December 9, 2004

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Tech Excellence program gives today’s girls a head start in
tomorrow’s careers

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation recently gave a $5,000 grant to the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) and John Muir Middle School’s Tech Excellence Program. Hitachi employees Jeff Lyles, Denis Telgemeir and Karen Sigman presented the giant-sized check to AAUW San Jose Branch President Cynthia Ptacek and Tech Excellence Co-chair Dodi Morin.

This group photo includes 33 seventh grade girls in this year’s Tech Excellence program; Hitachi representative Denis Telgemeir and Karen Sigman; AAUW San Jose Branch President Cynthia Ptacek; Tech Excellence Co-Chair Dodie Morin; John Muir Middle School Principal Shannon McGee and Vice Principal Gloria Marchant; last year’s Tech Trek science camp winners Alex Sigman, Lauren Flores, Alysia Empert-Gallegos and Fana Yohannes; and other AAUW members who participate in the Tech Excellence program.

Sigman’s daughter Alex, now an eighth grader, was one of the winners of the Tech Trek Science Camp at Stanford University last year. The proud mother approached the Hitachi Community Action Committee about a grant of $5,000 for the Tech Excellence program, which mentors seventh grade girls by showcasing jobs in math, science and technology at Muir. Hitachi’s Matching Funds Program stepped in and added $2,500 for a total of $5,000.

“It’s really important to support the school at this time, since it is on the list of possible closures,” Sigman said at the check presentation. “And it’s a great program. Alex got a lot out of it.”

Last year’s Tech Trek science camp winners also included Lauren Flores, Alysia Empert-Gallegos and FanaYohannees. All four girls presented a short speech at the presentation.

The non-profit AAUW has presented Tech Excellence the last seven years with John Muir Middle School. The program exists to bolster girls’ self-esteem; mentor and educate them about career opportunities; encourage them to study science; promote college attendance and involve girls from diverse cultural, ethnic, racial academic and economic backgrounds.

Additionally, the girls chosen are sponsored with full tuition at Tech Trek, a weeklong science camp at Stanford over the summer. There the girls live in dormitories and have more exposure to science, math and technology.

“On behalf of the San Jose Branch of AAUW, we would like to thank Hitachi Data Systems for this very generous grant,” Ptacek said to the 33 girls accepted into the Tech Excellence program, Hitachi officials, Muir Principal Shannon McGee and Vice Principal Gloria Marchant.

The Hitachi Foundation established the Community Action Partnership in 1987. Teams of corporate employees, known as the Community Action Committee, identify issues facing their communities and recommend grants that will improve the quality of life where employees live and work.

“It is because of this grant that AAUW San Jose is able to accomplish our mission,” Ptacek said. “AAUW promotes lifelong education and equity for all women and girls. Our Tech Excellence project has three goals: to support jobs and careers outside the usual female roles, to provide hands-on experience with math, science and engineering and to support field study with local related businesses.”

After the check presentation, the seventh grade girls listened to Sonja Norland, a computer expert with Professional Services and then, guided by their AAUW mentors, they disassembled computers and identified internal parts to learn how computers work. November’s field trip will take the young women to Intel Computer Museum in Santa Clara.

For more information about the Tech Excellence program or the local branch of AAUW, call (408) 294-2430 or visit www.aauw.org on the Internet.

Fifth graders from Simonds School sang for Almaden Seniors Luncheon.

Youngsters bring holiday cheer to seniors

The performance of adorable Simonds Elementary School kindergarten and first grade students was the highlight of last Friday’s Senior Luncheon sponsored by the Almaden Valley Rotary Club. Simonds music teacher Terry Bermudez played the piano while the students from Mrs. Yavorn’s and Mrs. LaPlante’s classes serenaded the seniors. The children (and the seniors) were rewarded afterward by a visit from Santa. The luncheon is an annual event put on by the Almaden Rotary Club (www.almadenrotary.org.)