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JVednesdsay February 28, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Appleby College computer donation gives `College' student high-tech help By M ary Collette SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Thanks to the generous efforts of Appleby College faculty and students, the high-tech information highway has detoured to the home of Toby Demers. Last week, at "The College on Kerr Street", Appleby College headmaster Guy McLean presented the 12-year-old Oakville res ident with a desktop computer loaded with an impressive array of software including educational programs, games, Windows 98, Office 2000, and complete with a personalized screen-saver. The College, located in the Kerr Street Mission, is a studentrun initiative designed to help clients become computer literate. Faulkner Stewart, supervisor of the program, said that adults can access it to enhance their job possibilities, while students like Toby can master the skills they need to suc ceed in school. `Toby is a terrific student who has shown great enthuAppleby College headmaster Guy Stewart. "He has McLean and Toby Demers: outreach attended almost program a success every class since The Kerr Street col lege opened its doors last April." The computer outreach program, McLean's brainchild, was conceived as a community service project for Appleby students to assist those who might otherwise not have the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge in this increasingly fast-paced techno logical world. Since its inception, almost 100 participants have availed themselves of the courses taught by volunteer students from Appleby College. Toby is the first student to be awarded a home computer in recognition of his efforts and accomplishments at the college, though McLean envisions it as an ongoing practice. "We all know that it's great to develop computer skills," said McLean, "btit for those students who really showed determina tion and consistency, we wanted to put the computer into their hands." McLean hopes that successful students like Toby will return to the college as teachers and role models to help those just start ing out. Appleby College donated Toby's personal computer, along with the other ones that stock the facility, but Stewart cautions that the continuation of the award program will rely upon outside assistance as well. "Our dream is to be able to do this regularly," remarked Stewart, "but we can't make any promises, since we are totally dependent on finding donors who will supply the computers to give to the students." Just one look at Toby's beaming grin as he promptly sat down at the keyboard to eagerly demonstrate his newly acquired exper tise, attests to the value of such a program. Toby, who now takes classes through the Halton Adolescent Support Services (H.A.S.S.) day treatment program, credits his years spent at St. James elementary school for fostering his early interest in computers, but feels that the opportunities provided by the Kerr Street college have taken him to new academic heights. "I've learned a lot and my math and language skills have real ly improved," notes Toby proudly, adding, "I guess you could call me a computer nerd". Jodi Dobbie, Toby's teacher at H.A.S.S. and Sue Nyhalt, his educational assistant there, have also observed a marked improvement in Toby's scholastic progress since he began his extracurricular studies at the Kerr Street college. Dobbie, an alumnus of Oakville's St. Mildred's-Lightboum School, said she has long appreciated the role that Appleby College plays in its community, so this latest philanthropic effort comes as no surprise to her. She praised the role that the Kerr Street college has played in Toby's development, describing him as "kind, gentle and willing to listen to all his teachers," adding with a laugh, "I'll be looking forward to seeing all Toby's assign ments newly completed on his computer." Ashley Reid, a senior student at Appleby College, and regular program volunteer believes that the benefits are reciprocal. "I started here because I wanted to help others leam technol ogy skills," explains Reid. "But I think that the skills I have learned here will be valuable to me when I start university next year, and I know I will pursue my commitment to community service." Ron Shantz. who has been the director of the Kerr Street Mission since it opened in 1996, is delighted with the partnership that has been forged with Appleby College. "I take my hat off to Appleby College and its students," he said. "This program has been a real blessing to the community, and now that we're on-line, with all computers operating we've got a lot to offer everyone." Computer classes operate Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Special Adult classes are held on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about the college, located at the Kerr Street Market 484 Kerr St., can call (905) 845-7485; or e-mail: mission @attcanadaxa. Photo by Barrie Erskine Toby Demers, 12, shows off his new computer to Sue Nyholt educational assistant and teacher Jodi Dobbie with the Halton Adolescent Support Services day program. 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N oo n to 5pm Sale prices are in effect until April 1, 2001 90 D A Y S N O IN T E R E S T O R 6 O R 12 M O N T H E Q U A L P A Y M E N T P LA N N O IN T E R E S T O . A . C . D e ta ils in s to re A D 0207 L A K E O N T A R IO Turns out your money is safer in one, too. Based on an independent analysis of purchase price and accumulated vehicle ownership costs - depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing and insurance - the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 has been named: THE IN TELLICHOICE® 200 1 BEST O V ERA LL VALUE OF TH E YEAR, INTERM ED IA TE SPORT U TILITY ' (t* f " f \ /~ V M - C L A S S . Vehicles with the same purchase price can have thousands of Now, that best value winner comes at a low-rate, limited-time lease. You may have kJJ W dollars difference in ownership costs, say the independent experts at IntelliChoice. Everyyear,they calculate the accumulated costs of over 800 cars and trucks. All the major costs. 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