U.S. DEPT. OF INTERIOR HELPS PROVIDE COMPUTERS TO ENROLLED OXNARD COLLEGE STUDENTS
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently donated 23 computers to the Oxnard College “Adopt a Computer” program where they eventually will be utilized by students enrolled at the college.
The donation was made through the Department’s Minerals Management Service, whose office in Camarillo arranged the donation and physically transported the computers to campus on June 19, according to Peter Tweedt, Deputy Regional Director of the Minerals Management Service.
The Pentium II computers are valued at about $32,000, and with the addition of 11 monitors and memory sticks the final value was estimated at more than $40,000.
While Oxnard College computer technicians helped to unload the donated computers, Tweedt finalized the paperwork authorizing the transfer of property, which was formally accepted by Ramiro Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Student Learning at Oxnard College.
The Department of the Interior has an ongoing partnership with Oxnard College through its summer internship programs administered by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Also helping to unload the computers were HACU interns Miguel Calcano of the Dominican Republic, Alvin Alvarez of Puerto Rico, as HACU interns Karen Martinez of Puerto Rico and Jennifer Lovinggood, a student at the University of Texas, looked on.
“The HACU internships give us opportunities all over--California, New York, Washington, D.C.,” said Calcano, following Alvarez into a computer storage area with one of the donated computers. Eventually the computers will be upgraded by OC staff with increased memory, CD-ROM players and other features. Eventually, the refurbished computers will be loaned to low-income students enrolled in classes at Oxnard College.
Were it not for the “Adopt a Computer” program, many students would have to spend hours in a school lab or at a public library in order to complete homework assignments, said college officials. Since so many Oxnard College students are single parents, having the technology at home means they can spend more time with their families.
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