College donates more than $80,000 of computers

On behalf of Pellissippi State, president Allen Edwards formally donated 120 computers to Knox County Schools Superintendent Charles Lindsey last week at Spring Hill Elementary School. The computers, which have a value to the school system in excess of $80,000, will be used primarily at inner city schools to broaden student access different educational programs.

“These computers are a great value to the school system, and they represent an asset that we could not afford to buy ourselves,” said Lindsey. “The use of technology in the classroom is increasingly important as we strive to give all of our students the opportunity to excel. One of our greatest challenges in this time of limited budgets is to provide computer systems to our students that are capable of running new software and making maximum use of Web-based assets.”

"We are glad that Knox County Schools can use these computers,” said Edwards. “Our College’s technical programs use sophisticated software that must be constantly upgraded, so many of our computers must also be replaced every few years with newer models. These computers are in great shape. They just need to be placed where they can do the most public good, and Knox County Schools will make good use of them.”

“As an urban school, money is always a challenge for us,” said Lynn Draper, principal at Spring Hill Elementary School. “Consequently, a few of our classrooms did not have working computers in them. The gift from Pellissippi has taken care of this immediate need, as well as enabling us to establish three mini labs. Our goal is to make technology more available to our students, since many of them only have access to computers at school.”

Spring Hill has received 22 computers from the Pellissippi State donation. Also receiving computers are Fulton, Austin-East and South-Doyle high schools, Whittle Springs Middle School, and Belle Morris, Christenberry and Green elementary schools.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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