colorado futuretek programs...summer silverteks is a win-win, giving valuable assistance to senior...
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COLORADO FUTURETEK PROGRAMS
STEAM!
(Middle School)
Financial
Management
Workshops
SummerTEK
(High School)
Other New
Initiatives
Summer SilverTeks
(Senior Citizens with
High School Tutors)
Internships
Silver Saturdays
(Senior Citizens with
High School Tutors)
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COLORADO FUTURETEK 10-YEAR PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
-
SummerTEK
SummerTEK is a 6-week tuition-free computer networking training program for African
American and other underrepresented high school students. Colorado Futuretek is an
official local Cisco Networking Academy, and we use their curricula, recognized world-wide
as a high-quality, effective training program. The knowledge and skills acquired in this
course can lead to one of the following innovative and rewarding careers: Network
Administrator, Network Engineer, Network Technician, Network Installer, or Help Desk
Technician. This course is also valuable for students who aspire to own their own business.
SummerTEK is a great opportunity to learn about the basic building blocks of computer
networks for home and small business enterprises in a supportive and user-friendly
environment. Students also attend field trips to state-of-the-art computer-related
facilities in the Denver area. While learning technical concepts, students also improve
their teamwork, problem-solving and verbal/written communication skills. Students who
successfully complete SummerTEK are awarded a Windows 10 laptop.
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Summer 2020 Network Design Challenge
The SummerTEK 2020 in-person program at New Hope Baptist Church had to be
cancelled due to the pandemic and was replaced by the Summer 2020 Network
Design Challenge for SummerTEK Alumni.
In the Summer 2020 Network Design Challenge, Colorado Futuretek students
were given a set of requirements to design, simulate and verify networks using
the Cisco Networking Academy’s Packet Tracer network simulator. The students
submitted their work online to our certified Cisco Networking Academy
Instructors.
Their designs included an internal network for a small business and a network
with internet access in which they configured a DHCP server, a DNS server, and
set up access to a web page from a Web server.
Prizes were awarded to students who successfully designed, tested and verified
both networks.
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Microsoft CareerX Days and Start Your Own Business Field Trips
For the past few years, Colorado Futuretek high school students have attended CareerX Days at
the Microsoft Technology Center, where they participated in interactive sessions including
coding, adaptive controller technology, artificial intelligence and productivity, and the HoloLens
augmented reality experience.
Among the SummerTEK students’ favorite field trips are the 4-session Start Your Own Business
workshops at the Microsoft store. Each student team brainstorms an idea for a product or
service. They learn the basics of making a business plan for producing, marketing, distributing,
and advertising their product or service. Each team presents their plan, and the group votes on
the best business pitch.
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Student Internship Program
Our Student Internship Program works to match students who excel in our training programs with paid
internships with large and small businesses in the Information Technology and Computer industries and
with other professional businesses and community organizations. Companies that participate by
providing internship positions benefit by gaining early exposure to potential future employees who are
already familiar with their work environment.
Colorado Futuretek subsidizes the student stipends for our interns at small businesses. These stipends
are funded by contributions to our Harold E. Montgomery Sr. Internship Stipend Fund which was started
by an initial endowment from Prof. Lynn Wilson and family.
Colorado Futuretek has facilitated paid summer internships at the following companies and
organizations: RTD, Triunity Engineering & Management, SparqU, Gilmore Construction, RTL
Networks, Empowercom, True Light Baptist Church Office, The Friendship School, and Colorado
Futuretek.
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STEAM! Middle School Program Online
5 weeks July 6 through Aug 6
Mondays and Wednesdays 10 to 11:15 am – 5th & 6th graders
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 to 11:15 am – 7th & 8th graders
STEAM! Is a collaborative program by Colorado Futuretek, SparqU, Steps to Success and True Light Baptist Church
Learn to use Microsoft Paint 3D
Learn MakeCode and Minecraft programming
Learn to manage money
Get a head start on College and Career readiness
The classes were conducted online using Zoom. Our Colorado Futuretek high school students worked as paid tutors assisting our adult instructors in teaching the middle school students. The program was provided to the middle school students free of charge.
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Summer SilverTeks
In our Summer SilverTeks program, students who have successfully completed
our SummerTEK program are chosen to assist our adult instructor by providing
one-on-one tutoring to senior citizens who want to improve their computer skills
(such as using PowerPoint, Excel, or MS Word), or who want to learn the basics of
using a laptop (using a word processor, sending email, using the internet,
customizing their computer for ease of use, etc.). Senior citizens also receive
assistance with smartphone basics from our high school students in this program.
The student tutors are rated for their performance and receive a stipend.
Summer SilverTeks is a win-win, giving valuable assistance to senior citizens, and
providing a useful employment opportunity for our students.
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Silver Saturdays moved from in-person to online
Moves to
In 2020, Colorado Futuretek started a new program, Silver Saturdays, a self-paced class to help
senior citizens 50 and over learn the basics or improve their skills using laptops or smartphones.
The course was led by adult instructor Lynn Jackson assisted by Colorado Futuretek teen
student tutors. The classes were held in-person at True Light Baptist Church 14333 Bolling
Drive in Denver once a month on the second Saturday morning from 10 am to 12 noon.
Originally scheduled for January through May and September through December 2020. There
is no cost to the senior citizens for this program. Due to the pandemic, the April class
was cancelled and the program was moved online starting in May.
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September 2020 Silver Saturdays class
Colorado Futuretek offered an online Summer SilverTeks 4-week computer basics course designed
for senior citizens over the age of 50, taught by our adult instructor assisted by our student tutors.
The course also includes assistance with smartphones. There is no charge for the program, and each
participant will receive 3 months’ access to an Illustrated Microsoft Office Fundamentals eBook
which we will use during the class. The class was conducted using Zoom.
Topics being covered in the class included:
Managing Files and Folders in Windows 10
Using Microsoft Office 2016 – Using the Ribbon, Ease of Access
Microsoft Word – Creating and Enhancing a Document
Microsoft Excel – Creating a Spreadsheet Budget; How to Create a Chart
Microsoft Power Point – Creating and Running a Presentation
Smartphone Basics – Android or iPhone
The class met online using Zoom Monday June 8 through Friday July 3, 2020 from
10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. each day.
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Computer and Information Technology Career Exploration Program
For two summers, Colorado Futuretek offered a Computer and Information Technology Career Exploration Program for high school students in partnership with the Denver Office of Economic Development Youth Services. This 4-week program was designed for 14-15 year old students to help prepare them for future workplace opportunities. It was hosted at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Financial Management Workshop
Colorado Futuretek facilitated a “Banking on our Future” workshop for 8th grade through high school students presented by Operation Hope at no cost to our students.
Founded by African American entrepreneur John Hope Bryant, Operation Hope is an award winning non-profit organization that equips young people and adults with the financial knowledge and tools to secure a better future.
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DSST Green Valley Ranch Elective Classes – (8 trimesters)
DSST Montview Elective Classes (11 trimesters)
Colorado Futuretek instructors have been teaching elective classes at the Denver School of Science and Technology since the Fall of 2012. We have taught at DSST Green Valley Ranch High School and DSST Montview High School.
Our Introduction to Computer Networking elective class covered some basic concepts of Internet communication protocols, network addressing, network services, wireless technologies, and security.
Our C programming with microcontrollers class was an introduction to C language programming using PIC16F887 microcontrollers.
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10th Annual Awards Luncheon
The 10th annual Colorado Futuretek Awards Luncheon at the New Hope Baptist Church Family
Life Center, which is our major fundraiser each year, had to be cancelled due to the pandemic –
and was replaced by a Celebrate10! Online Fundraiser held on August 8, 2020.
Colorado Futuretek Board of Directors (see https://www.cftek.org/about/board-of-directors/)
(not shown – David Hinds, Tevin Thompson)