Alliance in Action

February 7, 2008 -- The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), the state's oldest and largest technology trade organization, recently honored TAF and three TechStart students at its 13th annual Industry Achievement Awards (IAA) at the Seattle Westin. IAA recognizes local companies, agencies and individuals who best demonstrate innovation and excellence in technology.

Three of this year's finalists competing for the title of Technology Leader of Tomorrow came from TAF's 6-8th grade TechStart classes:

Jennifer Chen, 8th grade, Washington Middle School
Travis Duell, 8th grade, Madison Middle School
William Yip, 8th grade, Washington Middle School

This is the first year the WSA has included this award category. All three finalists were selected for their technical skills and leadership, and they were recognized at the event in front of over 800 attendees. The winner, Jennifer Chen, was selected by the WSA community through online voting. She received a $1,000 college scholarship, and the runners-up each received a $750 college scholarship. All three finalists also received Zunes donated by Microsoft.

Thank you, WTIA, for providing
this opportunity for TAF and our students!

More Alliance Partners in Action

• GOOGLE – February 2008. Google gave tours of their Fremont site to TTIP students. Students had previously toured the Kirkland site in Spring 2007. On both occasions, our teens received t-shirts and other goodies.
  

• ADAPTIS – November 2007. Dr. Julie Miller, author and Adaptis employee,  gave a workshop to TTIP students on communicating via email and email etiquette.

• PSALA – October 30, 2007. The Puget Sound Association of Legal Administrators (PSALA) raised $18,600 for TAF from a fantastic silent auction during the PSALA’s Managing Partners Dinner. This is the second year in a row that PSALA has supported TAF through such events. As this contribution covers the cost of one TechStart class for an entire year, the PSALA will be paired with one of the 3-5th grade TechStart classes as a way to connect with students and experience the impact of their contribution throughout the year.

• K & L GATES – September 2007. K&L Gates hosted the 2007 TAF Alliance Roundtable.

• ALASKA AIRLINES – July 2007. For three weeks in July, seven middle school students learned how to have a blast while learning about applied physics during TAF's Skills and Thrills Camp. Each lesson combined indoor and outdoor activities designed to keep the fun-factor high while introducing new subject matter. The campers were most excited about the physics of flight project, which included a day at the Alaska Airlines Eagles Camp. Their day started on the ground with a tour of Boeing Field, a lesson on map reading and flight dynamics and some time in a 737 flight simulator with an experienced pilot. Then the kids took to the air in a small Cessna aircraft. While soaring over the Seattle skyline, a few lucky kids got to take the controls and feel the power of flight in their hands.

• MICROSOFT – May 2007. As a result of a Microsoft Math Partnership meeting , TAF connected with a couple of Microsoft employees working with our Education Team for developing our fall TechStart classes! Specifically, they’ll be helping with professional development and technical support for our instructors working with the grades 6-8 robotics curriculum.

• QWIZDOM – December 2006. TAF officially signed Qwizdom, Inc. as TAF Academy's first corporate partner. Qwizdom, Inc. – located in Puyallup, Washington – produces the Qwizdom Student Response System (SRS). Academy faculty will use SRS in the classroom to engage students. By using this tool, teachers will be able to use best practices in delivering the lesson plan, get immediate feedback on the level of understanding among students after presenting a new lesson, instantly tabulate and analyze test results. It is a powerful tool that provides flat data feedback on how well students have understood newly presented material. In addition to this in-kind gift of $70,000 in equipment, training and curriculum, Qwizdom, Inc. will provide paid summer internships for TAF Academy students.

• JOBSTER – December 2006. Soon after joining the TAF Alliance, Jobster combined forces with TAF’s teenage students to impact the lives of a number of local families. This past holiday season, Jobster employees and TAF raised funds to fulfill the “wish list” for 13 families (60 individuals) through YWCA’s Adopt-a-Family program. In May, Jobster sponsored the 2007 TTIP Career Day at the Safeco Jackson Street Center. TAF students invited 10 local professionals to spend the afternoon speaking with them about their jobs and career paths. The students practiced their presentation and conversation skills while learning in-depth about diverse professional fields.

• SAFECO INSURANCE – 2004. Safeco Insurance has partnered with TAF since 1998 with an inaugural gift of $25,000. Since then, Safeco has provided continuous financial and programmatic support, including hiring TAF high school students as full-time summer interns since 1999. In 2004, Safeco developed and facilitated the XP Bootcamp. A team of five Safeco employees worked with TAF instructors to design a curriculum introducing students to the new XP technology. The employees spent one week on site at TAF, working with students using partner-teaching techniques to help students navigate the software. The Bootcamp culminated in a potluck celebration.

Upcoming Alliance partner activities

March 5, 2008 -- AVANADE will host our TTIP students for a round of mock group interviews. The afternoon at Avanade will also include a tour of their offices and a pizza party.

Be part of the solution! For more information about how your company or organization can get involved with TAF, contact:

Lee Benner

leeb@techaccess.org

(206) 725-9095 ext 21