| {Mar} |
| The Radnor High School Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers (MAR) are, left to right: top row, Max Doherty, Brian Garber, faculty sponsor Nancy Holshue, and Ryan Slattery; bottom row, Arthur Ethgen and Riggs Mohler. |
RADNOR, Pa. - Brian Garber is no ordinary high school sophomore. He has years of computer refurbishing experience under his belt, and he is the founder of a community-service organization.
The technically gifted Radnor High School sophomore class president is the recipient of one of 54 scholarships provided to students in 42 school districts given by Schoolwires Inc., a leading national provider of strategic online communication, community management and productivity solutions.
Schoolwires selected Garber for the scholarship due to his efforts in founding and maintaining the Radnor High School Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers (MAR) program.
"I started the project when I was in sixth grade," Garber said. "I was looking for something worthwhile to do -- something to help with."
At the time, Garber"s middle school guidance counselor, Clyde Diehl, knew Brian had some great skills that could be put to use.
"He said, "I know you know a few things about computers, and I have this old computer and was wondering if you could fix it up for a student,"" Garber noted. "I was able to fix it and get it to the student, and it worked out really well. I enjoyed it -- I enjoyed being able to help someone and offer the process of refurbishing a computer."
That"s when Garber discovered MAR, a program administered by Microsoft to give authorized computer refurbishers discounted rates for Microsoft software such as Word and Excel.
"Mr. Diehl and I established the school district as an authorized refurbisher, and from there, it became a club," Garber said.
Last year, when Garber started school as a high school freshman, he took the program with him and established it as a club at the high school. Garber said that high school faculty advisor Nancy Holshue helped make the transition go smoothly. Some of the original club participants stayed with MAR when they became students at the high school as well, and MAR now has a regular attendance of seven to 10 members, he said.
"There"s always something for everyone to do," he said. "We don"t always get the most technologically savvy kids, but there"s always room for everyone to help."
The students who aren"t so savvy have a chance to learn and grow, Garber added. At the same time, the club is producing a number of refurbished computers that are distributed to people who need them at no cost to the new owners.
"It"s very satisfying to see the smile on someone"s face," Garber said. "It"s great to be able to work with the recipients and help them set up their computers and get up and running."
The need for students to have a computer today is as important as the need for other basic tools such as a pencil or a backpack, Garber said.
"We"re thrilled to be able to give everyone the tools that they need to succeed," Garber said.
Garber said his $500 Schoolwires scholarship will join other grant and scholarship money to help purchase needed software from Microsoft, such as operating system software and Microsoft Office, and will go toward starter packs. Other supporters include the Radnor Children"s Foundation, and the Teaching Tolerance Foundation, Garber said.
"The starter packs will contain a USB cable, a printer and outlet strip and a USB jump drive," Garber said. "The idea is that hopefully the recipients will be able to go home and this will be the next step toward making sure their computers are usable and do what they are needed to do and wanted to do."
Garber said running the community service club has not always been easy.
"There"s not a book written about it," he said. "The idea is that we are still learning, we are always thinking about what we can do differently, how we can do things more effectively or better."
Joan Cusano, director of instructional technology for the Radnor Township School District, nominated Garber for the Schoolwires scholarship. Cusano knows Garber has overcome a number of obstacles to keep Radnor High School MAR going.
"Brian has encountered a number of closed doors and never gave up," Cusano said. "There were times that he had nowhere to house the equipment and no means to purchase needed items such as outlet strips and cables. Brian has succeeded in the face of what would have stopped other students. As a young man he exhibits tremendous perseverance in projects he undertakes."
But the overall support of the Radnor Township School District has helped.
"The club has been received well," Garber said. "I"m lucky I"m in a school district that was able to accommodate and be supportive of a program like this."
Cusano cited Garber as a great example for other students, adding that the Radnor Township School Board has recognized him for his accomplishments as well.
"Brian"s initiative, starting in middle school and continuing throughout his high school career, showcases Brian as an example of a student leader who has done some good service work that deserves recognition like he has gotten through the scholarship and from the school board," Cusano said.
Garber said that he plans to have a web page on the Radnor High School MAR program available this school year. The page, as the entire district site, will be built with Schoolwires.
"Brian exemplifies what Schoolwires is all about -- connecting communities," said Edward S. Marflak, president and CEO of Schoolwires. "We are pleased to be able to reward Brian for his ability to bring people and resources together to meet an important community need. As Schoolwires strives to help the people we serve to reach their full potential, Brian is serving the Radnor community, providing tools to others to help them reach their potential and succeed."
For more information on the Radnor High School MAR program, call 610-293-0855, ext. 3126, or write Radnor High School MAR, Nancy Holshue Program Director, 130 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087.
Visit the Radnor High School MAR site, created through using Schoolwires:
http://www.rtsd.org/60020317161733237/site/default.asp
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Schoolwires, Inc. (www.schoolwires.com) is a leading national provider of strategic online communication, community-management and productivity solutions that result in stronger school communities, more effective schools and greater student success. With the launch of CentricityTM, Schoolwires delivers the first strategic solution for connecting K-12 communities. Centricity brings together robust and flexible website management, community management, and web 2.0/social network capabilities in a single, user-centric solution. Schoolwires also delivers SynergyTM, a digital file sharing solution, AssistTM, a service request solution, and Share, an online client community and support center. Schoolwires solutions are deployed at more than 3,500 schools serving an estimated three million students, parents, teachers and administrators throughout North America. Schoolwires is ranked as the #174th fastest-growing private company in the nation and the third fastest-growing within the education sector in the coveted Inc. 500 list.
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