Middle School and Senior Citizens Extend CTEP's Community Outreach Through Technology

July 31, 2003

July 31, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - "It's all about empowering people, and it's going to be doing a lot more of that this summer, thanks to this wonderful donation" says Bob Hershberger, assistant professor of Spanish and Film at DePauw and coordinator of the University's Community Technology Enhancement Program (CTEP). One of DePauw's 361° technology initiatives, CTEP accepts donations of computers that are no longer needed by their previous owners, refurbishes them, and donates the machines to individuals and organizations who need them but may not have the financial resources to obtain them.

To date, CTEP has donated 140 computers and 30 printers to members of the local community. North Putnam Middle School has now generously donated about 150 CPUs with monitors, keyboards, mice and printers. Sandra Aker, technology coordinator for the North Putnam Community School Corporation, says, "We are excited that CTEP is doing this work for the benefit of Putnam County and its citizens, and proud to be a partner in the initiative. Once refurbished, we know that these computers, like the others that CTEP has already distributed, will help people learn and acquire skills that will make them more employable and better citizens. Old computers don't have to gather dust, and DePauw has created a mechanism to put the technology to good use." (photo at top of story shows, l-r: CTEP associate Zach Newman; North Putnam technology assistant Tammy Surber; Sandy Aker; and CTEP associate Aden Kauffman moving computers from the middle school)

This week alone, CTEP donated more than twenty computers and peripherals to residents of Asbury Towers. Dr. Hershberger says, in total, CTEP is now working on about 180 donated computers, readying them for their "rebirth". He notes, "This is by far the largest inventory the program has had in its short history. Prior recipients of CTEP donations have used their computers to advance their educations and find jobs, so we know that this program is a force for positive change."

Three local high school students (Aden Kauffman, Reggie Provine and Zachary Newman), and two DePauw students (Milena Smatrakaleva and Brian Winstead) are spending the summer as CTEP associates -- collecting, repairing, delivering and installing computers (photo shows, l-r: Smatrakaleva, Provine, Newman and Kauffman, in the garage of the Tech House). CTEP's partners in the community include Putnam County Comprehensive Services, North Putnam Schools, The Waters Nursing Home, Peace Lutheran Preschool, Western Indiana Employment and Habitat for Humanity.

In addition to helping bridge the digital divide in Putnam County communities, CTEP's activities are also helping to protect the environment. One of the rapidly developing “green issues” in today's world is how to dispose of old technological equipment. Computers contain numerous poisonous toxins that, if disposed of in a landfill, can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater. CTEP's efforts keep computers out of landfills, and the program is exploring relationships with area recycling companies to ensure that any equipment that CTEP receives that cannot be refurbished and donated is safely disposed of.

CTEP's operations have been moved to the Tech House, located at 806 Lincoln Street on the DePauw campus. For information about CTEP, visit its new Web site by clicking here, send an e-mail here, or call the professor at (765) 658-4745. Donations of, and requests for, computer equipment are always welcome, and CD-ROM drives are especially needed.

Back