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Dec 03, 2009
CompTIA Educational Foundation Provides Endowment Avenue for IT Industry to Sponsor Merit Scholarships
IT Industry Gives Back to Help More Students Enter
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., December 3, 2009 - Companies and individuals now can establish merit award scholarships in their names to students pursing information technology careers through the CompTIA Educational Foundation. The Foundation’s annual IT Merit Award Scholarship program rewards students who have recently received a CompTIA certification and provide them with financial help to pursue a career in the IT industry.
Companies endowing the IT Merit Awards Scholarships can designate their scholarships to a preferred under-represented population or to a geographic location where they do business. Company representatives can make the scholarship presentations, in the company’s name, thereby creating a positive publicity opportunity for their organization.
Endowment gifts to the IT Merit Award Scholarship fund are never spent, rather the donation is invested and the interest is used to provide the annual scholarships. The IT Merit Award Scholarships are a continuing investment that benefits the industry and the people who are attaining new IT careers.
“The CompTIA IT Merit Award Scholarships were created to encourage students to follow through on their training and test for a certification, which is an essential part of building their credentials for an entry-level job in the IT industry,” explains Dennis Zimmerman, executive director of the CompTIA Educational Foundation. “Hewlett-Packard already works with the Foundation to fund student scholarships, and we’re looking for more industry leaders to step up to the plate.”
The awards are be made twice a year to coincide with semester schedules and graduation. Deadlines for nominations are May 1 and November 15 each year. Winners receive a certificate and a $250 cash award to be used toward their continuing education.
Individuals and companies can make a donation by visiting the CompTIA Educational Foundation Web site, http://www.CompTIA-EF.org.
About the CompTIA Educational Foundation
The CompTIA Educational Foundation provides career opportunities for individuals who historically have been under-represented in the IT workforce. With the support of individuals, industry leaders, companies and the government, the Foundation creates programs aimed at helping U.S. veterans, at-risk youth, women, minorities, dislocated workers, and individuals with disabilities to obtain the technical and business skills employers require. Since its creation in 1998, the Foundation has helped more than 1,000 individuals enter the IT workforce, helping the industry alleviate its shortage of skilled workers. For more information or to make a donation to the CompTIA Educational Foundation, visit http://www.CompTIA-EF.org.
About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, visit www.comptia.org.
Donor Contact:
Dennis Zimmerman
Executive Director, CompTIA Educational Foundation
630-678-8477
dzimmerman@comptia-ef.org
Media Contact:
Lisa Fasold
Communications, CompTIA Educational Foundation
703-509-1124
lfasold@gmail.com
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