Press Release
The National Association of Webmasters and The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship Launches "Webfair97" for Students
NAW Announces a Web Conference Aimed Towards K-12 Students in Conjunction with Mecklermedia's Internet World 97
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- December 2, 1997: The National Association of Webmasters (NAW) announced today that its first-ever Webfair97 for youths between the ages of 14-18 will take place in New York City on December 6th at The New York Public Library of Science, Industry and Business the Saturday before Mecklermedia's premier Internet World conference.
The goal of NAW's Webfair97 is to bring young people into a hands-on environment with computers and "mentors ". These mentors include technologists, teachers, companies that employ web professionals, and web experts and will help students develop a high-level understanding of a web professional's responsibilities, what opportunities currently exist and what the future holds. Webfair97 New York will introduce students to skills required in web development and allow them to decide whether a career in this field is for them.
Bill Cullifer, Executive Director of the National Association of Webmasters and Webfair97's progenitor, calls Webfair97 New York a "web immersion event." The first session is scheduled for four and a half hours, from noon to 4:30, and Cullifer says it will be "a history, technology, product, people, career, and training-oriented event, as well as lots of fun!" NAW has been training inner-city young adults since the Spring of 1997. In August, NAW joined with Boston-based CitySoft, (http://www.citysoft.com) a for-profit Web development firm in its start up phase, to co-sponsor the "Urban Entrepreneur" program, and Cullifer hasn't stopped since. "Webfair97 are just another way for us to keep doing the same thing: connecting young people and technology for the benefit of all concerned."
The half-day conference will open with a keynote address, followed by organized visits with mentors and representatives of companies that employ web professionals. Also attending will be vendors of web-related products. Webfair97 New York attendees are important to these companies as they will be the web developers of the next generation. Attendance will be limited to 39 students in order to give each attendee a computer seat (parents are also invited, but will not participate in the hands-on sessions). Mentors and instructors will be chosen from a variety of economic sectors - commercial, non-profit trade associations and social agencies, schools and universities, and government so that attendees can glimpse different ways in which the web is used and the challenges confronted in each sector.
Among the corporate sponsors for Webfair97 New York are Ziff-Davis University, the National Foundation for Teaching and Entrepreneurship, and Advanced Network and Services Inc. who believe in Webfair97's goal of educating young people about computers.
ZD University, (or ZDU--http://www.zdu.com), the leading provider of computer training and education online, will provide Webfair97 New York participants with hands-on HTML instruction. On-site instruction will be provided by Grace Testani, one of ZDU's most popular online instructors, will lead a group of young people through several lessons during the half-day session. After the event, participants will be able to log on to ZDU, free of charge, to continue their computing education for an additional six months. During that time, participants will be able to develop their webmaster skills as well as take free classes in any of ZDU's subject areas, including design, programming, desktop applications, Internet skills, databases, networking, and business.
The event has also attracted world-class participants including The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE, pronounced "Nifty"). Steve Mariotti, President and founder of NFTE will introduce Webfair97 New York students to programs which use "innovation methods that enable young people to learn the concepts of self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and free-market society through entrepreneurship."
Webfair97's all-star line-up also includes Advanced Network & Services, Inc. which will co-sponsor the event and introduce the kids to some of the Internet's most prominent scientists and engineers. "We are fortunate in that we enjoy the independence required to identify programs that can have an impact and to create original and distinctive means to achieve them," writes Allan H. Weis, President and CEO. "As a result, Advanced Network & Services has attracted some of the very best and brightest talent in the Internet community."
About Ziff-Davis University
ZD University, a service of Ziff-Davis, Inc. and ZDNet, is one of the Web's strongest online learning communities. For only $4.95 per month, anyone with Internet access can join ZDU and become a member of a highly interactive community. Thousands of programmers, webmasters, designers, business executives and general Web users have found ZDU to be the ideal venue for learning new skills, keeping up-to-date on fast-changing technologies, and for developing a competitive advantage in the workplace.
Potential members interested in learning more about the courses and how ZDU works, can visit the online campus at http://www.zdu.com.
About NFTE
The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship is an international nonprofit organization that introduces at-risk teens from inner cities and other low-income communities to the world of business and entrepreneurship by teaching them how to develop and operate their own legitimate small businesses." The organization has trained more than 10,000 students in 64 sites around the world in its ten-year history. Current programs include "NFTE Core," a 100-hour curriculum titled "How to Start and Operate a Small Business: A Guide for the Young Entrepreneur," and the "NFTE Exposure Sessions," one- to eight-hour programs to raise awareness of such topics as negotiation, sales, and market research. Their web site is at http://www.nftebiz.com.
About Advanced Network & Services
Advanced Network & Services is a non-profit organization committed to "Advancing Education Through Technology." In the early 1990's, Advanced Network & Services built and operated ANSnet, the largest and fastest part of the worldwide Internet. In 1992, it developed the first secure communications gateway for the Internet; then in 1994, it sold its assets and operations to America Online. In 1995, Advanced Network & Services launched ThinkQuest®, an international program that "encourages students to use the Internet to create Web-based educational tools and materials that make learning fun and contagious." ThinkQuest is structured as a contest and, with over one million dollars in scholarships and awards every year, the program inspired students around the world to contribute nearly a thousand entries to educational technology in 1997. Their web site is at http://www.advanced.org
About NAW
The National Association of Webmasters was founded in 1996 by professionals with proven track records in education, data-processing, Internet consulting, telecommunications and marketing. The purpose of the Association is to support and enhance the role of individuals and organizations who create, manage or market web sites. The Association is located at 9580 Oak Avenue Parkway, Suite 7-177, Folsom, CA, 95630. Contact them online at www.joinwow.org or by telephone at (916) 608-1597.