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Identify the real geeks. At top left, it's Larry Parrott, vice-president for innovation. In dark coat, it's Chief Technology Officer Paul Czarnik. The students are from Marcus Garvey Academy in Detroit.

Get your geek on!

Compuware experts distributed geek glasses to 210 students at Detroit’s Marcus Garvey Academy March 23, and helped the kids see the exciting possibilities of careers in technology.

Chief Technology Officer Paul Czarnik, Vice President of Innovation Larry Parrott, and Software Developer Jesse Dorsey presented the case that with effort students could become innovative programmers.

“In the industry, there is a shortage of technical skills, which will get worse as time goes on,” said Czarnik. “We need to reach out to kids as young as possible to get them interested in the field. We’re trying to get kids to focus on math, technology and science so they can get great jobs.”

Czarnik encouraged students to become programmers by explaining that it is “the most fun.” He added:

“You can make as much money as possible, so get good at math and English. It’s not about a job but a career.”

Parrott stressed that innovation is important in everything.

“I want kids to leave with a new respect for this subject because innovation will change the world,” he said. “It’s changing our industry, and our CEO Bob Paul says it’s the most important thing we do.”

Parrott engaged the students with many questions and particularly liked how one young man defined the difference between creativity and innovation.

The student said: “Creativity is what you think up. Innovation is what you do.” As a reward, Parrott gave him some stress toys to keep him relaxed and able to come up with good ideas.

Software developer Dorsey, who is also a video game entrepreneur, engaged the students by asking them to help him develop a video game.

“It was sweet how he made the video game,” said Anthony Dyson, 13. “I would like to do it myself one day.”

Dorsey, a college student, impressed the kids by telling them that he started learning about programming when he was 10.

“You can learn programming now,” he said. “Everything is free and on the Internet.”

“But have you ever failed?” one student asked.

“Like Michael Jordan said: ‘The only time you don’t win is when you quit,’” Dorsey said.

Assistant principal Craig McKee appreciated Compuware’s visit to the school.

“The kids need the exposure,” he said. “They want to see how the things they are learning relate to the real world. Most of the time they think programmers are on the other side of the world. Now they see them in their own backyard.”

Led by Chief Administrative Officer Denise Starr, Compuware has been a longtime partner with the middle school.

“Compuware has been very good to us,” McKee added. “You’ve donated gloves, hats, belts and uniforms. We’re also looking forward to seeing more of the world of technology with our visit to Compuware headquarters May 18.”

Sounds like the kids are on their way to becoming true geeks.

Deborah Oakes

Some people are born “givers.” They take pleasure in giving back to the community.

Take Deborah Oakes of Compuware’s Milwaukee office.

Oakes, 24, joined the company as an information analyst in August 2011. Three months later she was using her web design skills to help students involved in a nonprofit called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

Dubbed a “varsity sport for the mind,” FIRST combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology to help young people develop a passion for these fields. Under strict rules, limited resources and time limits, teams of students are challenged to build and program a robot to perform tasks against a field of competitors. Several volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

As one of the mentors, Oakes has helped renovate the website for the Brookfield, Wis., East High School FIRST Robotics Club and teach 25 students about the technology and best practices involved.

“At the meetings, I work one-on-one, or in smaller groups with the students, teaching them basic HTML, how to read the cascading style sheets and how to use WordPress to build a website,” she said. “I helped them create a lot of new content and work with them weekly updating a blog for the site.”

Oakes says they meet four times per week during the robot- building season from January to March. Meetings last three hours each, except for Saturday meetings, which go from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Outside of build season, students meet once a week during the fall and spring after the regional competition.

The teens take their website seriously.

“Once the students understood the new technology involved, they became proactively engaged and approached me about working on the site on a regular basis instead of me approaching them” she said. “It’s rewarding to see them take ownership of the website and put effort into it. They want to utilize best practices and be an ‘industry leader’ so to speak – They want other teams to imitate our website.”(www.beastrobotics.com)

The website’s blog chronicles the building of Brookfield’s 2012 robot in line with the year’s theme, “Rebound Rumble.” The amazing robot can sweep up small foam basketballs and shoot in baskets set at different heights and point values. It will vie for the gold in the regional competition, March 22-24, in Milwaukee.

“Last year was our most successful season,” Oakes said. “We won the GM Industrial Design Award and placed third overall in the standings. We hope to win more awards this season and hopefully progress to the national competition in St. Louis.”

But whatever the results of the competition, Brookfield’s team members are all winners, according to Oakes.

“President Obama recently said the countries that out educate us today will out compete us tomorrow,” she said. “I firmly believe that FIRST offers students an advantage to remain competitive later in life. Most of our alumni from the team have gone into science and engineering fields, and they’ve received fantastic scholarships for their involvement in FIRST. I believe these students are some of the future leaders in science and technology because they’re so bright already, although some can’t even legally drive a car yet.”

Renee Parker

Renee Parker, Compuware administrative assistant for more than 20 years, has a special place in her heart for the children at Detroit’s Lincoln King Academy, where she has spent five years mentoring elementary students.

“They make your heart smile,” she said.

Every two months during the school year, Parker spends the morning with at least five students. She has mentored second, third, fifth and sixth graders. Parker is one of nearly 45 Compuware student mentors. (more…)