For the second year on a row, the Homestead Education Committee awarded laptops to various public schools in the City. At the January Council meeting, Councilman Elvis Maldonado, Chair of the Education Committee, presented representatives from Homestead Senior High School, Campbell Drive K-8, Campbell Drive Middle School, West Homestead Elementary School, and Laura Saunders Elementary School with a laptop to be awarded to a deserving student.
“When I heard about this program I was very excited,” said Homestead Senior High Principal Cory Rodriguez, who received the two laptops for the school. “This is great help for what we are trying to achieve in our school as far as increasing the number of computer labs and the number of students who have access to computers so that they can be competitive individuals in this technological world.”
Councilman Maldonado said at the meeting that the computer donation to these schools that are in a “feeder pattern” is one of the ways in which the Education Committee is helping push education in Homestead. “We want to do everything we can to help our students be successful,” said Councilman Maldonado. “I’ve said this time and again: education is the building block to this great City. We are going to continue working to make a difference in our children’s lives.”
The school representatives shared stories as to how they had awarded the laptops last year and the impact it had on the students. Campbell Drive K-8 reading coach and teacher Julie Nuhfer-Gonzalez explained that last year when they received the laptop they created an award called “The Elvis Maldonado and Education Committee Award,” and presented it to a student for best overall achievement in citizenship and academia.
“The child who won did not have a computer at home so imagine the difference in that student’s life who can now do research for her homework and not be at a disadvantage,” said Nuhfer-Gonzalez. “This year students have already been asking about the computer giveaway, they are excited about the opportunity to have a computer.”
