Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Aug. 1, 1996, edition 1 / Page 14
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QTlje CI)arlotte ^oSt THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1996 14A Urban League computer camp PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON Rondell Ware, left, and Demario Harriston at workstation during one-of-a-kind summer computer camp sponsored by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Urban League chapter. 14 students spend summer learning all about computers By John Minter THE CHARLOTTE POST While many young people have spent the summer Idling away the hours, 14 youth got the chance of a lifetime. Thirty days to learn all about computers. And, they get to take home their own computers after the program ends, thanks to the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County’s Charlotte’s Web community network. Sponsored by the Urban League of Charlotte and MecKlenburg County, the 30-day Summer Youth Computer Camp brought together youth from middle schools across the district. They were tested for apti tude and attitude and the select group was chosen for the program, which began July 8. All of the kids but one scored above grade level when tested In computer use and English skills. The participant were aged 11-15, and in grades 6-9, They came from Earle Village, Dalton Village, Boulevard Homes, places where the Urban League already had programs such as Teens in Touch and AmerlCorps. Coordinators of those pro grams identified kids they thought would be good for the computer camp. In addition to the training at the Urban League offices, the campers also visited the Public Library regularly for training on how to use the Internet, Once the camp is over, they will have access to Internet, through Charlotte’s Web, In addition to the computer training, the youngsters keep dciily journals and par ticipate In confidence build ing and creative activities. They even do artwork on the computers. The program Is being viewed as a model program, which If successful, may be adopted by more of the 114 Urban League affiliates across the country. Right moves lead to beach; girls team wins at Jeopardy By John Minter THE CHARLOTTE POST W hat is the name of the Carolinas Panthers running back from Michigan that is a hold out from training camp? What is the name of the computer company that Is providing computer systems to the Olympic games'? What is the capital of Iowa? Answering questions like these helped a team of young women win a three- day trip to Myrtle Beach later this summer. The team was among the 150 young people In grades 6 and 7 in the Right Moves for Youth program. Right Moves for Youth Summer Enrichment Program Is a cooperative effort between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Department, the Charlotte Housing Authority and area churches. The program, bom from an Idea by Officer Dave Scheppegrell. lasts 10 weeks and ends this summer’s activities with a picnic Friday at Independence Park, One thing’s for sure. The young participants get intro duced to activities outside the norm for the communi ties in which they live. They get a chance to play basketball, but they also get involved In non-traditional sports such a indoor rock climbing, hiking on Kings Mountain, fishing, golf and Tae Kwon do. And then there are the weekly Jeopardy games forc ing the youth to study sub- PHOTOS/FRANK WILLIAMS Jeopardy teams - (left to right) Boys - Front to back - Ferman Smith, Jerome Sturdivant, Steve Nelson, Mark Mammon, Carlo Wilson, Larohn Gardner, William Jones, and Kenard Marshall (not pictured. Officer T.E. Roddey, coach). Girls - Front to back - Phalla Keo, Anescla Spears, Phally Keo, Deniker Jones, Tlsh Brooks, Shantlka Carrothers, Talquisha Howie, Jennifer Rankin, Shamika Grier, and Emerald Haywood, with coach, in center. Officer C.K. Wall, (not pictured - Carla Alexander and Janelle Shipp). Jects ranging from sports to math, to history, science and current events. They had to read the newspaper for that one. Pizza parties abounded, thanks to Papa John’s Pizzas. Tuesday was the grand finale, the championship round of the Youth Jeopardy Academic Championship, pitting a team girls from North Charlotte against a team of boys from Boulevard Homes. The match was held at St. John’s Baptist Church on Hawthorne Lane. And it was close, but final ly the girls prevailed, win ning on a bonus question to break a tie score. Scheppegrell, then a school resource officer, began orga nizing clubs for students in middle schools nearly a decade ago, seeking a way to give them something special they could be a part of. The key to the Right Moves summer program, Scheppegrell said was forc ing the children to try new things aund to learn. “Some kids never study,” Scheppegrell said. “We gave them quick rewards. They had pizza parties the next day when they won." Each week they took on a non-traditlonal sport, so they couldn’t just play bas ketball, They had to partici pate In all the events to earn the chance to play basket- bedl, he said. And always the academics. The answer to the ques tions with which this article began are. In order - Tshlmanga Blakabutuka, IBM and Des Moines, Hot fun in Washington Heights Chloe Jant, 6, watches as □avid Earle, operations man ager for the Wellness Group, paints faces of children at Washington Heights commu nity’s annual summer festi val. Chloe, perhaps looking to the future, had a star placed on her face. Earle, who was accompanied by The Wellness Group apple mascot, was just one of many features at the event. Bridget Phifer of Portraits of Color led a troupe of youngsters in a jazz dance routine and the Charlotte firefighters brought their “Get Out Alive" fire safety house. McGruff the Crime Dog visited, as did Charlotte City Council mem ber Malachi Greene. Mattie Marshall Is president of the Washington Heights neigh borhood association. PHOTO/SUE ANN JOHNSON PHOTO/CHARLES CLARKSON Winners read! Nearly 1,800 youngsters showed up at the Charlotte Coliseum Tuesday to celebrate the end to the annual summer reading program sponsored by Publie Libraiy of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, Gaston-Lincoln Regional Libraiy, Charles A. Cannon Memorial Library and the York County Library. The young readers, like eight-year-old Jonquez Davis, (pic tured at right with Hugo the Hornet), were treated to a cele bration and given prizes for reading throughout the summer. The annual program rewards children for reading books. Parents help keep score and were also invited to the coliseum for the end of program festival, coordinated by Pat Siegfried, youth services director of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Moira Quinn and C,J. Underwood of WBTV hosted the event, which included a magic show by John Tudor and the “Captain Rainbow to the Rescue: show with Hardin Minor, Local sports mascots were also on hand, among them, in addition to Hugo, were Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers, and Lug Nut of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, The library summer reading mascot. Highspeed Harry also entertained the children. Summer reading is cosponsored by Friends of the Public Libraiy, WBTV News Channel 3, First Union and Wendy’s.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Aug. 1, 1996, edition 1
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