Minority Girls Gear Up for Summer Technology Fun 12 African American Girls Selected to Attend A Technology Camp At Stanford University

Twelve Bay Area fourth, fifth and sixth grade girls received scholarships to attend iD Tech Camps, a summer program that provides hands-on technology training-and fun. In one week, they'll learn how to film and edit digital movies, design web sites, or create video games on Stanford University's invigorating campus. Pathfinder, Science, Math and Technology (P-SMT) Camp Scholarship program, developed and sponsored by Silicon Valley Chapter of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW-SVC), encourages young African American pre-teen girls to enjoy the study of math, science and technology.

Twelve Bay Area fourth, fifth and sixth grade girls received scholarships to attend iD Tech Camps, a summer program that provides hands-on technology training-and fun. In one week, they'll learn how to film and edit digital movies, design web sites, or create video games on Stanford University's invigorating campus. Pathfinder, Science, Math and Technology (P-SMT) Camp Scholarship program, developed and sponsored by Silicon Valley Chapter of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW-SVC), encourages young African American pre-teen girls to enjoy the study of math, science and technology.

Since it's inception in 1996, NCBW-SVC has a proven commitment to African American Youth. This group is particularly concerned about young girls who have not had the opportunity, encouragement, exposure and or resources to access career information, especially in science and technology. "We feel this weeklong experience in web design, digital video & movie production, and multimedia & game creation will inspire girls to pursue careers in technology," said Sheila Johnson-Heacock, P-SMT Committee member of the NCBW-SCV. "It's also wonderful that they'll get to preview college life at this young age."

"I can't wait to learn how to create my own digital movie where I will write, act, and even edit it with special effects," said Kathryn Champlin, participant of the NCBW-SVC P-SMT Camp Scholarship program and a student at Bret Harte Middle School in San Jose. "And being on Stanford's campus, seeing real college students, and living in dorms is very cool!"

Within a balanced and fun-filled week, iD Tech Camps gears up students by tapping into their creative potentials with hands-on multimedia projects and tech knowledge. Campers find themselves in a powerful learning environment where they utilize cutting-edge technology to tell their stories and articulate their visions. At iD Tech Camps, campers are prepared to use computer technology as the tool much like today's industry professionals. As such, Hewlett Packard, Apple, Adobe, LEGO, Canon, Cisco, Macromedia, and Iomega have partnered with iD Tech Camps to raise the bar in technology education.

For this year's P-SMT Camp Scholarship program, NCBW-SVC received 57 applications from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. A panel of NCBW-SVC reviewed the written applications, conducted oral interviews, and then selected 12 girls to attend iD Tech Camps. African American girls in grades 4th through 6th interested in applying for a 2003 summer camp scholarship, should contact us. Applications for Camp Scholarships are issued in January.

The principal funds supporting the P-SMT Camp Scholarship program are raised during the NCBW-SVC Cotton Club dinner and dance. This event is set in an atmosphere reminiscent of the famous Harlem Cotton Club nightclub. Next year's fundraiser will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2002 at the Hyatt Sainte Claire, San Jose. For tickets and information, please contact 408-238-4729 or 650-837-2291.

About the Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc
The Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (a 501c3 organization) was chartered in 1996. Its mission is to serve as an advocacy group for positive change. The group has successfully begun addressing issues in education, healthcare and youth development via its sponsorship of such activities as P-SMT Camp Scholarship Programs, Youth Career Conferences, Annual Health Fairs, and Public Policy Workshops. This has been accomplished through leadership, fundraising activity, donations, independent projects, and through linkage with other community organizations and public agencies. For more information, please visit www.svc100bw.4mg.com.

About iD Tech Camps - InternalDrive
Founded in 1999, iD Tech Camps - InternalDrive provides hands-on technology summer camps for boys and girls ages 8-17 at prestigious universities nationwide, including Stanford University, Notre Dame de Namur, UC Berkeley, St. Mary's of Moraga, Emory University, M.I.T., SMU, and Villanova University. At these day and overnight camps, students produce digital movies, create video games, design web pages, learn programming and robotics, and more. The hands-on, project-based programs offer one computer per student with an average of six students per instructor. In addition to its core co-ed program, iD Tech Camps encourages girls to engage in technology through a Girls'-Specific Week For more information, please visit www.internalDrive.com or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324).