Lowell Excessive college students exhibit their model new laptops after receiving them on the finish of the Digital Fairness Profession Truthful hosted by AT&T and Undertaking LEARN within the cafeteria at Middlesex Group Faculty. From left, Hannah Laderoute, Derek Tavares, Dylan Star, Sara Htwe, Kaydin Noeuk, Sophia Gikas, and Lowell Excessive English instructor Bryanna Laughlin. (Aleah Landry picture)
LOWELL — 100 Lowell Excessive Faculty college students have been shocked with free laptops on Thursday because of a partnership between Undertaking LEARN and AT&T.
The laptops, made attainable by a contribution from AT&T, have been offered to the scholars throughout a Digital Fairness Profession Truthful held at Middlesex Group Faculty.
The truthful allowed Lowell Excessive college students who’ve participated in Undertaking LEARN packages to go to with volunteers from AT&T and different native employers to debate careers in know-how, and participate in a digital literacy workshop.
The Oct. 19 occasion coincided with Massachusetts STEM Week and was attended by state Secretary of Schooling Patrick Tutwiler, together with Mayor Sokhary Chau and different state and native officers.
“By empowering every one among our college students to discover STEM alternatives accessible to them, and permitting them to see it as a viable, thrilling pathway to their future, we’ll encourage the subsequent era of STEM innovators and the long run leaders of the Commonwealth,” Tutwiler stated in a press release. “I’m thrilled to associate with Undertaking Study and ATT as we advance entry to the digital world and encourage a brand new cohort of technologically impressed college students to proceed studying and pursue their desires, whether or not that be in a STEM subject or some other place.”
“At AT&T, we consider each pupil deserves a chance to make their desires a actuality,” AT&T Atlantic Area President John Emra stated in a press release. “That’s why we’re proud to work with organizations like Undertaking LEARN, who share our dedication to assist shut the digital divide and provides college students each likelihood to achieve our digital world.”
It’s estimated that just about 5,000 Ok-12 college students in Lowell don’t have digital fundamentals at dwelling, together with entry to the web, computer systems or abilities wanted to profit from the web world. The AT&T Linked Studying initiative helps to handle the digital divide in locations like Lowell by way of web accessibility, affordability and protected adoption.
“These model new laptops will assist Lowell Excessive college students who’ve participated in our paid internships, early faculty and Google Coursera packages,” Undertaking LEARN Govt Director LZ Nunn stated in a press release. “We’re grateful for AT&T’s assist in making this attainable, and we acknowledge that new laptops, in addition to connections to native STEM firms, may be the distinction maker to assist our college students’ profession and faculty aspirations.”
