This fall, TQNYC staff brings news of a different sort: we are in danger of closing our doors. Possibly within the next two weeks. A major part of our backing is derived from banks and financial institutions, and while our staff and volunteers have worked hard all summer to raise funds, the money we need for our shoe-string budget has not come through.
2009 Event Winners Currently, we are talking with organizations that may be interested in funding/acquiring TQNYC. We are hoping that with their support, the work of TQNYC may be able to continue under someone else’s banner. An initial list of twelve possibilities has shrunk to four, and we’re crossing our fingers that something good will happen.
Though time for us is short, if you know of funders, companies or individuals who might see ThinkQuest New York City as a worthy investment, please contact us right away. We want to do everything we can to keep the programs alive.
With that in mind, we hope to resume training sessions and contest registration with a secured future (we even have a few training dates in our calendars). But until then, our operations are suspended. For those of you already working on projects, please keep going! Remember, it is the experience and completion of a project that is the true prize.
In the meantime, TQNYC staff would like to take a moment to thank all of you for your participation and support over the last eight years. Our organization has grown from 40 teachers and 200 students to 1,500 teachers and 23,000 students… all with a tiny staff, lots of volunteers, a wonderful Board, visionary educators and kids who know that learning is more meaningful (and fun) when it’s hands-on.
Please keep us in your thoughts and we will hope to report good news before the end of the month.
TQNYC has had a busy summer wrapping up the 2008-2009 school year and is now preparing for 2009-2010. Our fundraising team is working hard to ensure that our programs not only exist, but continue to elevate our mission to inspire and ignite the imaginations of New York City students so that they become excited about learning and are given the opportunity to realize their potential.
ThinkQuest Founder Allan Weis Publishes the Book “The Business of Changing Lives”
Internet visionary, Al Weis, who founded ThinkQuest in 1996 and TQNYC in 2001, authored his first book, “The Business of Changing Lives”, about his innovative company Advanced Network & Services and his pioneering vision to incorporate technology into education worldwide. The book is available today! You can find it online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Digital Media Competition
We are excited to be adding new Special Awards to the Digital Media Competition with specific themes relevant to youth and world issues. Some students and teachers even went to work over the summer to produce videos for a PSA contest for flu.gov to educate the population to work against the spread of H1N1 flu virus.
Internet Challenge
We are working hard to ensure a smooth launch this year with a more familiar system for our teams. We are also working on additional Special Awards that encourage students to engage in hands-on activities that benefit their community, their school or the environment.
Fundraising
One of our judges, Tommy McDonnell, raised $1,000 for TQNYC through the sale of her paintings. She’s inspiring other through her beauty while supporting our programs. Peter Eisenman, a member of the Adjunct Board, created ThinkTags where you can tag your friends’ photos on Facebook to acknowledge their excellence. Thank you to both Tommy & Peter for their creativity! Anyone can donate online here.
Teacher Training Sessions
It’s time to start scheduling our Bootcamp training sessions for the fall. Additionally, we will have ‘refresher’ courses for our veteran coaches and special incentives to bring new recruits to learn how to incorporate our projects into the classroom. Sign up to receive more information about trainings this fall.
We are looking forward to an amazing new year and can’t wait to see what our students create!
ThinkQuest New York City Presents
The First Competition for Judges:
The 2009 TQNYC Fundraising Competition!
TQNYC is call for all past and current judges to participate in an important fundraiser to support the programs and competitions run by our organization.
GREAT PRIZES FOR CREATIVITY, TEAMWORK & RAISING THE MOST MONEY!
Prizes include:
An Apple iTouch for the first fundraiser to reach $1000 in donations OR an Apple iTouch each for the first team to reach $2000.
Apple iPod shuffles for the fundraisers who:
- collect the most money,
- attracts the most individual donors
- use the most creative ways to fundraise.
So put on your thinking caps and help TQNYC reach our goal of $10,000 by August 10th.
Here is how it works:
You register yourself or a team of two teachers by completing the registration form here.
You set your goal.
We will send you a link to a page with your unique button to have donations made.
You can also get the code to put the button on your own, self designed page, Facebook, wherever.
You start fundraising!
If you think you are doing something very creative, email info@tqnyc.org with CREATIVITY AWARD in the title.
The first person to get to $1000 or the first team to get to $2000 will get an iTouch each.
The person or the team with the most creative fundraising efforts will win an iPod Shuffle.
The person with the highest amount raised will win an iPod shuffle. (Or the team with the highest average/member will receive 2 iPod Shuffles)
The person with the most donations (as long as donations exceed $250) wins an iPod Shuffle.
FAQs
- Are there any restrictions to how I may fundraise?
Creativity is encouraged for the participants’ fundraising strategies. But, all participants should work in a professional manner and remember this is to benefit kids.
- How can I obtain my PayPal html? Can I embed it on another site to collect donations?
Your PayPal button can be obtained from TQNYC. The html coding for your PayPal button can be embedded on other internet sites. In addition your button will be featured on our Donations page.
- Who is this competition open to?
This competition is open to all current and previous TQNYC judges.
- Can students help?
Absolutely, this is your fundraiser, get any support you can.
Feel free to send your questions regarding this challenge and/or the organization to info@tqnyc.org.
Please note that all participation and efforts in regard to this challenge are optional but are needed and appreciated.
Congratulations to all of our participants! We are pleased to add your work to our library.
Click here for all 2009 Digital Media Competition entries.
Click here for all 2009 Internet Challenge entries.
If there is an omission or a non-working link, please email info@tqnyc.org
Great work everyone. Start thinking about your big ideas for next year and we’ll see you in 2010!
Congratulations to all of our winners!
We are pleased to announce the winners of our Digital Media Competition and Internet Challenge.
All of our participants were celebrated on Tuesday, June 9th at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center at BMCC. Despite the internet going down, students managed to show their work and then the Finalists were paraded into the theater where they were awarded prizes.
Winners of the Internet Challenge
Winners of the Digital Media Competition
We also awarded Jacob Gutnicki of the NYC Department of Education the TQNYC Superhero Award for supporting so many students, teachers and schools in these educational technology projects.
Dr. Christine Rogers was awarded Coach of the Year for being the newest member of the TQNYC family to jump in and produced amazing Finalist projects for both competitions.
Congratulations to everyone for all of their hard work in what has been one of our most challenging years. We appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment to these projects.
