KTU website launched!

After a lot of hard work, we are launching the 2010 KTU website!! On the site you will find the speakers for next year and information on registration, FAQ's for the parents and much more!

http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu

Chi Delta Alpha volunteers for KTU!

Chi Delta Alpha is the only all-female community service sorority at Virginia Tech. Their mission statement entails that they are "dedicated to the community through unselfish service." They have over 40 active sisters this semester, each doing 25 service hours or more. Chi Delta Alpha participates in over 50 different service projects throughout the community and New River Valley. Service projects include, special olympics bowling and swimming, Kid's Night Out at the women's center, food banks, humane societies, tutoring programs and much more. They even attended a Habitat for Humanity trip this past January, where 24 girls worked for a week on the construction of homes in West Palm Beach Florida.

If you want any more information about them, feel free to check out there website visit: http://www.chideltaalpha.org.vt.edu.
_________________

Chi Delta Alpha Sisters,

On behalf of KTU and the students and parents attending KTU, I would like to say thank you for all you dedicated service! KTU would not exist without volunteers like yourselves.

Thank you,
Kristy

update on the happenings

Hi!

We are getting ready for another KTU event on March 28th! Volunteers are being oriented, name tags are being made and the clipboards are being assembled!! Its a rush of activity! I've been posting a lot of information about the exhibits that will be available for the kids and parents to see during the KTU afternoon hands-on event. Its really going to be a lot of fun and I have more to post so stay tuned.

We will be moving the lecture hall again to another place on campus. We will be having pizza like we had last time for the kids. For the parents there will be an option for them to purchase 3 pieces of pizza and a soda for 7 dollars or a drink for 2 dollars from Personal Touch Catering (they only take CASH). It seemed like this worked out really well for everyone.

The KTU t-shirts will be available to pick up at the March 28th event! We hope all the kids will want to wear them on April 18th!

Thank you for reading!
Kristy

Summer camps

Hi all,
I've been getting a lot of questions about if VT or someone in the area offers summer camps based on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines. I've been contacting people here at VT to ask them to give me information on their programs so I could post them here on the blog. Another great resource is the VT-STEM website VT-STEM website that can give you an overall feel of the programs (summer and during the school year) that Tech has to offer.

Virginia 4-H has opportunities for children that are interested in SET (Science, Engineering and Technology). All of the 4-H summer residential camps have some SET programming focus. On the individual center web sites many have weekend specialty camps such as a Robotics camp. And as always, the best way to get information is for those who are interested in 4-H to contact their local Extension office. Many local programs also offer day camps and summer fun-shops.

Best,
Kristy

Feb. 28th KTU

The Feb. 28th KTU went extremely well! There were a lot of "ohhhs" and "ahhhs" from the kids during Dr. Kelleher's lecture, "Why are computer programs so frustrating?"  The kids seemed to have loved the pizza; it was a huge hit and we are planning on having that option again next time! The Armored Hokie was a huge hit!

Today, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute released a press release of the Feb. 28th program.

We would like to say thank you to the Armored Hokie, Virginia Tech's Ware Lab, Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Association, Virginia Tech's Assistive Technologies, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Computer Science Community Service (CS Squared), Virginia Tech Collegiate 4-H Club, Virginia 4-H Rockbridge and Craig counties, Sigma Alpha, Joon Lee, VT-STEM, Dr. Alex Leonessa, VT Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Dr. Betsy Tretola and Dr. John McGee for hosting exhibits for the kids. Thank you all!

VT Rescue Squad

VT Rescue Squad

The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is the oldest student run volunteer emergency medical service in the nation. The squad is among a handful of collegiate EMS agencies offering Advanced Life Support transport and is slowly becoming one of the last all volunteer agencies left in collegiate EMS. It has been the model for developing rescue squads at many Universities throughout the United States. In the past thirty years the VTRS has grown from four members certified in first aid to a fully equipped Advanced Life Support Agency with three vehicles and over thirty members. Virginia Tech Rescue Squad are all-volunteer and student-run, and we respond to emergency calls on the Virginia Tech campus 24/7. We also provide standby coverage at large sporting events like football and basketball games, and also other, smaller events (like KTU).

The VT Rescue Squad has provided support for KTU by sending three trained, professional EMTs. These EMTs are at KTU in case there are any issues where a child (or parent) needs emergency medical help...or a band aide! The VT Rescue Squad does not charge for their services and has been nice enough to donate their time to insure that our students are safe.

Parents can make donations to the squad on the website http://www.rescue.vt.edu/donations_funding.php

KTU T-shirt unveiled!

We are really excited about unveiling the first ever Kids' Tech University (KTU) t-shirt! We will have a pre-order for the shirts on Feb. 28th during the exhibiting hours (1:30-3 pm). A mock up of the t-shirt seen in this blog. The price will be 15 dollars; of which all the proceeds over the cost of the shirt will be going towards the operational costs of running the program such as the children's lunches and their lanyard supplies. The shirt will be available for pick up during the March 28th KTU hands-on activity.

Carpooling service available

At the last KTU event it was suggested that we should incorporate a way for the parents of the children involved with Kids' Tech University to carpool if desired. We are launching this networking capability on the blog. If you would like your county and email posted as a possible contact please let me (Kristy DiVittorio, kdivitto@vbi.vt.edu) know!

So far, these people are interested in carpooling to the event-

Montgomery County, LauraAC@aol.com
Buckingham County, duggan@kinex.net
Danville, bhpmd2004@yahoo.com


I just wanted to draw your attention to this- Although, I can screen for posting people who have asked me to post them on the blog, this blog is open for anyone to view...so when a "parent" emails you about carpooling please be careful... you can contact me if there are any questions...

Virginia 4-H - Exhibits and helping to make KTU a reality

Virginia 4-H is a partner of Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and together they are working to make Kids' Tech University a reality. Virginia 4-H is the youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension which is associated to Virginia Tech. The 4-H mission is, "4-H is committed to assisting youth, and those adults working with them, in acquiring the knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, contributing, and productive members of society." The central theme of 4-H education is "learn by doing". Multiple hands-on activities in the technology, science and engineering hands-on day events for Kids' Tech University are lead and developed by Virginia 4-H extension agents from all around the state.

Virginia 4-H also has a very informative website that explains their mission, goals, history and program. Follow this link to visit the site- http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/

Also, I am volunteering to help anyone interested in Virginia 4-H get the information they need. Please email me (Kristy DiVittorio; kdivitto@vbi.vt.edu) if you would like my help...

KTU Press Release

Well, we kicked off the project with a press release to the community of VT and to other news entities...

VBI Press Release

In response to the press release, Dr. Kristy DiVittorio has received many inquires about the program. Everyone seems really excited about the project...that is exciting!

We also have received information that the Associated Press has picked up the story and has published blurbs on the Daily Press website and the HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com website

Welcome to Kids' Tech University (KTU)!

We will periodically be updating this site with information on the happenings of the program which will include updated KTU activities, registration information and sponsor and partnership updates. If you would like to receive an email from us regarding a new post to this blog site please click "Click Here- KTU blog updates" and enter your email address. 

We look forward to updating you on the happenings of KTU and hearing your comments about the program!