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As owner of Azure Horizons, an Oak Park-based computer-consulting firm, Keith Carrizosa is an expert in bridging communication networks.
Recently, though, he served as a link for another kind of connection—arranging for one of his clients to donate 80 computers to Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago.
About 25 computers were brought to the school on Oct. 24 and the entire inventory should arrive by the end of November.
The donation has already begun providing students with significantly more hands-on computer operations and trouble-shooting experience than was previously possible in the classroom.
John Quinn, the school’s computer network instructor, said the computers provide a major educational boost to the 140 sophomores, juniors and seniors that he teaches.
“The kids lit up like Christmas trees when they saw these computers,” said Quinn. “This has already generated a lot of interest and a lot of excitement.”
Last year, when Roberto Clemente had 20 computers available for networking instruction, four students came just short of gaining A+ certification. That designation is a key career step for those embarking on a career in the computer services industry.
With the influx of donated computers, Quinn is confident that many students will develop their knowledge and skills to be able to gain A+ certification. His goal this school year is for at least 20 students to do so.
“Being A+ certified will greatly increase their chances of employment in today’s market,” said Quinn. “These computers are going to have a huge impact on the students. It’s going to give them hands-on experience fixing the computers and installing operating systems.”
“This will also enable me to keep them on track and get them motivated to stay on track to get their A+ certification and move right into the A+ networking program,” Quinn added.
Gaining A+ certification has an immediate economic benefit for higher education. The University of Illinois awards $8,000 scholarships to students for each year they have the certification, said Quinn.
The connection took shape in September when Carrizosa brainstormed how to re-purpose older computers that one of his clients, PLS Financial, was no longer going to use.
Through a friendship with the spouse of another teacher at Roberto Clemente, Carrizosa contacted Quinn to see if he would be interested in receiving the computers. Quinn gave an immediate and appreciative thumbs-up.
PLS Financial brought the computers to the Azure Horizons office. There, with the help of his son, Brian, Carrizosa spent 60 hours over the next month evaluating which ones could be re-used, as well as how each would best be deployed by the high school.
“Most of the computers we received from PLS Financial were being used as workstations,” said Carrizosa. “Through the years, components failed and as a business decision, about one-third of these computers are replaced every year.”
Of the computers that Azure Horizons received, only about 5 percent functioned without any problem. The remainder had missing pieces, which PLS Financial used to keep its other inventory functioning.
At today’s market value, the computers would cost about $400 apiece. Between their value, and the time that the Carrizosas took to assess them, the donation amounts to about $40,000.
For Carrizosa, the effort has been well worth it—to know that he is playing a role in helping students attain a skill they can use immediately after graduation, or as a steppingstone toward a degree in the information technology field.
“I’ve had plenty of people help me along the way,” said Carrizosa. “Passing along a fraction of the assistance that I’ve received has been so rewarding.”
For more information about Clemente High School, visit http://www.clementehs.org. For more information about Azure Horizons, visit http://www.azure-horizons.com.
