Tech Wizard Students Give Back to the Community and Explore Career Options

Date: January 2, 2006

Lizbeth Gonzalez is a Junior at Hill High and a second year veteran of the Washington County 4-H Program, Tech Wizards. Lizbeth was attracted to the program because of her curious nature and desire to understand technology. Recommended by her counselor, Lizbeth decided to give it a try and has been hooked ever since.

As part of the Tech Wizard curriculum, Lizbeth learned the concept of Global Information and Positioning Systems and has sufficiently mastered use of the tools to participate in a cooperative program with the City of Hillsboro. The students are assigned sections of the city and are responsible for measurements, evaluating tree condition, assigning an identification number, and adding the tree location to the map.

The project provides the students “real world” experience in the field and serves the community by providing data which can be used for analysis and planning. With this data, the city can better predict what type of tree is best for specific soil conditions. This can reduce the cost of replanting or disease management.

Lizbeth was selected to serve on the National 4-H GIS-GPS Integration Team 2004-05 in San Diego and was thrilled at the opportunity to learn many additional uses for GIS/GSP including pollution, volcano monitoring, and bird migration.

Lizbeth commented the she would “never have had the opportunity to understand GPS/GIS technology nor would she have had access to the tools if she had not joined Tech Wizards”. The Tech Wizard Program has had an impact on her career direction as she plans to attend a four year university and continue a career that would allow her to use and expand her GPS/GIS knowledge.

Press Contact:

Lisa Conroy, 4-H Faculty
Email: Lisa.Conroy@OregonState.edu
Phone: 503-725-2113

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