“Hillsboro High school has been an
active partner in 4-H Tech Wizards for five years. During this time,
we have seen an increase in the graduation rate for the program participants,
as well as an increased interest in STEM/IT courses and careers. These
students have also demonstrated increases in their leadership skills
and in their overall maturity and personal growth. The 4-H Tech Wizards
program is a vital element of Hillsboro High School’s efforts
to reach and engage Latino/Latina students and their parents.”
~ Betsy Biller, Assistant Superintendent,
Hillsboro School District 1J
• Community Partners:
Cornelius City Library, Centro Cultural, Forest Grove High School,
Neil Armstrong Middle School, Sunset High School, Oregon State University
Extension Service 4-H Washington County, Washington County 4-H Leaders
Assn. (501c3), Intel Latino Network (ILN), Intel Community Involved
employee volunteers, Intel Corporation Oregon, City of Hillsboro GIS
and Engineering departments, USDA Service Center, Hillsboro High school
chapter of FFA, Hillsboro Shute Park Library, Cedar Mill Library,
Hillsboro High School, IBM, OPB/PBS, ESRI, Jackson Bottom Wetlands
Preserve, Hewlett-Packard, Hillsboro Police Department, Girón
Consulting, ISing, IHAD Forest Grove, TVTV, Oregon Outreach, CyberSenors/CyberTeens,
CPAWC, Wyndhaven and Sunset Gardens Apartments
• Program established in 3 local high schools:
Sunset High School in Beaverton, Forest Grove High School and Hillsboro
High School,
• Program in Neil Armstrong Middle School in Forest Grove,
• Technology and grant investments have attracted additional
volunteer talent at all levels by allowing volunteers to receive training
and then to present specialized information via technology. With the
addition of the community computer lab sites, new, underserved communities
have access to technology and community volunteers have an accessible
location at which to volunteer,
• Grant dollars and supervising volunteers have allowed participating
youth to train community members, making technology accessible to
the various social/cultural communities and to a wider audience in
Washington County. Cultural competence research specific to, but not
restricted to, Latino populations, indicates the necessity of reaching
whole family groups in order to obtain sustainable attitudinal and
behavioral impact. The youth are also visible socially and have experienced
themselves as a community resource (as opposed to invisible and a
statistical “need” category) and have therefore had the
environment to engage in and develop leadership skills,
• These community computer labs have also provided an opportunity
for Extension faculty in other disciplines, as well as local community
college faculty and social service agency personnel to utilize the
technology for program development and delivery to new audiences,
• Adult Latino audiences are learning about e-commerce (small
business), family literacy, nutrition and health, and domestic violence
prevention,
• Over 1200 community members have accessed computers and the
Internet through use of these technologies at participating community
sites
503-725-2300 | 