News

NICK provides computers for needy students

Jennifer Ott
Staff Reporter

Giving students an opportunity that most take for granted is the goal of the North Iowa Computers for Kids (NICK) Program.

The NICK Program was started by Ben Sayles, a former Mason City High School student, to meet the requirements for a class project. Sayles’ idea was to take donated computers from the public, refurbish them and then donate them back to needy students throughout the community.

After the program was underway, Sayles asked for assistance from the NIACC Information Technology (IT) Department.

According to Tracy Purchase, NIACC IST instructor, the program got too big for Sayles “so he asked for our help.”

Since it started, the NICK Program has grown tremendously. In the past year alone, 187 computers were donated to area high school computer labs, individual students and families and the Renu Organization. Past years have turned out 125 donations in 2005 and 60 donations in 2004.

A unique aspect of the NICK program is that there are no expenses involved in refurbishing the donated computers. “There are no dollar bills involved,” Purchase said.

Purchase and the Operating Systems Software Basics class at NIACC provide the labor that is involved in refurbishing the computers. “The students get hands on experience,” Purchase said. The Operating Systems Software Basics class is responsible for making the donated computers functional for others to use.

Incorporating the NICK Program into class gives students a valuable opportunity to increase their troubleshooting skills and expand their knowledge.

According to Purchase, school counselors and other administration and the United Way make recommendations for who should receive a computer.

After Purchase receives the recommendations, computers are appropriately refurbished and delivered to the deserving recipients.

There are guidelines for the donated computers. These guidelines change every year according to changes in technology, but even if the whole computer can’t be used, certain parts of it can be reused.

“Parts are moved around according to how they need them,” Purchase said.

For more information or questions about the NICK Program, contact Tracy Purchase at (641) 422-4415 or purchtra@niacc.edu.