1999 UG Academy Grants "Tecnhology In Our Schools" . . .

. Inventor of the first personal computer, and founder of the first User Group, Steve Wozniak, persents grant checks to User Groups January 5, 2000 (San Francisco, CA) At The User Group Academy Awards ceremony held in San Francisco, CA, today, five outstanding educational grant candidates received checks totaling $25,000.00 to launch technology projects in their local K-12 public schools. __ The grant checks were presented at the Apple User Group Breakfast on behalf of the User Group Academy by quality education advocate Steve Wozniak, inventor of the first desktop personal computer. Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, is an active promoter of educational programs, and has been called the original computer club founder. __ The UG Academy's "Technology In Our Schools" Grants Program partners computer clubs (known as "user groups") with local public schools to help "Teachers Teach Better". The Grant program challenged computer user groups to submit their best ideas for projects that help their local public school students and teachers through the use of computer technology. "We are thrilled to have received so many top rate proposals, and to provide the financial backing to make the top five projects come true," says Fred Showker, executive awards coordinator for the Academy, "Helping teachers integrate technology into their teaching activities will not only help them teach more effectively, but will greatly help all the students they teach." __ "Today is only the beginning," comments Showker, "As we expand the grants program we will bring the unparalleled computer know-how and skills of user groups to focus on improving our most important mission, educating our youth for tomorrow." __ The five top proposals as selected by the User Group Academy: Connecting Teachers: Technology To Go! The Maryland Apple Corps User Group, Baltimore Maryland, Baltimore County Public School System, Dulaney High School... *** SEE THE FULL REPORT, Updated Individualized Education Program Database Project The MacValley Users Group, Van Nuys, California, Los Angeles Unified School District. Multimedia Mania: Project-Based Learning The Huntsville Macintosh Users Group, Huntsville, Alabama, Marshall County School System Enhanced Theme-Based Curriculum Learning Centers in the Classroom The Worcester Computer Society, Westboro, Massachusetts, Worcester County/North Brookfield School District, North Brookfiled Elementary School. Collage: Literary & Visual Arts Publication The Shenandoah Macintosh User Group, Harrisonburg Virginia, Fort Defiance High School, Augusta County Virginia. The Academy will follow progress of these projects throughout 2000 and immediately begin preparations for this year's program: "Technology In Our Schools: 2000". Complete information along with detailed overviews of the 1999 winning grants can be found at the UG Academy's website: www.UGAcademy.org. __ The UG Academy also challenges the computer industry to help. "We've opened the door," Showker addresses the industry. "It would be super to see concerned members of the computer industry bring their considerable resources to assist with these grants, and help increase the number of communities touched by the program." The User Group Academy will act as conduit to administrate and promote the grants through a community of nearly 4,000 local computer clubs representing more than a million members in the United States. About The UG Academy The User Group Academy was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit educational organization to provide information and help for computer clubs. The Academy's primary focus has been The UG Academy Awards, which have become the leading creative honors program for nonprofit computer clubs and user groups. The ideals of a User Group awards and grants program began in 1990 as the "The Johnny Appleseed Awards" and was carried on in 1995 as the UG Academy Awards. Nominees and winners are chosen by The User Group Academy and the User Group community at large to recognize excellence in community service by local computer clubs. The program is hosted and sponsored in part by The User Group Network (UGNN), DT&G Magazine, and The Graphic Design Network. Contact: Fred Showker, Executive Awards Coordinator -- Showker@UGAcademy.org Dan Sailers, Executive Academy Chairman -- DSailers@UGAcademy.org The User Group Academy c/o The User Group Network 15 Southgate Harrisonburg, VA 22801 http://www.ugAcademy.org/ http://www.user-groups.net/ugacademy/ 540-433-8402 See: GRANTS PRESS RELEASE (*** User Group Editors are granted permission to reprint, and/or Link to this article. Use: http://www.user-groups.net/UGAcademy/Grants/default.html ) Watch for further coverage, with photographs