MONROE STUDENTS RECEIVE BIG CASH AWARDS FROM <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ 

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – Prize checks from <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ are being received by 24 Monroe County students this week.

The first students completed their industry certifications in Computer Science in the 2017-2018 school year; two students completed Microsoft Office certifications, one completed Adobe Illustrator, and 21 earned IC3 certifications.

Prizes ranged from $50 to $500, with Coral Shores senior, Tyler Arnold, getting $500 for achieving first place ranking in the county for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS). Katrina Nikiforova, a Marathan 9th grader, runner-up in second place, also received $500.  In addition, each student earned three college credits, and additional funding for their classrooms. There are 23 more $500 MOS prizes to be earned when the students acquire the skills and pass the tests.   The next one hundred completers will receive $100 to $400 each as soon as they finish. Early finishers receive the largest prizes.

Key West High School senior Nathan Miranda was the first student to complete the Adobe Illustrator and was awarded $100.     <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ also awarded 21 middle school students from Marathon Middle School, Sugarloaf School, and Sigsbee Charter $50 each for one of the new IC3 Digital Literacy certifications.

Of the 24 certifications earned this quarter, 21 were in schools with the highest hurricane impact—Marathon and Sugarloaf–a true testament to the strength and resilience of our students and teachers.

Monroe County School District officials have accepted the challenge from <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ to increase the number of Computer Science industry certifications throughout the county.   “We have more students taking technology courses than ever,” Superintendent Mark Porter said. “The goal is to increase the number of certifications from 300 last year to at least 1,000 in the 2017-2018 school year.” <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ is responding with financial support from Key West philanthropists John Padget and Jacob Dekker. “We are thrilled that increasing numbers of teachers and students are developing their Computer Science skills,” John Padget confirmed. “We have budgeted over $100,000 for awards to support their efforts.”

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