COOKE COUNTY, TEXAS — North Central Texas College's HUD CTC Division received the Station of the Year Award at RSVP's recognition event, "Take Time to Care".  The center provides low-cost basic computer training to rural and low-income individuals.  In addition, the program offers free public computer access for community members to use the computers at each of the Community Technology Centers.  Station Manager Scott Pulte wrote "RSVP volunteers Julian Smith and John Parkins have been actively volunteering with our program for over two years now at our HUD location.  Both started out by taking many of our free computer courses, thus expanding their knowledge of technology.  As an appreciation for the training received, both offered to volunteer during public access time to keep the centers open and to educate others who lack these skills.

Combined, both Julian and John volunteer over eight hours per week at the Gainesville Housing Authority CTC.  Both are very compassionate and dedicated volunteers.  They have the patience to help someone who has no prior computer knowledge and mesh extremely well with our staff.  They are humble enough to have a good laugh when they make mistakes, which as we know everyone does when it comes to working with technology.

NCTC is proud to have such a dedicated volunteer staff to serve and educate the community.  The efforts that this team provides to our program and community are truly an asset."

April, 2005

John Parkins receiving the Station of the Year award on behalf of the HUD Community Technology Center. 

GAINESVILLE, TEXAS — A special graduation ceremony this week honored the first group of students completing a Spanish language computer education program at North Central Texas College.

The program is a joint project involving NCTC and the Instituto Technológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, commonly known as Tec de Monterrey, which over the past three years has established a network of community learning centers known as CCAs at a number of locations in the U.S.

A site was opened at NCTC's Gainesville Campus in March 2003 to teach basic computing skills, free of charge, to Spanish speaking residents of Cooke County.

“This graduation ceremony was special in a number of ways, not the least of which is that it represents a notable achievement by some very special individuals who completed the program,” said Scott Pulte, computer training coordinator from NCTC's Division of Lifelong Learning who oversees the CCA program and the Community Technology Center where the classes were taught.

“It's also special because of a very singular distinction brought to NCTC and the program by the total commitment of these graduates,” Pulte said.

This distinction, as announced at the ceremony by Maluza Escamilla, CCA coordinator from Dallas, is that more than 80 percent of the students who started the program actually completed all required coursework and earned a certificate.

“This is the highest graduation rate among all of the CCAs located in the United States,” said Escamilla. “The college and all the staff, instructors and community volunteers associated with the program here, and especially these dedicated students, are to be commended.”

Also present for the ceremony were Community Technology Center instructors Peggy Jirasek and Jim Ellis and Djuna Forrester, director of NCTC's Division of Lifelong Learning.

Members of the program's first graduating class include: Martha Puckett, Eduwiges Garcia, Elisa Botello, Mireya Vargas, Martha Ruiz, Maria Teresa Meza, Daniel Meza, Maria Colmenero, Yadiralia Olvera, Christina Torres, Silvia Navarro, Anna Maria Guazo, Jesus Falliner, Judith Quiroz, Ricardo Martinez, Jesus Falliner Jr., Jesus Dominguez and Valentin Hernandez.

Pulte reported that these graduates completed more than 180 hours of computer-related coursework in topic areas ranging from basic computing and the internet to specific applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. The classes are taught via an interactive website hosted by Tec de Monterrey in Mexico.

“There has been a wonderful response from the community to the CCA we set up here on campus,” said Pulte, “with 25 to 30 students typically attending the evening classes.

“We believe the high retention rate among participants is largely attributable to the outstanding work and dedication of our participating sponsors and volunteers, especially our Spanish speaking facilitators who volunteer six hours each week to teach the classes.”

Pulte added that the program's goal is to not only teach basic computing classes but also to also help students learn English so that they can apply what they learn to the workplace.

A new class is expected to begin either this summer or fall.
Pulte said the program is also actively seeking Spanish speaking volunteers who have basic computer skills to help facilitate the program. Persons wishing to volunteer or to join the waiting list for future classes may contact Scott Pulte at 940-668-4272.

COMPUTER GRADUATES— Members of the first graduating class of a special Spanish language computer education program were honored at North Central Texas College this week. They are, left to right, seated: Martha Puckett, Eduwiges Garcia, Elisa Botello, Mireya Vargas and Martha Ruiz. In the second row, left to right, are: Maluza Escamilla, representing Tec de Monterrey of Mexico; Maria Teresa Meza; Georgina Serrano and Arturo de la Rosa, class facilitators; Daniel Meza, Maria Colmenero, Yadiralia Olvera and Christina Torres. In the back row, left to right, are: Silvia Navarro, Anna Maria Guazo, Jesus Falliner, Judith Quiroz, Ricardo Martinez, NCTC computer training coordinator Scott Pulte, Jesus Falliner Jr., Jesus Dominguez and Valentin Hernandez.

May 19, 2004

GAINESVILLE - The Cooke County Youth Center has been partnered with NTRN since Febrary 2002 to provide a Community Technology Center for area youth. Recently, new desks were added to the computer lab to allow more room and a lower surface area. The computers have been an important asset for the children this summer. From June to August, the NTRN-CTC lab has seen over 2280 visits!

GAINESVILLE - Another year of hard work and dedication was recognized at the annual staff cook-out. After filling up with enormous hamburgers and sugar-filled deserts, several volunteers and instructors were recognized for there roles in making the NTRN-CTC program so successful. Recipients included: Julian Smith, Jamie Ebarb, Vincent Van Acht, Peggy Jirasek, Jim Ellis, Sam Mmaitsi, Lilton Lawson, and Alfred Kainga. A cook-out was also organized in Bowie, Texas to recognize our Montague County instructors. Those honored were: Richelle McMillion, Jessica Smith, Zarsy Reeves, Terry Paddack, Tommey Freeman, and Jennifer Fluitt. Without these dedicated and patient workers, our program would not be where it is today.