BlairConnect connects students to Internet

Nestled in the back of the Media Center, the head-in room is overlooked by many Blair students researching and surfing the web. But students with a love of technology use their expertise and time in the cramped, wire-ridden room to connect with the Blair community.

Senior Aaron Johnson, the student coordinator and president of BlairConnect, volunteers with eleven other students during lunch and after school for the computer giveaway program. These Blazers work with Blair staff and alumni, as well as the community and parent volunteers, to give Blair students the chance to own an Internet-capable computer. Since the summer of 2000, 600 to 700 refurbished computers have been distributed without cost to students who don't have a computer at home.

Computer-lacking students can then use the newly-installed software to access BEN and other online resources to help with their schoolwork. Johnson emphasizes the importance of having access to a computer at home. "Teachers are encouraged to put things on BEN," he says, "but if their students don't have access to it from home, then it isn't worth their time. Students need to know how to use a computer and how to use the Internet, and the best way to do that is to give them one of their own."

User Support Specialist Anne Wisniewski and alumnus Jesse Kovach (2000) began BlairConnect in the summer of 2000, and since then, the program has expanded and gained recognition. Blair's PTSA and SGA support the award-winning program, which has received the AOL Aspires grant and the Marriott Spirit to Serve Award.

While the program was initially intended to help the immediate Blair community, it has branched out to include students in New Hampshire States Elementary, a school near Langley Park. At least three sets of computers were even sent as far away as Africa. Two or three years ago, approximately 12 computers were sent to a group that helps African communities. Over the summer, two students also ordered five laptops for an engineering program in Ethiopia. A group of educators visited Blair from South Africa and received a third set of laptops so they could run math-tutoring software.

Johnson is especially grateful that Marriott International donates most of the computers for this project free of cost. Private donations along with NBC4's Digital Edge Expo eRecycling event also help the cause.

BlairConnect plays a vital role in helping Blair students become more technologically capable, according to Johnson. "I think it is a wonderful program," Johnson says, "that fills a much-needed role in our community." He believes more students should take advantage of BlairConnect and not miss the opportunity to benefit from the Blair community.

The following adults are involved in the program.
Anne Wisniewski
John White

The following are graduates who have been involved in BlairConnect.
Jesse Kovach (2000)
Justin Osborn (2001)

The following are the current Blair students involved.

Aaron Johnson (2004)
Chris Mulligan (2004)
Elliott Wolf (2004)
Jared Osborn (2004)
Andrew Tourtellot (2004)
Michael Price (2004)
Walker Lindley (2004)
Michael Gonzalez-Chavez (2005)
David White (2006)
Josh Uzzell (2007)
Daniel Keller (2007)
Robert Ginsberg (2007)

Monitors, keyboards, mice, power cords and Pentium 2 computers or better are accepted for donations. BlairConnect does accept older Pentiums for certain computer parts, such as CD-ROM drives, power supply and memory. Computer and monetary donations are also greatly appreciated. The money is used to buy modems and computer mice. To make a donation or to volunteer to refurbish computers, e-mail Wisniewski at wiz@mbhs.edu or call 301-649-2899. Group members can also be reached in the head-in room between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on a school day.

If students without Internet-capable computers at home are interested in the program, they can sign up through teachers Joseph Bellino in room 153 and Susan Madden in the Media Center. There is currently no waiting list for a computer.

For more information, check out the BlairConnect website.