RCS News

Mac Mini Desktop Computer Donated to the High School

(July 31, 2012) Earlier this month the RCS High School received a new Mac mini desktop computer from Stars Intergen Inc., a nonprofit agency that collaborates with RCS. The Mac mini donation, which will be used to introduce students to the Mac operating system, was made possible by a $2,000 grant from the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region’s Bender Family Foundation.

Stars Intergen Inc. secured the Bender Family Foundation grant to give RCS middle and high school students opportunities to learn about computer science careers and hybrid careers that require computing skills.

RCS High School Technology teacher Scott Peck said, “We here at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School are very grateful for the Mac Mini donation from the Bender Family Foundation. Eventually I would like to have a Mac lab here at the RCS High School. There are many applications that are available with Mac’s operating system that students can benefit greatly from. They vary from applications such as iMovie which is used for creating video presentations or GarageBand for creating musical masterpieces.”

The Apple Company calls Mac mini the “world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer.” It offers up to twice the processor and graphics performance of the previous generation, but uses less than 13 watts of power when idle.”

The Bender Family Foundation grant also made it possible for RCS students to learn about computer career opportunities through visits to Global Foundries in Malta, Hudson Valley Community College’s main campus in Troy as well as the Tec-Smart Campus in Malta, and Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson.

Pictured (l-r) are Stars Intergen Board President Bill Schwartz, teacher Scott Peck and Stars Intergen Executive Director Karen Harmon.