Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Friday, May 2, 2008

Four years ago, 22 students and five teachers attended the first Tubby’s Clubhouse – Dell TechKnow graduation ceremony. The students had learned how to take a computer apart, put it back together, install software and learn how to use it. The teachers became the core instructional group that would lead future classes.

They joined dedicated government, school and private sector workers and volunteers who said they would meet Tubby Smith’s challenge to create a technology education program with community “smart classrooms” that would bring computer learning opportunities to needy middle school students.

Now that vision has become reality – and more.

After completing the 40-hour Dell TechKnow computer and software curriculum, 84 middle school students from throughout Fayette County graduated on Thursday. The ceremony, held at Bryan Station High School, brought the total number of Tubby’s Clubhouse graduates to nearly 900.

Dell TechKnow is a 40-hour, after-school program in which underserved middle school students receive free Dell refurbished desktop computers that they take apart and re-build. Students install software; upgrade, diagnose and fix basic hardware problems; and then learn how to use the word processing and educational software.

Applications are being accepted for the upcoming summer class session, fall 2008 and winter 2009 classes. Call (859) 288-2987 or download an application at www.tcky.org.

The back story

Teachers from Fayette County Public Schools serve as the instructors for the Dell TechKnow program. Classroom volunteers come from several community organizations, including the Central Kentucky Computer Society.

In addition to a refurbished Dell desktop computer, Dell TechKnow graduates receive a Lexmark printer with a printer cable and ink cartridges and a computer accessory kit from Kentucky Trade Computers.

Five permanent Tubby’s Clubhouses operate at the following locations: the Castlewood Community Center, the Dunbar Community Center, the Carver Community Center, the Kenwick Community Center and the Urban League Technology Center. Other Dell TechKnow programs are taught in Fayette County middle schools on a rotating basis.

The mission of the Tubby’s Clubhouses is to close the technology gap and educate students on life skills. It is a collaboration and joint funding effort among Tubby Smith’s Foundation, the Parra Family Foundation, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and its Division of Parks & Recreation, the Dell TechKnow Program, Fayette County Public Schools, the Lexington Urban League and Lexmark International. Other local business contributing to the Tubby’s Clubhouse program include Integrated Sign and Graphics, Kentucky Lighting and Supply, Corky’s Bar-B-Q, Pepsi Cola of Bottling Company of Lexington, Eureka Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Intints, Central Bank and Trust, Executrain and Keeneland.

For more details about the Dell TechKnow program in Lexington, call Eric Howard at (859) 258-3905 or go to www.dell.com/k12/techknow.

For information on how to support “Tubby’s Clubhouses” through Tubby Smith’s Foundation, call foundation executive director Van Florence at (859) 255-4517, extension 106.