#97-04-15
For Release: 4-25-97
Contact: Peter Bailley

Educational Technology Center to Mark First Anniversary

Representatives of the news media are invited to Galesburg's Educational Technology Center (ETC) at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 23, for official release of cumulative first-year usage statistics, including growth in the numbers of individuals, businesses and schools using the community-based computer technology center.

The ETC opened one year ago this month with an award-winning "interactive ribbon cutting" that showcased the Center's computer networking capabilities. The Educational Technology Center is located at 335 E. Main St. in Galesburg.

Also on April 23, the ETC will recognize representatives of three corporations that made major gifts toward the founding of the ETC, NAEIR, Norwest Banks and Sprint.

Present at the event will be:

Robert Winter, vice president, management information systems, NAEIR

Dennis Morrison, president, Norwest Banks, Galesburg

Herbert Weber, regional president, Wisconsin/Illinois Region, Norwest Corporation

Randy Osler, president, North Central regional operations, Sprint

Kim Kaufman, regional manager, Sprint

Lynn Glover, community development manager, Sprint

Patrick Horaney, account executive, Sprint

Ron Cope, superintendent, Galesburg School District 205

Don Crist, president, Carl Sandburg College

Rick Nahm, president, Knox College

Background:

The Educational Technology Center officially opened on April 12, 1996, the nation's first community-based computer center founded as a joint venture between a private liberal arts college, a community college and a local school district, and funded by donations from local businesses. The Center has approximately 75 personal computer work stations, as well as Internet and satellite access.

Specialized facilities include the NAEIR Teleconferencing Center, used to receive educational and business-related satellite broadcasts; Norwest Banks Computer Laboratories, which offer community Internet access; and the Sprint Distance Learning Center, which combines computer work stations with a fully interactive video/audio distance learning system.

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