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SBC Communications Introduces High School Students to Careers in Engineering and Technology
SBC Communications Introduces High School Students to Careers in Engineering and Technology
Published 03-27-03
Submitted by SBC Communications Inc.
“HACEMOS High Tech Day is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our students to network with other students across the country and have access to state-of-the art technology,” said Pat Rodriguez, department head for Career & Technology at L.W. Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, Texas. “We commend HACEMOS and SBC for their continued efforts in providing our youth with access to technology.”
HACEMOS will simultaneously link high school students from 14 locations in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin as part of the March 27th event. During the videoconference link, from noon to 1 p.m. CST, Dr. Fred Chang, president of technology strategy for SBC, will communicate to students the impact technology has made on his profession and the opportunities that careers in engineering and high technology offer young people as the telecommunications industry continues to evolve.
“Success in encouraging underrepresented minority students to pursue paths in engineering and technology careers is essential in today’s global economy,” said Dr. Chang. “Working together, HACEMOS and the SBC Foundation are connecting these students through hands-on workshops. We’re highlighting the rewarding opportunities that exist in high technology careers and the business need for companies to recruit and retain a multicultural technology and engineering workforce.”
Made possible through a $15,000 SBC Foundation grant, HACEMOS High Technology Day is an event for high school students of all backgrounds, but special emphasis is placed on reaching Hispanics and other minorities who continue to be underrepresented in most technical fields, according to data compiled by the Department of Labor and by the Information Technology Association of America. For example, while Hispanics make up 12.5 percent of the total U.S. population – a percentage that is expected to continue growing – the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports they make up just 5.4 percent of the IT workforce.
SBC's own workforce is above average in Hispanic representation, with Hispanics making up 7 percent of the IT workforce and 13 percent of SBC's overall workforce.
“In this technology-driven world in which we live, it is vital for students to understand the impact that both technology and education have on their lives,” said John Alvarado, executive vice president of operations for HACEMOS. “Our mission is to spark the interest of these students so that they may go on to make a positive contribution to the future of our world.”
The SBC Foundation grant will fund workshops and tours of SBC facilities and technology, with opportunities for students to participate in hands-on technical activities, such as programming a link from their school's Web site to the HACEMOS Web site. In addition, 150 HACEMOS volunteers have given their time to organize and participate in event activities. They share information with participating students on available scholarships, career guidance resources, tips on interviewing for jobs, and provide pointers on how to access and integrate technology as an educational tool. Students at all 14 locations will get to introduce their schools to the nationwide participants in the videoconference. Since the event was launched nationally in 1999, more than 3,000 students have benefited from the program.
SBC and HACEMOS plan to annually host this national event – made possible through interactive technology – in years to come to continue to raise awareness levels of technology and how it is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity in today’s technology driven environment.
HACEMOS, which has 1,500 members, and SBC recognize the importance of educating the Hispanic youth of America in preparation for a technology-intensive future and are committed to continue to develop and promote community-focused education projects involving technology.
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SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is one of the world’s leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through its world-class networks, SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing. A Fortune 30 company, America’s leading provider of high-speed DSL Internet Access services, and one of the nation’s leading Internet Service Providers, SBC companies currently serve 57 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC companies own 60 percent of America’s second-largest wireless company, Cingular Wireless, which serves 22 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC companies have telecommunications investments in 27 countries.
The 1,500 members of Hispanic Association of Communications Employees of SBC (HACEMOS) works to foster an environment where employees help each other succeed professionally, personally, and in the community. HACEMOS’ principal objectives are to promote the advancement of its members, assist SBC in reaching its goals, and improve the quality of life in the Hispanic community.
The SBC Foundation is the charitable giving arm of SBC Communications Inc. The SBC Foundation supports efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide, particularly those with an emphasis on education and technology and those that benefit underserved populations. SBC Foundation-backed programs are designed to increase access to information technologies, broaden technology training and professional skills development, and effectively integrate new technologies to enhance education and economic development. The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Foundation Center have consistently ranked the SBC Foundation among the nation's top five corporate foundations. In 2002, the SBC Foundation launched SBC Excelerator, a multi-million dollar competitive grants program that funds non-profit organizations in their efforts to digitally connect communities.
