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KSD receives $10,000 for new computers in dorms

June 01, 2007|STEPHANIE SCHELL

Kentucky School for the Deaf received a $10,000 donation Thursday from AT&T Pioneers to buy new computers for its dorm rooms.

The donation was given as part of ConnectKentucky's No Child Left Offline initiative.

"This is a great day for Kentucky School for the Deaf," said Larry Conner, chief operations officer at KSD.

Conner added that with a boost in technology in the dorms, KSD students get a boost at being competitive counterparts with other schools.

"I hope this is just the beginning," he said.

The No Child Left Offline initiative has made almost 1,500 computers available to disadvantaged individuals since it began in 2005.

The $10,000 donation Thursday will buy KSD dorms 21 new desktop computers to replace current ones. Donna Martin, student development supervisor at KSD, said this is the first time KSD has had an upgrade of new equipment in the dorms. The dorms usually get recycled and refurbished equipment as labs get rid of old equipment.

About 80 percent of KSD's students are not from Danville and live on campus. The new dorm-room computers will allow students to do their homework and research after lab hours, and also help them keep in touch with friends and family during the week.

"This is an area where our students can really be equal with other students because they are visual learners," said Jacqueline Day, KSD principal.

Connections and relationships

Andrew McNeill, vice president of program development with ConnectKentucky, lived in Danville for four years while attending Centre College. He said he often passed through KSD's campus but never took advantage of the opportunity to better understand the community.

"It's very fulfilling to have a better opportunity to learn the mission and work of the school," he said.

David McFaddin, president of Kentucky AT&T Pioneers, said the agency has a long history of working with deaf communities. Helping KSD is a "really good fit for us."

A connection with Deby Trueblood, director of technology at KSD, was another reason for making the donation to KSD. McFaddin said it was a good opportunity from a volunteer standpoint to take advantage of that relationship with Trueblood.

A full technology assessment took place to determine the school's needs. The equipment selected will be Dell computers, which are expected to hit campus the same time students come back for classes after summer break.

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