Mentor an Intern this Summer

EfTA cordially invites you to participate in an amazing mentorship opportunity. We are currently accepting positions for one or more highly motivated and talented high school seniors to be placed into unpaid 80-hour internship opportunities within a variety of organizations and industries throughout the community next June! As a mentor, you would create meaningful work experiences for him/her/them to learn as much as possible. You or someone from your office is also asked to escort any/all interns to the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber’s June Business Luncheon at which this program is spotlighted. The cost of these tickets is the only expense incurred by your organization, but it is a very important component of the program.

As EfTA prepares to publish the Summer 2010 directory, please take a moment to consider whether this is a good fit for your organization. If so, please visit http://www.efta-us.org/index.htm?SIP.htm and register. (We will gladly offer assistance in writing compelling job descriptions!) Thanks for your continued interest and support of EfTA, local youth and education!

Kick-off SCI://TECH 2010

From Imagination to Reality

Education for Tomorrow Alliance (EfTA) is pleased to kickoff SCI://TECH 2010 with the unveiling of this year’s Poster Competition winner. Of 230 entries submitted from several local high schools, EfTA congratulates Shiv Pande, a senior at The Woodlands High School for his winning poster design. Pande's artwork will be featured on all promotional items for SCI://TECH 2010 "From Imagination to Reality".

SCI://TECH events take place February 13-27, 2010. The conclusion and final rounds of SCI://TECH 2010 are held at Lonestar College Montgomery on Saturday, February 27. The awards ceremonies will follow from 3:30 to 6:00 PM at The Woodlands College Park High School.

Huntsman and CB&I are SCI://TECH 2010 co-sponsors. Events include: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company Senior High Science Fair, Junior High Science Fair, Truth Chemical Private Schools Science Fair, Hughes Christensen Junior and Senior Engineering Design Competition, ABB Elementary Science Festival, PBK Architects Sci.Math.e.lon, Math bowl, Science Bowl, Lone Star College Biotechnology Competition, HCN/The Courier Science Photo Competition, and SCI://Blogz.

Over the past twenty years SCI;//TECH has become a true community event that gives thousands of students the opportunity to learn and excel outside the classroom. Because of the success of SCI://TECH, 450 volunteers are needed to serve as judges for the many events and to help with the logistics of the exhibition. We need your help to engage each student with the community! Register to volunteer today at http://www.efta-us.org/index.htm?SciTech.htm . Your support will be appreciated by these hard working students.

Thanks Rico's!

EfTA Thanks Ricos Grill for Sponsoring the First Meeting of the 2009-2010 Student Advisory Council

Education for Tomorrow Alliance (EfTA) appreciates the dinner, beverages, meeting space, and excellent service provided by Ricos Grill Monday night, October 12th for EfTA’s 2009-2010 Student Advisory Council kickoff meeting. Participants from all high school campuses served by EfTA became better acquainted through networking activities and then elected officers for the school year. Students will attend three more meetings this year to hear guest speakers from the business community, design posters to promote EfTA’s Student Internship program on their campuses, and learn about money management from program sponsor Woodforest Bank. They also volunteer at SCI://TECH in February, EfTA’s annual regional science fair and expo.

CHOICES Program Enjoys Successful Fall 2009

Volunteers and Sponsors Make It Happen Again!

EfTA and CHOICES program sponsor Entergy joined together to celebrate another successful season and thank the professionals who volunteered to present CHOICES to CISD 8^th grade students this fall. 49 volunteers delivered 135 presentations at 7 campuses to reach 2,743 students with the valuable message that, “self discipline is the key to success.” EfTA thanks program sponsor Entergy and all the volunteers who made this program such a success!

The breakfast serves to thank volunteers and sponsors for their support and provide a social and networking opportunity for them. There are also fun awards presented like “5+ Years of Service”, the “Call Me If You Need Me” award, and the EfTA “Unofficial Volunteer Recruiter” award. Everyone at EfTA thanks all of the following volunteers for giving generously of their time, energy, and experiences to bring the CHOICES program to life in our community:

Dr. Steven Arnold - Arnold Chiropractic

Mr. Ajay Bansal - Lexicon

Mr. Dave Bartow - Owens Corning

Ms. Debbie Brown - San Jacinto Girl Scouts

Ms. Dawn Candy - I Promote You

Mr. Barry Carpenter - Greater Conroe EDC

Ms. Linda Cary - Connecting Families

Mr. David Duckworth - Halliburton

Mr. Jim Geiger

Ms. Maureen Godfrey - Body & Brain

Mr. Luis-Pablo Grijalva - Sungard HE

Mr. Joseph Hantz - Entergy

Ms. C.J. Haynes- Investment Advisory Services, Inc.

Mr. J.J. Hollie - Consolidated Communications

Mr. Skeeter Hubert - High Point Financial Group

Mr. Joe Hulett - Anadarko Petroleum

Mr. Rick Hurst - Centerpoint Energy

Ms. Leanne Irvin - Chez-Rouge

Mr. Hans Kaul - Huntsman

Mr. Ken Kreger - City of Conroe Fire Department

Ms. Jane Lawson - Performance Impact Inc.

Mr. Randy Lovelace - Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies

Mr. Garrett Maddox - “Singing Financial Advisor”, Waddell & Reed

Mr. Jorge Manzanera - Math 2toring & Coaching

Mr. David McBride - Anadarko Petroleum

Ms. Susan Mullin - Consolidated Communications

Ms. Cynndi Nelson - US Oncology

Ms. Renee Overby

Mr. Brian Pellon - Huntsman

Mr. Bill Pisciella - Kid Potential

Dr. Lynwood Randolph - LES Associates

Mr. Rob Roberts - Leviathan Consulting

Ms. Toni Rogers

Mr. Carlos Rosales - Focal Point Coaching

Mr. Mario Rosales - Gen-X Media Solutions

Mr. Luciano Ruiz - Attorney at Law

Mr. Carlos Sanchez - Edward Jones

Dr. Bill Sargent

Ms. Danielle Scheiner - Entergy Texas

Mr. Gil Staley - Economic Development Partnership

Ms. Lora Steen - Entergy

Mr. Jay Strickland - Pre-Paid Legal Services

Mr. Scott Summers - Entergy Texas

Ms. Dawn Vollmer -Texas Forest Service

Ms. Lois Voth

Ms. Janet Werner - High Point Financial Group

Ms. Donna Wood - MS, LPC-S Career Strategy Counselor

Ms. Kandace Wigington

Mr. Bob Williamson

Your EfTA Leadership

Introducing Board Chair Bruce Steimle

Education for Tomorrow Alliance (EfTA) is proud to introduce the current Chair of the Board, Mr. Bruce Steimle. Mr. Steimle is the Senior Director of Global Marketing for CB&I in The Woodlands, Texas. In this role, he is responsible for CB&I’s brand management, marketing communications (website, advertising, brochures, technical articles, and presentations) and sales support, including trade shows and conferences. Previously the Director of Marketing Support, Mr. Steimle has been at CB&I since July 1997 and has a total of 30 years experience in corporate communications, public affairs and marketing.

Mr. Steimle has served on the EfTA Board since 2003 and the Executive Committee since 2004. CB&I sponsored the SCI://TECH Junior High Science Fair from 2003 to 2006, and has been a SCI://TECH event co-title sponsor since 2007. Mr. Steimle has also served on the Nominating Committee since 2005 where he identifies and reviews prospective Board members. He has also chaired the Fundraising Committee for the past year. CB&I staff have mentored interns in EfTA’s summer Student Internship Program for the past few years. Mr. Steimle personally contributes to the Student Achievement Fund for deserving program participants.

"EfTA is a great organization,” says Mr. Steimle, “delivering innovative and effective programs that encourage kids to stay in school and to pursue careers in science and technology. I've been involved with a number of nonprofit service organizations over the years, and I guess my motivation is pretty simple: it feels good to participate in activities that help people overcome obstacle and improve their self worth."

He holds a B.A. degree in French from the University of Illinois and an M.A. in Communication Studies from Governors State University. He is a member of the Business Marketing Association in addition to his service on the EfTA Board. Mr. Steimle resides in Montgomery, Texas, with his wife, Cindy. They have two sons.

EfTA Recognizes New and Departing Board Members

EfTA is very proud to welcome seven new local professionals to its 2009-2010 Board of Directors,and to thank departing members for their service. Joining the EfTA Board are (L-R) Mr. Tim Sweeney of Fox Network Center Houston, Mr. David McBride of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Ms. Lora Steen of Entergy, EfTA’s current Executive Director Dr. David Norton, Mr. George Waggoner of First National Bank Texas, Mr. Joe Hulett of Americas Styrenics, and Dr. Austin Lane of Lone Star College Montgomery. Although not shown above, EfTA also welcomes Mr. Nick Wolda of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau to its Board of Directors.

Share your EfTA Stories!

Education for Tomorrow Alliance is expanding our online presence through Facebook, Volunteermatch, Woodlands Online, and other sites. If you have had a positive volunteer experience or interaction with students through our programs, please take a moment to testify! In particular, our Volunteermatch page looks lonely with “0 Reviews”.

Nothing is more powerful in marketing and recruiting than the words of someone who’s already been involved and enjoyed their experience. To post your testimonial, simply visit www.volunteermatch.org/search/org84436.jsp. Thanks in advance for lending your voice of support and credibility to all that we do for local youth and education!

EfTA Volunteers Mentor at High School Events

In pursuing its mission to be the Business-Education Connection of Montgomery County, EfTA recently assisted two high schools in reaching out to local business professionals for participation in events.

Caney Creek High School hosted a Career Fair on September 28^th at which students visited with various business representatives at their booths and learned more about careers in those industries. EfTA thanks all of the volunteers who helped to make that event such a success.

College Park High School contacted EfTA for support with a Resume Workday on November 17^th with students of its Communication Applications course. 23 of the 28 volunteers who participated in this event were referred by EfTA. Thank you to all the professionals who volunteered to support that event! EfTA wishes to thank all of you for your support!

Oak Ridge Elementary Springfest 2010

Mark your calendars now and plan to take the whole family to Oak Ridge Elementary for Spring Fest 2010 on March 6^th! There will be a train, petting zoo, giant slide, moonwalks, make-and-take craft booths, carnival games and prizes, performers, and a talent show. All the fun will take place 9 AM to 2 PM at Oak Ridge Elementary School, 19675 I-45 S. Conroe, TX. 77385. Business sponsors are also being sought to ensure this event is free for children to attend. For more information, contact Brandy Green at (936) 271-0541 or ore_springfest@live.com

About this Publication

This email is brought to you by Education for Tomorrow Alliance. EfTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to partner schools, businesses and civic groups to enhance educational opportunities for students and teachers, and provide meaningful volunteer programs for school-business interaction. Learn more at www.efta-us.org.

EfTA @ Work is prepared and distributed each fall, winter, and spring by Sheryl Sitts, Manager of Communication and Development and Judy Easton, Office Administrator. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any story ideas, questions, or comments you may have at (936) 271-6150 or info@efta-us.org. Thank you for supporting EfTA!