ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 29, 2000 — To recognize the innovative work of its education industry partners, Microsoft Corp. today announced the winners of the Technology Achievements in Education Awards at the Florida Educational Technology Conference. The awards showcase independent software vendors (ISVs) and Microsoft® Certified Solution Providers (MCSPs) that are helping schools, colleges and universities make the best use of Microsoft technology tools, particularly the newly released Windows® 2000 operating system, to improve student learning and streamline administration.
The ISV award winner is Computer Power Solutions of Illinois, a provider of network management solutions in education since 1989 based in Columbia, Ill. The company’s hallmark education product, Visual CASEL, simplifies network and user management and provides a true Active Directory TM Services base for Windows 2000. AmeriComp Inc., based in Topeka, Kan., the MCSP award winner, has developed K-12 solutions since 1990, focusing on training teachers, IT staff and developers on Microsoft products and technologies.
“Creative companies, like the Technology Achievements in Education winners, are clearly focused on helping meet the unique technology needs of today’s schools and campuses,”
said Bryan Watson, general manager, Microsoft Education Group.
“Microsoft is proud to recognize our innovative partners that are helping educators use technology to build the modern learning infrastructures that are transforming education.”
Microsoft relies exclusively on industry partners to develop, install and maintain solutions for education using Windows 2000 and other Microsoft technologies so that schools can build Connected Learning Communities, where new computing devices, powerful software and the global expansion in Web services are combined to enable learning without limits – any time, any place.
Entrants were judged on innovation, Windows 2000 readiness, the ease with which schools and campuses can adopt and implement the technology, their ability to work with existing school technology and adapt that technology as needs change, and their relationships with their education customers. The awards program is sponsored by Microsoft Windows 2000 and Scholastic Inc.
The ISV finalists are 4GL Software Solutions Inc., Baltimore, Md.; Academic Systems Corp., Mountain View, Calif.; Blue Squirrel, Draper, Utah; DPConsultants Inc., Tremont, Ill.; and IntraLearn Software Corp., Northboro, Mass. The MCSP finalists are Advanced Corporate Networking, Milford, Conn.; and Sequoia Diversified Products Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich.
The Technology Achievements in Education Awards program is part of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to help every school and campus build a Connected Learning Community where all students and teachers have access to learning any time and any place.
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“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
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Addendum: Technology Achievements in Education Award Winners and Finalists
Independent Software Vendor Winner
Computer Power Solutions of Illinois, Columbia, Ill., established in 1989, provides network management solutions specific to education institutions. Its hallmark application, Visual CASEL, was developed specifically for schools with extensive input from teachers, technology coordinators and administrators. Visual CASEL 2000 is the only Active Directory Services-based solution for K-12 institutions for network, user, organizational unit and desktop management. Schools can control security by user and maintain a tiered management system with multiple administrative levels. http://www.vcasel.com
Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Winner
AmeriComp Inc., Topeka, Kan., has been providing technology solutions for schools for nearly ten years. In 1999, AmeriComp focused attention on training teachers and IT staff and developing Microsoft Solutions Framework plans so schools can truly attain a working, successful deployment of Microsoft products and solutions. For higher education, the company has been instrumental in providing Exchange University Programs and hands-on labs for
“digital dashboard”
deployment and Windows 2000 to current and potential Microsoft customers.
ISV Finalists
4GL Software Solutions Inc., Baltimore, develops information systems for the K-12 market. 4GL’s Special Education Tracking Software (SETS) helps schools comply with federal and state IDEA laws and gives districts the tools they need to manage their special-education process, which can dramatically increase their share of Medicaid funding.
Academic Systems Corp. was founded in 1992 in Mountain View, Calif. The company’s Interactive English and Interactive Mathematics software for remedial-level higher-education students can be found at more than 250 campuses across the United States. http://www.academic.com/
Blue Squirrel. Draper, Utah, has been developing software for the education market since 1995. Its products enable Internet users to manage, personalize, save and print information found on the World Wide Web with an easy-to-use interface. http://www.bluesquirrel.com/
DPConsultants Inc.’s Tremont Software, Tremont, Ill., provides K-12 administrators with comprehensive, Internet-enabled student and financial management software solutions so schools and districts can centrally manage their financial and student demographic records, student scheduling, grade reporting and attendance information. http://www.tremontsoftware.com/
IntraLearn Software Corp. is a Northboro, Mass.-based ISV specializing in online learning technology for colleges and universities. The IntraLearn family of applications, based on Microsoft BackOffice® technology and SQL Server TM , enables educational institutions to rapidly create, deliver and measure interactive learning and education over the Internet. http://www.intralearn.com/
MCSP Finalists
Advanced Corporate Networking is a Connecticut-based MCSP that has been providing sound computing solutions for education since 1991. The company’s Digital BackOffice offers ADP and ISP services to its education customers, enabling schools to create a low-cost intranet. http://www.digitalbackoffice.com/
Sequoia Diversified Products Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich., is a LAN/WAN systems integrator and consulting organization that provides education customers with hardware and software, voice and data cabling, hardware maintenance, project management, Web solutions, telephony services and help desk support.
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