The Foundation reaches out to every student in this region to collaborate in achieving our mission of building the technology talent pipeline. Core our mission is to ensure every technology student has the skills and knowledge to work in the 21^st century.

We support students in the following ways:

·  Higher Education

Could you benefit from building an advisory board of industry professionals that support you in your career objectives?  We plan on supporting you to do that. We have created a community concept where students, academia and industry come together to discuss and support student members in their pursuit of a technology education.

Not only can you connect with people via social networking online and offline, but you’ll have access to the knowledge and experience of all of our partners: business and academia.

The Foundation is the central location where all the region's student, educators, and business people come together. 

·   High School

If you’re a high school student and looking to pursue a career in technology, we have a number of ways we can support you.  First, we can come out to your school and provide you with the knowledge of how to pursue such a career path. Second, we can make recommendations to students as to high schools that will support your technology passion.

For those entering 9^th grade, we can recommend looking at the CAAT.org for a Chicago Public School geared towards a technology education.

·  Elementary School

So you don’t know that much about technology careers. Here at the Foundation, we have programs were we come to your school and inform you about the exciting careers in technology.

Technology careers have changed drastically in the last 5-10 years. Those graduates with current technology expertise are widely needed by companies.

Educators and Parents are welcomed to contact us about elementary school outreach programs.

50 For The Future

Did you know that each year we award Fifty students for being one of the 50 For The Future? 

Fifty of the most promising students in Illinois that have an interest and demonstrated career potential in technology will be selected and honored in April 2009; thus providing the student recipients a launching pad for their careers and potential employers across the region to learn of the emerging tech talent.

This award is given to those students who are nominated by their teachers and then selected from a panel of judges.

What will the Judges be looking for in the 2009 Recipients?

The Judging Committee will be selecting the best technology industry minded students in computer science, engineering, math and business recommended by Illinois educational programs from high school through masters levels. Selection will be based on demonstrated leadership and capacity for innovative thinking, effective communication skills, community and/or school involvement, and solid academic performance.

Key dates you need to know about.

• Educators identify themselves as wanting to be a nominator: Starts now
• Soon we will announce new dates for 2010

Get all the details.

We have an area on the site dedicated to the 2009 50 for the Future. Go here for the details.

How to get nominated.

If you want to be nominated or know someone who should be nominated for 2009, please identify a teacher or professor who would do this for you. You can help the, by making sure they are part of our nominator database. Send them to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4vrrXFgBxiUhgZWnNNREVQ_3d_3d to become a nominator.