AAPD Announces Students Who Will Participate in 2005 MICROSOFT-AAPD
Federal I.T. Internship Program
Ten Students to Serve Internships in Federal Agencies in Washington, DC
June, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mariana V. Nork
202-457-0046

Washington, DC, June 1, 2005— The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) announces that ten students will participate in the 2005 Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program. This program is made possible by a major grant from Microsoft Corporation, which is also the program’s founding sponsor.

The Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program, launched in 2003, is designed for college and university students with disabilities who are interested in pursuing careers in information technology. Students participate in a paid summer internship at a federal agency in Washington, DC. The program aims to give college students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in and benefit from highly sought-after federal internships to which other students have long had access. The Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program gives interns real-world work experience, further enhances their employment opportunities, allows them to hone their information technology skills, and enables them to learn firsthand how political and regulatory processes work. By harnessing the talent that exists among college students with disabilities, it also strives to demonstrate to public and private employers that students with disabilities are solid prospects as members of the information technology workforce.

In 2005, internships are being awarded to the following students from locations across the country, who have been selected on the basis of a written application and personal interviews.

Jason A. Grieves is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. He has extensive information technology experience. While in high school, he worked as a Network Administrator Assistant, creating and maintaining the school’s website, and also created a faculty access grading program and implemented an online homework/grade program for the students. Jason, who has also demonstrated strong leadership skills, believes that this internship will enable him to further his I.T. skills while also helping others. Jason will intern at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Althea Marie Jones attends Troy University/Florida & Western Region, where she is majoring in Computer Science. Her diverse I.T. experience has included a previous sixteen-week intern program at Okaloosa-Walton College’s I.T. division. Althea, who is a veteran of the Air Force, is also experienced in managing and working in a team environment. Her extensive volunteer work has included working on computers for low income families and instructing them on the use of computer applications and the internet. Althea will intern at the National Science Foundation.

Steven Mark Kannel attends Miami University and is pursuing Management Information Systems, with the goal of entering the Miami University Business School, and has been accepted to attend Case Western Reserve’s LeaderShape Institute program. He has been the recipient of an AERO (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Ohio) Student of the Year Award and participated in a past Ohio Youth Leadership Forum sponsored by the Governor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. In addition to gaining real-world IT workforce experience and expanding his strong technological skills, Steve hopes to learn how to communicate better in a teamwork environment. He will serve his internship at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Lane G. Lucht is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. He previously received an Associates of Arts Degree from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Lane possesses strong technical skills, and sees this internship as providing him the opportunity to upgrade his computer skill set while also providing him networking opportunities. He will intern at U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

John P. MacDonald attends the University of Virginia (UVA) where he is pursuing a Computer Science major and an Aerospace Engineering minor. His hands-on work experience while a student includes the Office of Information Systems at the U.S. Geologic Survey and an Electrical Team Member of the Solar Car Team, Mechanical Engineering Department of UVA. He is a website developer for UVA’s School of Engineering as well as the Virginia Engineering Foundation’s webpage. The recipient of numerous scholarships, John seeks through this internship to broaden his experience in government. John will serve his internship at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Kimberly Blake Pratt will receive her B.S. in Information Systems Management from the Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz in late 2005. Participation in this internship will afford her the opportunity to put all that she has learned to practical use in an actual work environment and to refine her technical skills. Blake’s career goal is to become an Information Systems Manager. She will be interning this summer at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Craig Spencer Simon is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking with a minor in E-security at Regis University. While attending school, he works part-time in the IT department at the Community College of Denver. His community service work includes serving as President of the Board of Directors of the Disability Center for Independent Living in Denver. Craig feels that this internship will give him the opportunity to increase his IT knowledge and hone his skills in a practical setting while gaining knowledge of computers and real-world politics. He will serve his internship at the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Steven Andrew Slater attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he is a Computer Science major. He was honored last year by the Boys and Girls Club as one of the top five volunteers for the school year. Steven hopes through this internship to gain valuable experience in information technology and a greater understanding of technology jobs, and to demonstrate to future employers that he is a solid job prospect. Steve will intern this summer at the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Melissa Swicegood is pursuing a B.S.B.A., Computer Information Systems at Western Carolina University. Her extensive computer skills were utilized in high school, where she designed and maintained the school’s website. Melissa pursued this internship opportunity because she believes it will help her to acquire a better understanding of how things work in a job setting and how to relate to coworkers and authority figures, and that she will gain experience and knowledge from this job. She is also looking forward to living in a new environment. Melissa will serve her internship at the Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture.

Andrew M. Wells will graduate in 2006 from the University of South Florida with a Computer Engineering degree. At the university, he is a Student Government Senator for the College of Engineering and the Treasurer and Director of Philanthropy for the Engineering College Council. Andrew has always had an interest in working in a government office, and hopes through this internship to learn how things work in government, from computer security to networking, and to expand his leadership skills. Andrew will intern this summer at the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country’s largest cross-disability membership organization, promotes the economic and political empowerment of all children and adults with disabilities in the U.S. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For information regarding the Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program and other internship opportunities available through AAPD, contact AAPD toll-free at 800-840-8844 (V/TTY) or by e-mail, or visit the AAPD website.