fyi... -ac FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MCI Provides Student Technology Literacy to 10,000 California Students Grant Opportunity Announced OLYMPIA, WA - December 15, 2005 - MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) today announced a grant opportunity for middle schools in the California Central Valley. The grant will provide a student technology literacy program at no cost to the school. The initiative aims to improve student technology literacy skills by utilizing student-to-student peer training and mentoring and research based practices. In partnership with Generation Y, the MCI award will include training, materials, resources, certificates, and a stipend for the teacher or advisor running the technology literacy program in the school. This opportunity is available to any public Title I school in the Central California Valley region (comprising 13 counties) that serves seventh grade students. The application is online at the Generation Y website http://www.geny.org/mci and is due January 18, 2006. The goal of the grant is to close the digital divide by ensuring traditionally underserved students have access to technology and the skills to use it in powerful ways related to their school and community. In addition, the grant funding will assist schools in meeting the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) goal of ensuring every eighth grade student becomes technology literate. Finally, students will be able to create projects in any language for use in their own homes, schools and communities. "Technology literacy for students is a crucial goal," said Elisa L. Liang, vice president, MCI Community Relations. "Connecting underserved youth with innovative, exciting opportunities such as those provided through this grant, offers a key to improving education and helping students achieve their potential." "We are very excited about this opportunity to reach so many students in California," said Dr. Dennis Harper, executive director of the non-profit Generation Y. "By encouraging students to create innovative, personally meaningful projects using technology, they assume responsibility for their own learning. Some of these students will also take on leadership roles in their own schools, mentoring and teaching their peers about technology." About MCI, Inc. MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With one of the most expansive global IP backbones and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to www.mci.com. About Generation Y Generation Y promotes constructive technology use by youth. They accomplish this mission by providing resources, materials, models, and collaborative opportunities for youth-created, coordinated, and constructed by their peers. For more information, go to www.geny.org. ### For more information contact: Dr. Dennis Harper Generation Y (888) 941-4369 x111 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Eligible Counties: Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, or Tuolumne. Related Sites: Grant Application: www.geny.org/mci Press Release (Word and PDF): www.geny.org/mci/pressrelease Generation Y: www.geny.org MCI: www.mci.com -- ----------------------------------- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media & Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com ----------------------------------- _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
