports: “By 2015, 60 percent of the new U.S. jobs created will require skills held by only 20 percent of the work force according to the ASTD [American Society for Training and Development]… By 2015, more than three-quarters of the new jobs created in the U.S. will require highly skilled workers, particularly in STEM subjects.” (Tapan Munroe. “Munroe: Skills gap at heart of America’s joblessness.” Contra Costa Times, January 29, 2011. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_17218361?source=rss&nclick_check=1. )
Scholarship Details
Fibertech Networks / Tech Collective Scholarship – $3,000 scholarship established for one female Rhode Island high school student pursuing a degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or other IT field.
Lighthouse Computer Services / Tech Collective Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship established for a Rhode Island high school, college, or university student pursuing a degree in the IT, Computer Information Systems or Management Information Systems fields. Students must have an affiliation, either directly or through a parent, to the US Military.
Doug Schwinn / Tech Collective Scholarship - $2,500 scholarship established for a female or minority high school student pursuing a degree in the IT or STEM fields.
All applications are due no later than Friday, April 22, 2011
"Information Technology is one of the fastest growing industries in Rhode Island and across the nation,” said Curtis Fox, regional sales manager for Fibertech Networks. “Fibertech is proud to provide the opportunity to both help young women in our state excel in the field of technology as well as help foster the technical talent that is crucial to meeting the expanding 21st Century business and IT needs.”
“It’s always exciting to see bright young men and women choosing a career in IT, and Lighthouse is happy to support that each year through these scholarships,” said Lighthouse CEO Tom Mrva.
“Tech Collective extends its gratitude to Lighthouse, Fibertech, and our industry partners,” said Jo Ann Johnson, Tech Collective’s manager of youth and education programs. “With their help, we have given out four scholarships totaling $7,500 over the past two years. We are excited to add 2011’s award winners to that accomplishment, and wish the best of luck to applicants.”
Scholarship Applicants must be a legal Rhode Island resident and attend a Rhode Island college or university. Visit www.tech-collective.org for full scholarship guidelines and to download applications.
About Lighthouse Computer Services:
Lighthouse Computer Services, a 70-employee firm, is one of R.I.'s fastest-growing technology companies. Founded in 1995, the company now provides technology products and services to more than 450 midsize to large enterprises throughout the Northeast. Today, Lighthouse offers consulting, integration and maintenance services on the latest hardware and software technologies available, including those from IBM, NetApp, VMware, Microsoft and more. Lighthouse placed number 249 in VARBusiness 2008 ranking of the top 500 IT solution provider firms in the U.S. Lighthouse is also winner of IBM's 2008 IBM Business Partner Excellence Award for North America and IBM's 2006 Beacon Award for Overall Technical Excellence in a Business Partner. For more information about the company, please visit www.LighthouseCS.com.
About Fibertech Networks:
Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., Fibertech Networks is a leader in providing fiber-optic based network services throughout mid-size cities in the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. Fibertech was founded in May of 2000 and has built metro-area fiber networks in 23 mid-size markets in the Eastern U.S., and is led by Court Square Capital Partners of New York, N.Y. Further information about the company can be found at www.fibertech.com.
About Tech Collective:
Tech Collective is Rhode Island’s Information Technology and Bioscience Industry Association. Uniting industry, government and academic stakeholders, our mission is to inspire, engage, educate and employ a high-skill, high-wage Knowledge Economy in Rhode Island. Since its transition from the Rhode Island Technology Council (RITEC) in 2004, Tech Collective has received more than $6M in federal, state and private grant funding to foster industry collaboration, awareness and development through events and initiatives including: GRRL Tech, Women in Technology, Bio-Ed, Tech Laureates’ Night and STEM-based education and training programs for K-16 students as well as incumbent and transitioning workers. For more information about Tech Collective, please visit www.tech-collective.org.
Contact:
Giselle LaFrance
Manager of Media Relations
Tech Collective
401-521-7805 x101
glafrance@tech-collective.org
###
Contact
Tech Collective
Giselle LaFrance, Manager of Media Relations
401-521-7805 x101
http://www.tech-collective.org
Giselle LaFrance, Manager of Media Relations
401-521-7805 x101
http://www.tech-collective.org
Contact
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