Steve Scott has a personal interest in developing a pipeline of young Native American students wherever he lives.
"I'm a Cherokee from Oklahoma," he says. "So, wherever I am, I look for opportunities to work with Native American kids and spark their interest in science and technology at an early age."
When Steve transferred with IBM to North Carolina, he continued his career coaching efforts with middle school students at the Eastern Band of Cherokee Reservation in a remote area more than 300 miles west from Raleigh.
Recently, he recruited five of his IBM peers to hold a technology camp there for 28 eighth-grade students.
Cherokee Middle School students tackle Lego robotic kit to simulate a development project
"The school had selected the students who had scored the highest on a standardized computer test," says Steve, manager, retail software development manager, Personal Systems Group. "So, while they were already familiar with computers, they had never been exposed to IBM or what careers paths we have. And, like many kids that age, they were very interested."
In addition to making the students aware of career opportunities in engineering, science, and mathematics, the IBM team also developed and presented technical information in a creative and insightful way.
"The information was more project oriented," explains Donald McCoy, program manager, IBM Multicultural People in Technology Project Office. "We formed teams of the kids to work on Lego robot kits that simulated a development project from design and assembly to programming to product test and finally, marketing communications.
 Program Manager, Native American Constituency, Michele Morningstar, helps students document design/assembly requirements for the robotic vehicle. |  The deliverable... a product that is ready for market. |
"As you can imagine," he says, "the students learned valuable lessons about the importance of teamwork, good planning, problem solving and clear communications."
And, of course, it also helped them develop a broader view of the opportunities in technology.
"We're really hoping to have an ongoing relationship with the Cherokee school, the teachers and the students," says Steve. "We want to continue to incent these kids to pursue engineering in a technical field and become future IBMers and customers."
Students at Cherokee Middle School pause for a photo before they break for a pizza buffet lunch.
Another group of IBM volunteers held a recent camp thousands of miles away from Raleigh in Tucson, Arizona for 36 middle school students from five different schools in the surrounding area of the rural Sells Reservation.
The Tucson team partnered with the Department of Education for the Tohono O'odham nation and theTohono O'odham Community College.
"The camp provided a good foundation for the Nation and other schools to use as a model to incorporate in their own curriculum," says Sal Murillo, account storage manager, IBM Global Services, Service Delivery Center-West., who coordinated the day along with 23 IBM volunteers. "They can continue to produce different activities in a similar fashion with hands-on focus and minimal cost, just as we did."
The day began with a welcome and orientation and then the students were divided into two teams. Half worked on the Electronic Snap Circuit Pro Kit activity and the other half started with the West Point Bridge Building Software activity.
 IBM Camp held at this branch of Tohono O'odham Community College |  IBM volunteer Dominic Pruitt, network storage development, Systems Group, guides students through software activity |
"The students were excited and intensely engaged in both activities," says Sal. "Plus, the results they displayed were amazing. In fact, they completed both projects much faster than we expected."
"Seeing the reaction on their faces and a change in their attitudes made the day so worthwhile," says Jolynn Gee, customer system test, Systems Group. "At the end of the day, we saw many of them open up and come out of their shell, and show leadership on the projects. Plus, having IBMers on hand who grew up on reservations really inspires them."
Assistant Director of Education for the Tohono O' odham Nation, Marietta Martin agrees. "Sparking an interest, finding out about careers and what type of jobs they can get into is the real benefit to these students," she says. "At this age, they are so much more open to information, learning and seeing what some of the possibilities are."
On hand to give students assistance with technology project are IBMer Craig Klein, engineer, hardware tools, Systems Group, and Terry Braun, technology solutions executive, IBM Global Services, and Native American Task Force co-chair.
"IBM really benefits in several ways from these camps too," says Sal. "It's a potential resource pool that we develop, it shows that IBM cares about them is trying to assist in their success. At the same time, by going to rural communities like this one, and making a positive impact, we are creating marketing opportunities to help make a difference in Native Nations' social issues such as education.
Sal adds, "Most important, with the devotion of wonderful IBMers and events such as these workshops, technology is not out of reach."
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