CONTACT: Kimberly Stark, (901) 333-4023 Marilyn Duncan, (901) 333-4247

EOC AT SOUTHEAST CENTER WINS NATIONAL CONTEST

The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at the Southeast Center has won a national contest sponsored by Dell Computers. The Center, chosen from thousands of entries, also will be included in Dell's national media campaign for next year.

“The contest was basically about the innovative use of technology,” said Vickie S. Reyes, EOC Director. “I filled out a form on line about what we are doing at the EOC and how the program came from a project I did in graduate school. The innovative concept that caught Dell's attention is the online counseling capability we have on our EOC web site.”

The web site enables potential students to “chat” with EOC Adult Education Specialists and access other services from internet-connected computers anywhere. Terry Scharf, of Scharf Solutions, is the designer of the web site.

The EOC serves adults 19 years of age and older who want to attend college, vocational training or study to pass the GED test at numerous schools, colleges and universities in the Memphis area. The program is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education, and is provided as a public service by Southwest to the people of Shelby, Tipton and Fayette counties.

Among services offered by the EOC are career exploration, career assessments, assistance in preparing for GED or placement tests, assistance in completing admissions, financial aid and scholarship applications, educational counseling and academic advising, as well as referral services. EOC staff members serve students who walk in, make appointments, or participate in workshops given by EOC at its location or at other service providers’ locations within the greater Memphis area.

Center hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. To reach the EOC, call (901) 333-6048.