22 Feb 2010, Posted by Matthew Reinbold in Projects, 4 Comments

Announcing the CORE Scholarship

It is with great pleasure that after months of behind the scenes work I’m now able to announce CORE, or Computers for Ongoing Research and Education. The pilot program, run in conjunction with the ElectroRegeneration Society, provides a computer free of charge to Timber Lake, South Dakota high school seniors. Students must commit to continuing their education at either a university or trade school in the fall of 2010. They also must complete a 500 word essay that answers the question “How has growing up in Timber Lake contributed to the person you have become?”

Technological scarcity and rural communities is a subject I’m deeply aware of. I remember being a college freshman and having to juggle public computer lab hours on top of work and dorm life. I’m certain that the need for a computer – whether for homework, collaborating with peers, or keeping up on events at home – has only intensified in the decade since then.

Timber Lake was chosen as a test community because (1) I have existing ties with teachers and administration to get a program like this in front of students, (2) the initial sample size is small and manageable, and (3) the surrounding Dewey County, according to US Census Bureau statistics, is one of the poorest per-capita in the United States. This first time through the goal is to discover the issues administering a scholarship like this presents; issues on how to promote, administer, and distribute. It is my hope, however, that we’ll be able to expand the program’s scope to other deserving areas as the ElectroRegeneration Society grows.

If you’d like to help this and other important work please consider making a donation to the ElectroRegeneration Society (ERGSOC). Funds are transferred via safe and secure Paypal transaction. ERGSOC is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit and all financial gifts are tax deductible. Also, if you are a business looking to dispose of used office electronics please consider donating to ERGSOC. Together we can continue to create worthwhile programs to help deserving individuals reach their full potential.

With luck I’ll post a copy of the newspaper announcement when it becomes available later this week.