LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE—Students at the Technology Leadership Institute showcased their works on poster board or hand-made electronics to parents of their Learning colleagues and professors at the University of Pittsburgh.

When Tonya Groover first started doing research into the disparity between African-Americans and whites in the world of technology, she never imagined that it would lead her to create the Technology Leadership Institute, but it did.

“I found some numbers that I was kind of disappointed with in universities,” Groover said.

Her disappointment inspired her desire to do something on an individual level to try to change things. She knew she wanted to work with high school students and went from there. She started by asking some key questions: What do students need? How can we as a university supply those needs?

Once Groover sufficiently answered those questions, she submitted a proposal to Pitt’s Diversity Committee, of which her computer science department chair, Dr. Rami Melhem was a member, and the Technology Leadership Institute was born.

“It was kind of a win-win situation,” Groover said. “The kids get something good and the university gets exposure.” She went on to point out that the students who participated in the program would be more likely to choose Pitt over other universities for their education in information technology.

Groover, a computer science major, welcomed 24 students to the inaugural program. The area teens spent six weeks learning skills like how to build a Web site and writing Java script--skills Groover said they might not be able to learn in their high schools.

Although there were some students who told Groover on the first day that they came because their mothers sent them, she noticed that once things got started, they all had a genuine interest in learning what the program had to teach. The biggest obstacle Groover faced was erasing the stigma associated with being a “computer geek.” She used Bill Gates, one of the richest men in America, as an example. Once that was done, the fun of learning computer technology began.

Lynne Clark of Forest Hills had little trouble convincing her 14-year-old daughter Charlotte to attend because Charlotte has “a love for robotics and computer work.” Clark likes the fact the program gives the students an opportunity that they might not otherwise have.

“The students really enjoyed being with other students like themselves, sharing a similar interest,” Groover said.

Phil Norris, 17, of Robinson Township expressed that learning “with your own people” was something that really pleased him about the program. Norris went on to say that participating in something like the Technology Leadership Institute was a good way to know “if this is what you want to do with your life.”

Participating in the Technology Leadership Institute is free, only a $50 refundable deposit has to be submitted along with the application. Upon completion of the program, which includes going back to their communities and applying what they learned through community service projects, the deposit is returned. Some of the community service projects performed by this year’s students include creating Web sites for their churches to writing easy to understand instructions on how to use the Internet and create an online e-mail account.

Any African-American high school student with a GPA of 2.5 or better can apply. In addition to submitting an application, students must also have two letters of recommendation, one from a teacher and one from anyone other than a relative. They were also required to write two essays which they chose from among three possible topics: Who do you admire most and what (about that person) do you want to emulate in yourself? What types of technology-related community service projects would you want to perform and how would it affect your community? What type of technology-related careers are you interested in and why? Finally, they must provide a copy of their high school transcript.

Groover would like to do more with the students in next year’s program like taking them on more field trips. They went to Fed-Ex Ground for career shadowing this year. Next year she would like to not only take them to technology-related places like the Carnegie Science Center or a visit to the Pittsburgh Super Computer Center, but she would also like to take them on fun field trips, like going to an area pool, to reward them for all of their hard work. And Groover said it would be nice to add another five to ten students to her roster. This will, of course, require an increase in budget. But after witnessing what the students achieved, Groover thinks it’s worth it.

“I really think it’s a big accomplishment for these students to come here to this program despite pressure from peers who aren’t doing anything during the summer,” Groover said. She also noted that the students began the program within only a week or two of completing their regular high school studies.

Groover believes that educating more African-American teens is not only good for the teens, it is good for everybody.

“People who are educated don’t usually commit crime,” she said.