LearnKey - Making a Difference

At LearnKey, Inc. we are committed to making a difference in the communities where we live, work and do business. This commitment dates from the earliest years of our company and is a vital part of our heritage and of who we are today. LearnKey’s mission statement is simple: Train the Planet.

One focus has been directed toward high school students in America. It is imperative that we support our children for they will be the backbone of this country one day very soon and if we can strive to set them up for more success, the better off we all will be. Our education channel has lead us to two significant programs - scholarship opportunities and our LearnKey Challenge, a program designed to acknowledge students involved in technology education in high school.

For the 2006/2007 school year, LearnKey extended a unique scholarship program to several high schools around the nation with a focus on areas in need of social and economic development. Our goal was to prepare students in the specific areas of web and graphic design and computer fundamentals. Based on applications submitted by interested high schools, LearnKey selected five to participate in the program.

Students interested in the computer fundamentals area were provided IC³ training from LearnKey. Upon completion of the training, students took the post test included in the training. Once the post test was passed with a score of 80% or better, students received test vouchers from LearnKey. With these test vouchers students were able to take industry certification exams and achieve IC3 certification. Students were also asked to submit an essay describing what they learned and how they can apply that knowledge to real life.

Those students pursuing the web and graphic area were provided training for FrontPage, Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash, InDesign and Fireworks. Students selected two applications in which to learn and create a project. LearnKey provided the training and upon completion, students submitted projects that were created using two or more of the design applications they received training for.

Once the essays and projects were submitted to LearnKey, one winner was selected. LearnKey is proud to announce that the winner of the LearnKey 2007 Scholarship program and a $1,000 scholarship is Britney Michelle Thomas, a senior from Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Thomas chose the computer fundamentals program and wrote an excellent essay about what she learned and why these fundamental skills are important for today and the future. She has been accepted to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. A total of 17 students passed the IC3 Certification Exam and now hold that industry certification. We congratulate Britney and teacher John Cannady from Brewbaker. Thank you to all the schools, teachers, students and parents for their hard work and participation.

LearnKey also presented the first annual LearnKey Challenge that acknowledges and supports high school technology students in Utah. The LearnKey Challenge, created in partnership with the Utah State Office of Education, combines inspirational keynote speakers with a technology competition. This year’s event brought over 300 high school technology students in Utah to compete in areas like CompTIA A+ Hardware, CompTIA A+ Software, CompTIA Network+, Microsoft 2003 Server, Cisco CCNA, Linux, Novell CNA or Certiport IC³ certifications. Students took exams in 45-minute increments over a three-hour period at Utah Valley State College (UVSC) and remote lab locations. Students who scored the highest on each exam received great awards from various companies and a scholarship from UVSC.

This was quite an eventful day for teachers and students with much community support and interest. We hope other states will follow suit in honoring students who work to achieve their education goals. Nice job to all the students and teachers who participated and a big thanks to the schools and districts who supported this effort.

The winners in the eight categories are as follows:

CompTIA A+ Hardware
CompTIA A+ Software
CompTIA Network+
Microsoft Server 2003
Cisco CCNA
Linux
Novel CNA
Certiport IC³
Brad Woodruff
Blake Bartlett
Anthony Dibble
Jake Gunther
Joshua Crowder
Justin Warkentin
Audra Yocom
Alan Janson


LearnKey strives to continually improve our products and create engaging learning experiences. There's much more we'd like to share regarding our commitment to making a difference. We will continue to create unique opportunities for people in the communities where we live, work and do business.