News Release
March 10, 2006
Denver's 7 And Collegeinvest Introduce The 7 Classroom Makeover; Montbello High School Chosen For First Makeover
This spring, Denver's 7 and CollegeInvest will launch a unique program designed to revitalize the art and science programs in schools throughout Colorado. The 7 Classroom Makeover focuses on critical infrastructure improvements in schools statewide. These improvements will include the renovation of existing classrooms such as music rooms, art studios, computer labs and libraries.
"We recognize the importance of creating a school environment that fosters creativity, is technologically up-to-date and provides students with solid building blocks to help them succeed," said Denver's 7 Vice President and General Manager Darrell Brown. "Together with CollegeInvest, we developed this project to breathe new life into Colorado schools and make a positive impact on students for generations to come."
CollegeInvest, a not-for-profit division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, is the presenting sponsor of the 7 Classroom Makeover program. Established in 1979, CollegeInvest's sole focus is helping more Colorado students achieve education beyond high school. With a clear investment in the future of our students, CollegeInvest will play an integral part in the program by helping fund the makeover, offering scholarships to students and providing financial literacy education for both students and parents.
"We are proud to partner with Denver's 7 to not only improve the quality of education that our students are receiving, but also help them be better prepared to pursue further educational opportunities," stated CollegeInvest Director Debra L. DeMuth.
The 7 Classroom Makeover will partner with the Denver Public Schools in 2006 to renovate classrooms in two schools. An internal committee was established at DPS to determine which schools would benefit most from a makeover. Based on that committee's findings, Montbello High School will receive the first classroom makeover. The new Montbello computer lab will be completed during spring break, March 27 - April 1, 2006.
"Montbello High School will greatly benefit from the addition of a new computer room which will be a part of a new tutoring center called for in our revitalization plan," said Montbello Principal Antwan Wilson. "This lab will not only serve to provide students with a high tech lab in which to complete important work, it will also help reinforce to the parents of this community that Montbello High School is committed to providing high quality learning opportunities for its students."
To facilitate the actual makeover, a design team of local contractors and architects has been formed. Members of the team have donated their time and expertise to the program. In-kind donations have also been secured, including 33 computers and flat screen monitors provided courtesy of Hewlett-Packard.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) is also partnering with the project under their new program, Advancing Colorado. Advancing Colorado is a stateside branding initiative through which OEDIT intends to build a culture within Colorado that is locally driven, individually owned with a spirit of contribution and teamwork. The approach creates a vehicle to build a stronger sense of personal responsibility throughout the State and to infuse the Colorado brand. The key philosophy of the brand can be summed up in three sentences: "Everyone has something to contribute; Everyone has a place at the table; Everyone can advance Colorado." For example, when teachers inspire students to understand the past, they build perspective. When they spark their enthusiasm for science, they create innovation. When they encourage a student's gifts of expression, they lay the foundation for creativity and the arts. All these efforts Advance Colorado.
ABOUT DENVER'S 7
Denver's 7, KMGH-TV is owned by the McGraw Hill Companies, which owns television stations in Bakersfield, CA, San Diego, CA and Indianapolis, IN, in addition to Denver. The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Business Week and J.D. Power and Associates. Find 7NEWS online at www.theDENVERchannel.com.
ABOUT COLLEGEINVEST
CollegeInvest is a not-for-profit division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. As such, they strive to help Colorado families break down the financial barriers to college. They focus on providing expert information, simple planning tools, scholarships, savings plans, and low-cost student and parent loans to take education dollars as far as they can go. For more information, visit www.collegeinvest.org or call 1-800-COLLEGE.
ABOUT OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level. They include business retention and relocations services, a bioscience and emerging industries program, business finance programs like the Venture Capital Authority and CAPCO, the Colorado Tourism Office, the Colorado International Trade Office, the Colorado Small Business Development Centers, minority- and women-owned business services and economic research. For more information or to sign up for OEDIT's free eNewsletter, visit www.AdvanceColorado.com.
For more information, contact Gerri Howard, 303-832-0154 or ghjustcause@aol.com.