Connect Ohio Awards 12 Laptops to Every Citizen Online Computer Giveaway Winners

Throughout the month of July, Connect Ohio staff was busy coordinating computer distribution events throughout the state following the Every Citizen Online (ECO) computer giveaway. The giveaway entry period was between April 5 and June 20, 2011. ECO participants who completed an online survey following the free basic computer and Internet training were entered into a random drawing for one of 12 new laptop computers.

A media-friendly event was coordinated for each of the 12 winners at the location the ECO training was completed and included Connect Ohio staff, ECO location staff, and ECO coordinators and instructors. The winners had great stories to share regarding their experience with the free computer training and how the new knowledge and comfort with computers is already helping them.

“I loved the (ECO) training and the instructor was one in a million,” said Cathy McComis, winner and ECO participant at Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library. “I don’t have a computer, so now I can go get Internet at home. I’m so excited!”

“It will be so nice to have a portable computer,” said Roseanna Wenig, winner and ECO participant at the Marion Public Library.

“I was just ready to buy a new desktop computer because mine is old,” said Louise Beldon, winner and ECO participant at Northwest State Community College. “I like to use the Internet to read e-mail, play computer games, and look up recipes. I want to learn Facebook and other websites.”

“I loved the training,” said Sharon Kiener, winner and ECO participant at OSU South Central Region Extension Office. “I needed the basics of the Internet and I’m looking forward to learning new things, like selling antiques on eBay and editing photos. I didn’t have a computer at a home (before winning the laptop). I would love to get the Internet now.”

“It’s not every day things like winning a new laptop happen to me,” said Brandy Archer, winner and ECO participant at Community Action Council of Portage County. “Being without a job since August of 2010, I was given the opportunity to take classes at CTLC for my MOS certifications, as well as the Every Citizen Online (ECO) classes. I am hopeful winning the laptop will get me one step closer to achieving my return to the workforce.”

Congratulations to the computer winners!

A full list of computer winners and the location in which training was completed are listed below:

·       Archer, Brandy – Community Action Council of Portage County

·       Beldon, Louise – Northwest State Community College

·       Buchanan, Doris – Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library

·       Griebling, Sharon – Pioneer Career and Technology Center, Bucyrus location

·       Hawkins, Elaine – Shaker Heights Public Library

·       Kiener, Sharon – Ohio State University South Central Extension, Learning Center East

·       McComis, Cathy – Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library

·       O’Connor, Patricia – University of Dayton

·       O’Brien, Becky – Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library

·       Summit, Jerry – Columbus Metropolitan Library

·       Wenig, Roseanna – Marion Public Library

Young, Thelma – Forest-Jackson Public Library