Contact: Fitz
Haile
The Creative Coast
912.447.8450
press@TheCreativeCoast.org
www.TheCreativeCoast.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2005
“TechFest
2005” for technical and creative students was a big success
www.thecreativecoast.org/techfest/
Savannah – The Creative Coast certainly seems to have “one-upped”
themselves with “Regional TechFest 2005”…with the help
of Armstrong Atlantic State University, 100+ creative and technical
local college students, and 12 area knowledge-based businesses.
The brain-child of AASU Computer Science Department’s Chris McCarthy,
Tech Fest 2005 was an exciting opportunity for Savannah area students
to strengthen relationships with Knowledge-Based Businesses (KBB)
in the Savannah area. This past Friday, students from AASU, Georgia
Southern University, Georgia Tech Savannah, Savannah State University,
and South University had the opportunity to network with Project managers,
owners and CEO’s from local KBBs.
The first half of TechFest 2005 spotlighted student projects, via
computer software demos, motion graphic resumes, and working product
displays. The second half featured sessions where KBB representatives
provided a five-minute overview of their company as well as job tips
to subsets of students and faculty.
By all student and business accounts, TechFest was a big hit. “Students
really seemed to enjoy themselves…this was an invaluable networking
opportunity for freshman and seniors alike. Local area businesses
are looking for interns, and even full-time employees,” The Creative
Coast’s Executive Director Chris Miller noted.
Students also got their fair shot at a $150, $100, or $50 cash prize
for the best project or demo. The winners of TechFest 2005 were:
• 1st Place: Donald Calabra & Jatin Patel
• 2nd Place: Tommy Powell, Hai Nguyen, Chris Childers & Gyuchoon
Cho
• 3rd Place: Joseph Rowe & Darnell Brawner
“This was also a great opportunity for local businesses to get
their message out to local students and area schools. These businesses
need talent….and Savannah has plenty of that.” Miller surmised.
“With TechFest, we hoped to have played matchmaker between employers—and
potential employees.”
The participating businesses in this year’s TechFest were:
Aelera Corp (www.aelera.com)
CogentWare (www.cogentware.com)
Color Maria (www.colormaria.com) Contractor Anywhere (www.contractoranywhere.com)
EmarketSouth (www.emarketsouth.com)
Entre Solutions (www.entresolutions.com) Epproach Communications (www.epproach.net)
Premier Systems & Training, Inc. (www.pstrain.com)
Savannah Computers (www.savannahcomputers.com) Systems Connect (www.sysconn.com)
Merchant Consulting Group (www.merchantconsulting.com)
Verisign (www.verisign.com)
TechFest will rotate on an annual basis from AASU in 2005 to the next
institution willing to host in 2006. Please contact Fitz Haile at
fitzhaile@thecreativecoast.org or 912.447.8450 for any additional
information.
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