Contact: Robbie Ward
Photo by: Megan Bean
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Kids at the Boys and Girls Club smiled with anticipation when John Ye walked into the computer lab, holding a briefcase of technical support and good intentions.
Ye, a computer support specialist at Mississippi State University's Bagley College of Engineering, began visiting the Boys and Girls Club of Oktibbeha/Starkville during the fall. His goal was to transform dysfunctional computers in the club's computer lab into equipment useful for students to browse the Internet and complete computer homework assignments.
Before Ye started working on the club's computers, the 6- to 8-year-old machines had unknown passwords, preventing students and staff at the club from using them. The computers also included lots of unnecessary software, causing them to move at a snail's pace.
Ye worked on the computers for months. Issues with the computers caused him to spend hours on each machine, downloading new software, eliminating programs and further optimizing them. Now students at the Boys and Girls Club of Oktibbeha/Starkville use the computers daily.
"They're slow, but they get the job done," Ye said recently of his work on the computers.
Club director Frances Wilson said Ye's dedication and focus was making the computers usable for students to complete schoolwork and other projects. She often would meet Ye at the club on weekends to let him in to work on computers. He also would drop in during his lunch breaks and after work during the week, she said.
"I don't think anyone else would have spent that much time on those computers," Wilson said. "Anyone else would have wanted to just get rid of them."
Providing computer access to students at the club helps provide the technology to children who otherwise may not have access to computers outside of their school classrooms. Wilson estimated about half of the 117 students, ranging in age from 6 to 17, enrolled at the club don't have a computer at home.
Tommy Stevenson, the Bagley College's assistant dean for diversity and student development, said Ye is just one example of the university working with the students at the Boys and Girls Club.
Stevenson coordinates with MSU students majoring in engineering to mentor students at the club in math, science and other subjects. The college also organizes at the club a free camp each year which aims to introduce kids to science and engineering concepts at an early age.
While Ye's goal of improving the computers' usefulness appears close to accomplished, he continues to work on computers at the club. Saying that more work remains, he also has:
--installed Internet filters, protecting younger students from viewing inappropriate online material, and other similar programs;
--made regular checks on the computers he updated, ensuring they continue to function properly; and
--plans to soon install anti-virus features on the machines.
"There are so many things that need to be done," Ye said. "I have no plans to drop this anytime soon."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information, contact Ye at 662-325-9236 or Wilson at 662-615-9980.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.