Lighthouse Computer Services And Doug Schwinn Scholarships Benefit Two Rhode Island Students Attending RI Colleges This Fall.

PROVIDENCE, RI – Tech Collective, Rhode Island’s information technology and bioscience Industry Association, today announced scholarships totaling $4,500 have been awarded to a Rhode Island high school senior and a Rhode Island student at the New England Institute of Technology who are both pursuing IT and Cyber Security education in the fall. The scholarships are funded by Lighthouse Computer Services and the Doug Schwinn Scholarship Fund; they are managed by Tech Collective.

Since 2009, Tech Collective has allocated $33,000 in STEM education related scholarships to 16 Rhode Island students. Scholarship recipients are chosen by Tech Collective’s Women in Technology Committee based on their scholarship essay, scholastic record, resume, and teacher recommendations.

This year’s 2015 scholarship recipients are:

Lighthouse Computer Services/Tech Collective Scholarship

$2,000 scholarship awarded to a Rhode Island student studying Computer Science at a Rhode Island college/university and with an affiliation to one of the five US Military branches.

Recipient: Kyle Daun – Kyle will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology and Cyber Security from New England Institute of Technology in March 2016. Prior to attending NEIT, Kyle served 14 years in the US Army Military Police Corps. He is currently a Staff Sergeant with the US Army Reserves #399 Combat Support Hospital.

JoAnn Johnson, manager of youth and education programs for Tech Collective, stated that “Kyle is the epitome of the type of scholarship candidate we look for every year. Kyle has an impressive and specialized military background having served in various global locations including Kosovo and Iraq. He demonstrates the core values on which the scholarship is based – commitment, strong academic record, and leadership. Kyle is a truly deserving, well-rounded candidate who will enhance the IT field in the not-too-distant future.”

$2,500 Doug Schwinn/Tech Collective Scholarship

$2,500 to a female or minority student interested in pursuing a major in the STEM fields.

Recipient: Marissa Martell – Marissa is a 2015 Chariho High School graduate and four year honor roll recipient. Marissa was a Gold Medalist in Skills USA’s computer maintenance and repair contest and a 2013 NCWIT award winner for Computing Achievements and Aspirations. In the fall, Marissa will be attending the University of Rhode Island and majoring in Computer Science/Cyber Security.

According to her high school technology teacher, Mr. Donald McCabe, “Marissa is an exemplary student, leader and role model for young women entering the technology field.  She is relied upon by both students and staff for her amiable assistance as a 1:1 intern and help desk and computer repair technician for the Chariho district.  She is also among the first successful cohort of Chariho students to complete dual enrollment, undergraduate credits from URI in Cyber Security and Computer Forensics.”

In 2009, Tom Mrva, CEO of Lighthouse Computer Services, of Lincoln, Rhode Island, established the scholarship to recognize high school and college students who are pursuing a degree in Computer Science at a Rhode Island college or university, have an affiliation to the US Military, and demonstrate commitment, dedication, strong academic record, leadership, and a determination to gain a post -secondary degree.

“As a company committed to ongoing education and excellence, Lighthouse is honored to be able to help Kyle pursue a career in Information Technology and Cyber Security from New England Institute of Technology,” said Tom Mrva, Founder and CEO of  Lighthouse Computer Services. “Companies like Lighthouse rely heavily on IT talent, so I find it important to invest and support associations like Tech Collective in their efforts to make education possible for local talent.”

“Tech Collective is proud to support our local students pursuing IT and STEM studies in Rhode Island,” said JoAnn Johnson, manager of youth and education programs for Tech Collective. “Rhode Island is home to many innovative companies looking for the passion that Kyle and Marissa possess. With the help of these scholarships, we look forward to them turning their passion into an education and successful career. We also thank Lighthouse Computer Services for their continued support and generosity.”

For more information and to view past scholarship recipients, visit www.tech-collective.org.

About Lighthouse Computer Services:
Lighthouse Computer Services is an IT solutions provider for the Northeast that uses best-in-class technologies and services to solve critical business needs. Founded in 1995, our mission is to build long-term technology partnerships with all our clients and to support them with the most advanced, devoted, and experienced team. Today, we are one of the most recognized and awarded IBM Premier Business Partners in the US. For more information about the company, please visit www.LighthouseCS.com.

Tech Collective: Tech Collective is Rhode Island’s Information Technology and Bioscience Industry Association. Uniting industry, government and academic stakeholders, our mission is to inspire, engage, educate and employ a high-skill, high-wage Knowledge Economy in Rhode Island. Since its transition from the Rhode Island Technology Council (RITEC) in 2004, Tech Collective has received more than $8M in federal, state and private grant funding to foster industry collaboration, awareness and development through forums and initiatives including the Tech10 Awards, the Rhode Island Bioscience Awards, IT Managers Roundtable, Bio-Ed, and Women in Technology. STEM-based education and training programs such as GRRL Tech, the Fellowship program, and IT On Demand span across the workforce pipeline for K-16 students through incumbent and transitioning workers. Get connected to Tech Collective at www.tech-collective.org, on LinkedIn (Tech-Collective), on Twitter (@Tech_Collective), and on Facebook (TechCollectiveRI).

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