Surprise, You Get a Laptop!
Photo by: Marte Media
Published in the Lowell Sun on October 22nd, 2023
By: Lowell Sun Staff Report
LOWELL — A hundred Lowell High School students were surprised with free laptops on Thursday thanks to a partnership between Project LEARN and AT&T.
The laptops, made possible by a contribution from AT&T, were presented to the students during a Digital Equity Career Fair held at Middlesex Community College.
The fair allowed Lowell High students who have participated in Project LEARN programs to visit with volunteers from AT&T and other local employers to discuss careers in technology, and take part in a digital literacy workshop.
The Oct. 19 event coincided with Massachusetts STEM Week and was attended by state Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, along with Mayor Sokhary Chau and other state and local officials.
“By empowering each and every one of our students to explore STEM opportunities available to them, and allowing them to see it as a viable, exciting pathway to their future, we will inspire the next generation of STEM innovators and the future leaders of the Commonwealth,” Tutwiler said in a statement. “I am thrilled to partner with Project Learn and ATT as we advance access to the digital world and inspire a new cohort of technologically inspired students to continue learning and pursue their dreams, whether that be in a STEM field or somewhere else.”
“At AT&T, we believe every student deserves an opportunity to make their dreams a reality,” AT&T Atlantic Region President John Emra said in a statement. “That’s why we are proud to work with organizations like Project LEARN, who share our commitment to help close the digital divide and give students every chance to succeed in our digital world.”
It’s estimated that nearly 5,000 K-12 students in Lowell don’t have digital basics at home, including access to the internet, computers or skills needed to benefit from the online world. The AT&T Connected Learning initiative helps to address the digital divide in places like Lowell through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption.
“These brand new laptops will support Lowell High students who’ve participated in our paid internships, early college and Google Coursera programs,” Project LEARN Executive Director LZ Nunn said in a statement. “We are grateful for AT&T’s support in making this possible, and we recognize that new laptops, as well as connections to local STEM companies, can be the difference maker to support our students’ career and college aspirations.”