Columbia Insurance Technology Consortium, USC offer Technology Camp, free laptops to high- achieving high school students

High- achieving high school sophomores and juniors in Columbia will have the opportunity to develop their computer skills, learn about careers in information technology, and build their own laptop computer during the first High Performance Information Technology Camp, which will take place in February.

The camp, to be held at USC on three consecutive Saturdays beginning Feb. 2, 2008, is offered jointly by the Columbia Insurance Technology Consortium (CITC) and the Technology Support and Training Management Program at USC's College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management.

BlueCross Blue Shield of S.C., a founding member of CITC, is funding the February camp. There is no charge for attendees, but space is limited to 15 high school students from Richland and Lexington counties. CITC and USC plan to make the camp a biannual event.

Students will receive training on computer architecture, application development, large- scale computing and other concepts. Followup sessions are planned, including one on installing game- development systems to enhance development and retention.

Students will build their own laptop, which they will take home following the camp. They will also tour university facilities, attend a USC basketball game, and spend time with university professors.

"One of the goals of the CITC is to draw more students to IT curriculums, and this camp is a fantastic start," said Pete Ashi, chief operations officer of TM Floyd & Company and chairman of CITC. "Columbia has a concentration of high- tech companies, particularly in the insurance sector, so it is imperative that more efforts of this nature materialize.

CITC, which includes insurance and technology companies, addresses issues that impact the insurance industry. Founding members are S.C. BlueCross BlueShield, Colonial Supplemental Life, CGI, Fiserv, Pequot Ventures and TM Floyd & Company.

To be considered for the camp, students must attend a high school in Richland or Lexington counties, submit an application, and have a letter of reference from a teacher. Students also must submit a 500- word essay explaining, In what ways do you think the technology industry will grow in the next 5- 10 years, and what will that mean for a career in IT?

"We are creating this camp to excite high school students about computer technology majors in college that lead to rewarding careers, said Bob Brookshire, director of USC's Technology Support and Training Management Program. "Employers anticipate a huge need for new technology professionals as their current employees retire."

Applications are available for download at www.hrsm.sc.edu. The deadline is Dec. 14, 2007.Contact Karen Kemp at 803-777-660 or kemp@sc.edu.