Information Technology Foundation

Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation (ITF) Donated a Computer Lab to The Emmaus Charity Foundation

Gifting Ceremony at Clarksburg High School. Picture curtesy of P. Evans.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Montgomery County Information Technology Foundation (ITF) held a ceremony at Clarksburg High School to award a student refurbished computer lab to the Emmaus Charity Foundation. For this donation, Clarksburg High School students in Ms. Malak’s Network Operations class refurbished six computers and prepared monitors, keyboards, mice, and a printer as a gift to the Emmaus Foundation. During the ceremony, three IT students shared their personal experiences with restoring the computers and shared the impact that participating in this project had on them. One student shared, “Working on this computer lab project has shown me firsthand the impact that technology can have in bridging access and opportunity for others. Knowing that our efforts could help students or community members gain valuable digital skills made me realize the true purpose behind our work…This experience has instilled in me a responsibility to ‘pay it forward’ by using my skills to support others, just as this program has supported me in shaping my future.”

Representatives and Emmaus participants were on hand to accept the gift. Clerveaux Joseph, President of Emmaus shared that his father’s leadership and spirit of community lead to the creation of Emmaus in Haiti. With most of Mr. Joseph’s family now in the United States, the local chapter of the Emmaus Foundation continuously looks for ways to increase their presence and locally support their community. He shared that Emmaus helps new immigrants’ complete applications, provides literacy training, and provides access to the technological world. Additionally, the lab will support MCPS students’ digital literacy and provide space for collaboration as they progress through their educational endeavors.

In addition to the lab donation, the ITF is also celebrating their 20^th anniversary. ITF Vice President and MCPS Supervisor Steve Boden shared a proclamation from Governor Moore’s office that recognizes the positive impact the ITF has had within the MCPS community. Mr. Boden said, “The MCPS Foundations Office has had a 52-year legacy of bringing industry professionals, post-secondary educators, and MCPS personnel to the table to run our automotive, construction, IT, and hospitality programs. With the IT career field exploding in 2004, IT professionals proactively came together and followed the Foundation model created by the automotive and construction industries. By engaging local IT innovators, we ensure that our students have experience with traditional and emerging technology trends and that they have the knowledge and skillsets to adapt to this ever-evolving field. With emerging trends in AI, virtual reality, and gamification, we’re focused on preparing our students for the career landscape of tomorrow.”

The ITF is a non-profit organization established cooperatively by the Montgomery County business community and Montgomery County Public Schools. It provides a unique method of hands-on education for high school students to earn valuable computer certifications that will prepare them for higher educational opportunities or direct entry into the information technology job market. Please visit itf.mcpsmd.org, www.itfcareers.org, or www.foundationsoffice.org for more information.