The students gathered each day at University of Cincinnati's College of Business, in the SAP Computer Laboratory operated by the Information Systems Department. Each week's twenty students were divided into 4 teams of 5 students, and each team was sponsored by a local company. 2007 sponsors of the IT Careers Camps program included many of the region's leading employers -- Atos Origin, Chiquita, Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions, Cintas, Citigroup, Comair, Fifth Third Bank, Great American Insurance, Kroger, Procter & Gamble, SAP America, and Toyota.

The students got their "fingernails dirty" every morning going behind-the-scenes at local businesses to experience IT in real-world settings, being used to solve real business problems. They had lunch each day with senior IT executives from local companies, gathered up business cards for future resume mailing, and got to hear why the smart job-seeker will be looking at a career at Toyota... or Cintas... or Kroger... or P&G...

Every afternoon, the teams of students huddled to create their entry in the "Communication Enhancer Inventor's Competition", in which each team designed a device to help a person with disabilities communicate better. The judges each Friday were from the staff of Stepping Stones Center, the program for children and adults with handicaps in Indian Hill. The designs created by the students were absolutely amazing, many almost ready to take to market. But more importantly, the students got an opportunity to participate in the ultimate use of technology and their own brain power... a service learning project to design something that would a person who is struggling to communicate due to a physical or mental disability.

The results were astounding, the experiences shared amazing, and the impression made on the students exceeded all of our metrics. Please read on and see for yourself...

Abby Strawer, 11th graders, Mother of Mercy High School, wrote:
"...This has been by, by far, one of the greatest things I have ever done. I truly enjoyed my experience with the program, the amazing things that we got to see and learn about, and the amazing people I met through it! What the program taught me I will never forget, and for that I will always be grateful. Before going to camp, I really had no idea what to expect out of the week, and only knew a very little about what IT actually was. By the end of the week, I really did not want my experience to end, begging to stay for another week. This truly opened my eyes to the importance of IT, and how just learning about it and taking at least a course in college will make you have an even brighter future... [This program] allows you to see the world of IT in such a greater and brighter light. This program allows you to expand your views on careers to a whole new level, and see things you will not see anywhere else.... INTERalliance is definitely one of those programs that I will remember for the rest of my life. The things I learned, the friends I made, and the opportunity I have been presented with are absolutely amazing, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it."

Abhi Singh, 11th graders, Sycamore High School, wrote:
"First I would like to thank you immensely for one of my most memorable camp experiences ever. I had so much fun bonding with other kids from around Cincinnati, teachers from high schools in the area, and employers in the area. It was honestly the most fun I have had at a camp which I though would be mostly work. [ Second, I would like to extend my thanks to providing me with this great opportunity to further my career through contacts with important people. I think that this would help me greatly along the way. I think that this camp will help me and other students like me find a career path, or further one that we have thought of, greatly. Once again, thank you so much for the opportunity you have provided me."

Alyssa Whittemore. 11th grader, Indian Hill High School, wrote:
"The INTERalliance camp was by far one of the best experiences I have ever had! The overnight really made the difference, because I believe it gave everyone a chance to bond closer than it ever would have if it were just during the day. What I personally liked best about this experience was the fact that it changed my mindset about how useful technology really is in the future. I know now a great deal more about what I am doing in I would maybe want to spend more time in the places we visited, such as Procter & Gamble because there is so much to learn and it was very interesting. Even if an individual is NOT interested in technology, I would definitely reccomend this camp to them because it will dramatically change their perception of technology and its possibilities! INTERalliance has led me to realize that IT has SO much to offer, and I will definitely put it to use in my future job. Thank you for such a great week!"

Alex Green, 11th grader, St Xavier High School, wrote:
"I just wanted to say that this camp was one of the highlights of my summer. It was WAY better than I expected. My favorite activities were the hands on experiences, like the da Vinci robot activity, the flight simulator at Comair, and the activities at each place generally. I would suggest that you would allow more time at these activities, especially the flight simulator. .. I am definitely going to recommend this camp to my 2 cousins next year. I had a great time. Thanks again."

Janet Bremer, Team Chiquita Team Advisor, faculty, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, wrote:
"Meeting my “team”on Monday morning (the first day of camp) I was introduced to a group of kids that came because: “They had nothing else to do”, “Their counselor (or mom) made them”, “Maybe it would look good on a resume”. Frankly they all 5 had a rather “I haven’t a clue what this is about and I don’t really want to be here attitude”.
"Well, all the above changed very quickly. The camp was very fast paced, fascinating field trips for the kids (and myself), and incredible career information. I quickly bonded with what became an amazing group of young people that were just so excited about the camp that they were all bummed out on Friday when it was over. The kids (and I) found our what IT was all about. Having been in the computer field myself since the birth of the TRS-80 back in the late 70’s, I even found out what how IT had changed. The opportunities that we all had to talk with major players in businesses around the Cincinnati area was frankly, fun and informative.
"I believe that my “team” of kids are taking back amazing experiences from this camp, information about careers, opportunities in Cincinnati, and knowledge about IT. My students at school are getting a teacher next year that will be better to direct them career wise in their pursuits.
"Next year I will be much more able to find the right student for the camp. This year I was pretty much looking for the “computer geek”. Next year I will look for the best and the brightest but they don’t have to be so focused on programming.
"I have already talked with the school counselor about the opportunities that were presented to my female students and myself from someone at UC. She couldn’t be more excited to have a career path opportunity to share with some of our girls. After listening to my excitement about the camp, she too is now thinking about students that could be good candidates next year. This year when I asked for names for the camp , it went onto deaf ear as no one really “knew” about what InterAlliance was and it was just “another” thing to do.
"... It was a great week. I will CERTAINLY recommend it to other students because unlike “other computer camps” this one opened the students’ eyes about opportunities more than anything I have ever seen."

Deborah Donnet, 11th grader, Walnut Hills High School, wrote:
"The camp as a whole opened my eyes to the many and varied job opportunities in Cincinnati. Also I want to go into some form of Sports Medicine or Therapy and I will now plan on adding a layer of IT to this because I now understand that IT can be used in almost every field and job. Thank you so much for the many great experiences and opportunities that camp has opened up for me and thank you for the camp itself. I really had a great time and learned a great deal."

Daniesha Thomas, 11th grader, Hughes Center High School, wrote:
"The IT Careers Camp really impacted and changed my life. I came into the program not really knowing what to expect. My English teacher had told me that it was supposed to be a really good program that involved technology and a program which would help me with college, so I decided to give it a try. ... Everyday we were doing something new and fun and having mini competitions. I looked forward to going each day and coming home and telling my mom all the things we had done. This program has not only been an incredible privilege to be a part of but also a learning experiencing.
"The camp really showed me just how much Cincinnati has to offer. I always thought Cincinnati was just a little city with nothing exciting or big happening. However that perception really changed when I realized just how many big businesses we have housed here. There is so many things available here to us in Cincinnati and I never even realized it. It's really incredible just how much opportunity there is here in Cincinnati.
"I definitely might use my interest in IT to expand my options in the future. I really want to become a writer but now that I see that being an IT professional isn't just about sitting at a computer all day, I might consider looking into it more when I reach college. My only request of change for the IT program is that it should have more diversity and involve even more schools.
"I would definitely recommend this program to all students. Not only is it a good program that gives you the opportunity to see big businesses, but it also opens your eyes to all the opportunities in Cincinnati. I believe that all teens would love to have the opportunity to be apart of this program. You get exposed to things you wouldn't normally would and it also opens a lot of doors to job opportunities. It is a learning and growing experience that will really change your life. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this camp, it really impacted me."

Barb Kerdolff, Team Macy's Team Advisor, faculty, Withrow University High School, wrote:
"...There is hope for the future in these and other savvy teens I've met this summer (I also did a water quality camp and solar energy camp). So THANK YOU for setting up this IT camp.... Team Macy was excited about their project to the point that they contacted OLPC, who in turn, responded with interest in their adaptations of the laptop to benefit autistic/down syndrome clients. Maybe they really will form their company partnership. It's so important that teens be aware of their options. The companies, you, and Shannon et al did a super job to show them the available options."

Kristin Haak, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"I would recommend, and I have recommended, this camp to other students because it was an amazing experience in which we were able to meet CEOs of major companies in the Cincinnati area. I do not know when I will ever have that experience again. Although I do not personally see myself as a computer programmer, I do see myself at least taking class in the IT field due to the opportunities that could come from just taking a single class. Thank you so much for such a great opportunity!"

Letter to Mrs. Fran Romweber, Principal, St Ursula Academy, from the parent of Tara Porter, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy:
" Dear Mrs Romweber,
"I do not know if you have received any feedback from the Interalliance group on thie IT Careers camp. I will give you mine anyways, and you should talk to Tara about her experience. "When Tara came out of the camp, she said that this was one of the best things she had ever done. Pretty strong statement considering she had just returned from 10 days in Hawaii (Synchronized Swimming US Senior Open). Donna and I attended the final presentation session and we were both impressed by the quality of these kids, their preparation, and their presentation skills. The company site visits were great introductions to the world of business and I think they all benefited from this exposure. Staying overnight in the dorms was an opportunity for the kids to learn what teamwork and a team project was all about and I heard that there were some late nights working on the projects.
"I think the opportunity to interact with bright students from other schools really motivated Tara. Her group voted her as the project leader, and their project won the competition for the week. In addition Tara was voted by her peers as “Ms Interalliance”, the person who best represents the goals and mission of the camp.
"This was a wonderful program and we thank you and St Ursula for giving Tara the opportunity to grow in this environment. "

To Doug Arthur, Executive Director, INTERalliance, Larry Porter wrote:
"I want to thank you and your organization for the great work you are doing with the kids. I was very lucky to attend the Friday Aug 10 presentations and see the results of the week....
1. The opportunities to go behind the scenes at local businesses and to see technologies are unique and so valuable to these kids. I am still trying to get her to tell me what she saw at P&G, but she says she can’t tell me!
2. I learned things about my daughter (Tara Porter) that I have not had the opportunity to see. Her interaction with her peers, her presentation skills, and her project management and leadership skills. For this I am extremely grateful to you and the people who gave their time to work with these kids
3. Tara was very motivated and excited by this camp. She had just returned from a 10 day synchronized swimming meet in Hawaii, but she called the Interalliance camp, “The best thing she has ever done”. Pretty high praise considering the competition!
Again, thank you very much and please let the others know how much we appreciate their building into these kids."

Gena Romanello, 11th grader, Walnut Hills High School, wrote:
"I had so much fun last week. I loved learning about how IT is used in different businesses. My favorite part was that we stayed overnight. I believe that I was able to make more friendships because of the overnight. I also liked our assignment. I think that the fact that we were making a product to help others made us work even harder. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone that didn't really know what they wanted to do. I think this program pushed me towards a career in business. Thank you again for this great opportunity."

Abigail Hanneken, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
" I would like to thank you and everyone else so much for giving me this wonderful opportunity to go to the INTERalliance IT Careers Camp. It was an amazing experience that I hope many more students will be able to encounter. It not only broadened my horizons on all of the different work fields that use IT in their daily routine. During this camp it also helped me meet and make many new friends that I am continuing to keep in contact with today. One of my favorite things about camp was going to all the different companies and doing hands-on activities. Also, I thought it was very neat to see how the variety of students seemed to have some sort of bond right off the bat. The nights were a blast and added an extra touch to the week. At night we really got to know each other. I think you should keep the overnight and I would recommend those to go to the overnight. I believe it made the experience that much better. Overall, the camp was more then i ever expected it to be, and I think anyone that has the opportunity to go and doesn't is making a terrible mistake. I couldn't thank you enough."

Ian Daniher, 11th grader, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, wrote:
"This IT Careers Camp was a wonderful experiential learning opportunity providing manifold experiences incredibly relevant to my future job selection. This camp provided a series of lectures, field trips, and competitions that made IT/IM relevant, and forced us to use our creativity, intellect, and problem solving ability in competitions between different groups. These experiences resulted in my reconsidering IT as a profession, and relieved many of my fears regarding outsourcing. One of the parts of this camp which I enjoyed most was the freedom given via the overnight program. Whereas a day camp only allows for communication and interaction between the members of our group between the hours of ~9-5, this aspect enabled us to work around the clock, and, in turn, enabled us to develop our ideas in greater detail than would otherwise have been possible. This also provided a mini-college experience on the UC campus, making me reconsider attending UC Honors as opposed to . This camp also made me debate the merits of an IT/IM degree versus the merits of an Engineering/Technical degree.... I wish to thank you, once again, for the time you spent organizing this camp, and want you to know how much I valued the experience and knowledge I gained. "

Jasany Jenkins, 11th grader, Western Hills University High School, wrote:
"INTERalliance 2007 was absolutely great. I loved the program it was a completely new experience. Before the program I had no idea what IT was or what companies such as Cintas did. I learned that IT offers great opportunities in life, like traveling and you don't have to stay in one field your intire career. I'm more of a people's person and I learned that IT actually does deal a lot with people. Also I like the problem solving involved with IT. I definitely think Interalliance should expand so other high school students can be enlightened to the opportunities of IT. Even if the students are primarily interested in computers it would still be a great experience. It would give them a new outlook on their future and they might actually become IT professionals. But I just want to say thank you again for giving me this chance to learn about something new. I had a lot of educational fun in just one week. "

Kiaren Hickson, 11th grader, Summit Country Day School, wrote:
"The IT Careers Camp has completely changed what I thought of when hearing IT. I expected to come into the camp and only work on computers. The camp was a lot more enjoyable than I expected. I feel as if traveling to the different businesses and doing their challenges was the best part. I would completely recommend this program to any student that enjoys critical thinking and problem solving because it was such a great experience. The advisors enjoy the work just as much as the students. They always seem to be there when help is needed with tips and advice."

Stephanie Kenning, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"Wow! It has already been almost one week since INTERalliance and I'm still telling everyone I know about it. I loved every minute of it. I think the most beneficial part was going to the different companies and meeting different people, especially taking their business cards. I loved being in the business setting just to see what went on and also to see what a job in IT would be like... I must also say that the camp was great because it was so organized! We always knew where we were going and what we were doing, and if not we could look in our day to day organized binders. It was wonderful that we got to take home a laptop everyday and keep it with us at all times so that if we had an idea for our Communication Enhancer we could slip it right in to our presentation.
"At the beginning of the week, I was kind of nervous to be alone in my small group with no one else that I knew, but towards the end I had met some of the coolest people in Cincinnati from all over! In conclusion, I am really grateful to INTERalliance for providing me with endless opportunities and knowledge. Thank you so much!"

Alyssa Gerth, 11th grader, Mount Notre Dame High School, wrote:
"I thought the field trips everyday to these huge corporations were amazing. I found it so intriguing to listen to the big reps and also found it flattering how much they were interested in us. The camp really made my confidence boost and showed me that I can be capable of a lot more than I think. I believe I speak for a majority of us when I say they boosted our confidence. It lets us know in an actual 'see and believe' sense that if we put in the work we can be as high up and successful in a company as we want while doing what we love.
"At first I was apprehensive about going to camp and when you said at the beginning of camp that it might just change our lives a little, I was thinking like, "What is this guy talking about. I don't even like all that computer geeky stuff anyway." But let me tell you Doug, I think this was one of the best experiences I have ever had. And I am not just saying that because you told me to brag about the camp. I am being totally honest. As camp moved through the week, I just wanted to grow up so fast so I could begin this new career path that all of you have helped set in front of us. I am just so ready to work my way up because I now know my options and am grateful that someday I could work with the people at camp in Session 2.
"I really did love everything about camp. .. it because it truly opens your eyes to all the opportunity in Cincinnati. I know you keep telling us that over and over again, but it is so true. I do think it is a good experience to leave your hometown to go elsewhere for college, but there is no doubt in my mind that I am coming back! I would want other bright students to know all the opportunity in Cincinnati and that companies want them so they can help make the company that I might work in one day better.
"Ah! Okay writing to you about camp has just made me excited all over again. I never thought that writing about how IT camp is so great would ever really phase me. It does! IT is nothing like I thought it was, as I had mentioned the previous week. It is crazy how much I have learned and how much it has changed my outlook on so many careers. I still don't know what I want to be (since I change it everyday) but I know that I want to do something with IT or with people working in IT.
"I can also never thank all of you, including the business people and staff at camp, for the welcoming gestures and making all of us feel wanted and very comfortable. Also thanks for giving me this experience of a life time. But just so you know, I really am not exaggerating on how glad I am that I went to this camp. I think the InterAlliance mission is GREAT and I will always speak highly of this program. I will definitely keep in touch and I already know I am going to have so many questions about college, future careers and the P&G internship this summer. THANKS SO MUCH."

Kellie Asmus, 11th grader, Ursuline Academy, wrote:
"The IT Careers Camp really taught me so much. Before the camp I didn't know too much about Information Technology - I thought it was mostly about helping people with they're computers. But now I know that it is so much more than that. I learned that IT was in everything, especially in business. And I learned that IT only exists in business to solve problems! This camp has definitely made me consider going into a career with IT and staying in Cincinnati for college and work, which I was not necessarily planning on before. I think what I liked best about the program was going to all the different companies and seeing how they use IT. I also developed many friendships from this camp that I'm sure will be lasting.
"I'd say if there was anything which needed to be changed, the camp should be longer! It was so much fun, that one week was not nearly long enough. I would recommend this camp to other students, because it is a great experience. It can completely change your mind about what you thought of IT. It is fun and interesting to work with the companies and see what's going on behind the scenes. It is also a great way to meet people. All the students at the camp come from different schools and backgrounds, and you really learn a lot about teamwork. The camp was very fun, and I would go as far as to say it was the best week of my summer."

Suneeta Holtkamp, mother of Anand Holtcamp, 11th grader, Sycamore High School, wrote:
"Thanks for all the work that you put into the INTERalliance camp. Anand has really enjoyed this week. He has been excited all week long! This has been a wonderful opportunity for him to learn about the companies in the Greater Cincinnati area and to get a glimpse of their workings....This experience to work with other students who share Anand's interest in technology has bee very good for him. He has been challenged and engaged all week long. The presentations were all very good! Of course I am bias and think that Anand's group should have won. He spent hours trying to get realistic prices for the components of the project. In retrospect he feels that including more information about this would have bolstered the Toyota group's presentation. He even called his Uncle, my cousin who is a Director of PD at Intel for details on the chips and his Uncle a director at HP for information about using recycled components to keep down costs! These conversations would never have taken place without this week's INTERalliance camp.
"I appreciate your vision and hope that Anand keeps up with the INTERalliance chapter at school. He will be busy with Marching, Concert and Jazz Band, but he has indicated that he would like to keep working on the product that his team developed. Please give my compliments to the INTERalliance team for putting together a fantastic program!"

Vivek Mandan, 11th grader, Sycamore High School, wrote:
"This week was probably the most enjoyable and productive week I have ever had. It far exceeded my expectations. It was really great working with a team on a common goal. I also made so many new friends from all over Cincinnati. It was great meeting all the executives from the different companies. I learned that IT is not just about programming. I had previously thought that programming was IT. Now I know IT is there to ...solve problems! I would just like to thank you for making this week such a huge success."

Megan Weaver, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"I had been, for a while, very unsure of what i was considering for the rest of my life in terms of a carreer path and all, and eventually ended up on early education with a possible minor in music as both children and music (specifically vocal) are strong passions of mine. I was decide finally on that and even before making it never ever considered IT... as being an interest in a carreer for me in any aspect. I was honestly afraid of going to camp. I can say that I am a bright person but when it came to technology I wasn't really a computer genious or anything and weas worried about feeling dumb at camp, but although I knew I did not have the same knowledge as some of the other members, I never felt that way. You have now confused me again, which as I remember, was your goal in the first place, and what I want to do when i grow up and get into the real world is still in decision again... I do not know if my decision will change, but there is a possibility it might alter to fit some sort of business somewhere instead. Your camp was amazing, and i would just like to tell you thank you. I have made some amazing friends and have come out of it with amazing new possibilities and new knowledge that I never dreamed I could have before. I appreciate you so much as well as everyone else who put this program together. i would recommend it to anyone who asks, or, well, doesn't ask, for that matter. I would recommend it to anyone. it was an amazing experience for me and i think it will change me for the rest of my life. Thank you again I truly loved the camp and think it is one of the best opportunities for people our age out there right now, it was amazing!"

Kelsey Bowman, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"I loved participating in the INTERalliance camp this summer. When I first heard about the camp through my school, I though that I would be the last person to ever attend the camp. I am not one of those people that is into computer programming and some of the more stereotypical "technology" activities. However, the more the girls talked to us, the more I realized that this camp might be good for me. I dream of one day becoming a surgeon, a field where technology is present more than ever now. The INTERalliance camp opened my eyes to the technology present in almost every job, whether it be actual software programming or performing surgery with the DaVinci robot. ... [A] great aspect of the camp was that I met and talked with many key people in the business world; through INTERalliance, I got my name out there, making contacts that have the potential to greatly influence my career in the future. I would recommend INTERalliance to almost anyone. No matter what career path you are considering, INTERalliance will give you that extra boost above other students your age, giving you more experience in the business and technology world, experience that will last a lifetime. Thank you INTERalliance!"

Audrey Eggenberger, 11th grader, Mount Notre Dame High School, wrote:
"One thing is for sure--I really underestimated this camp. I did not think we would be seeing and doing so many incredible things over the course of five days! This camp really did open my eyes to the new opportunities in the IT (or I M) field- right here in Cincinnati!... Interalliance camp has also truly changed how I approach a problem and how I look at the world and technology. I got to go behind-the-scenes and see how business are run, and very few of my peers can say they've had that chance. I was reluctant at first to attend this camp, but I am really glad that I did decide to go! Never in my high school years -or perhaps my entire life- would I have had the opportunities that I did and do now!"

Meghan Saloman, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"I absolutely loved the INTERalliance experience. Being able to see that the world of technology isn't out of grasp for younger people was an amazing thing to see. The visits we went on were interesting and fun-filled; I feel like you really knew what we teenagers enjoyed. There was never a dull moment. By seeing HUGE corporations that couldn't function without IT while working on our own proved that IT is on all different levels...I loved it! I would recommend it to other students because it is an amazing experience, and it really shouldn't be missed."

Anne Haag, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"The Interalliance Camp was an amazing experience for me. I went into the camp knowing almost nothing about careers in IT, and never ceased to be amazed at the wide variety of interests that these careers can encompass. I also realized that you don't have to be an incredibly strong math student in order to implement IT into your career. I was so surprised at how many areas of life that IT pertains to- from grocery shopping to clothing design. I've always been very interested in medicine, so being able to visit the UC College of Medicine and use the DaVinci Surgical Robot was an amazing experience for me. It was also interesting to see the influence that IT has on the field of medicine, and how many innovative techniques and tools are being invented and used, right in Cincinnati! I had no idea how many opportunities were waiting for me, right in my hometown!"

Michael Cunninghan, 11th grader, St Xavier High School, wrote:
"The INTERalliance camp was a great experience. It really did a lot to open my eyes to the world of IT. Before then I thought of IT as sitting at a computer programming all the time. It showed me all the different career options IT has to offer and just how much human interaction there is in a field I previously thought didn't involve any. I had many great experiences during the INTERalliance camp. I met a lot of wonderful people, from others in the camp to the people running the camp to the many corporate people we met throughout the camp. One of the best experiences was the Kroger visit. The hands on real world examples really helped me to appreciate and understand what people in IT really do. ... I would recommend the INTERalliance camp to anyone interested in any science or business related career attend the INTERalliance camp. It was by far one of the most eye opening experiences ever."

Abbu Huffman, 11th grader, Summit Country Day School, wrote:
"I thought that the INTERalliance was a great opportunity to learn about the IT job field. I went into the camp thinking that IT people just sit at their desks everyday and write computer programs. By the end of the first day of camp I realized that I was terribly wrong. There are so many jobs inside of the IT area and it amazed me. My favorite part of the program was visiting all of the different locations. My favorite places were Comair and Fifth Third Bank. At Comair we were allowed inside of a flight simulator and to see some actual pilots doing tests. It was very interesting. My other favorite place was Fifth Third Bank because he did activities that involved designing machines to do certain things and then we saw how the real machine worked. It was very insightful..."

Marianne Yacyshyn, 11th grader, Cincinnati Country Day School, wrote:
"When I joined this program I was not so fond of the IT field because I thought that IT just meant computer programming. What I learned at this camp was completely different. IT can be incorporated into any field, any job or anywhere. IT seems to be a growing field that is popular in today's world. Definitely, when I apply to college I will consider the IT field. Finally as to career opportunities in Cincinnati, many of the companies here look like amazing places to work. I thank you and the INTERalliance for giving me this great opportunity."

Danny Sexton, 11th grader, St. Xavier High School, wrote:
" I felt going into the IT Careers Camp that I was going to learn things like computer hardware and programming. However, as I quickly discovered, it was not about that at all. Even though programming found its place in our group presentation, I was still surprised by how IT influences the world, especially at Stepping Stones. I also had the impression of Cincinnati being a dead city walking in Monday morning. I quickly realized that this perception was true only to a cultural level, and that the job opportunities in the area are more than abundant. Finally, the fact that there was only a total of 80 people that participated in the camp showed just how open the job market is for people with my interests. I can only imagine how many openings will be left even after all 80 of us are employed in high-paying IT careers."

Taylor Daggett, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"After attending the IT Careers Camp, I no longer perceive a career in IT as only working with a computer all day. At the camp, I learned that IT is all about problem solving. I also learned that there are many opportunities for a career in IT in almost every company. In the future, I am hoping to take a course in IT during my college education because I know that the information would help me in my teaching career. I enjoyed the program very much and I learned a lot. I really enjoyed working on the communicating device project with my team. I think it would have been better to have spent more time with the people at Stepping Stones so we could have known our client better. I also liked every one of our trips to the companies, especially Cintas."

Ilana Linder, 11th grader, Cincinnati Country Day School, wrote:
"Coming into the Interalliance program at UC, I honestly thought it was just going to be a bunch of really smart people sitting behind computers all day. I was totally wrong. IT is about so much more than just computers. One of the main aspects of IT that was really emphasized at the INTERalliance program was communication. ... While we were working in our groups to design a product, it was crucial that the team worked together. I learned that it is very important to be able to collaborate together.
"...I also learned that IT is incorporated into everything that is done today. No matter what field you decide to go into, whether it be medicine, or product packaging, IT is present.... I think that one of my favorite parts of the trip was the times we spent with our groups collaborating on our Stepping Stones project. We were able to have fun, but at the same time, still be very productive and create an amazing product that would help enhance communication. However, my favorite activites were the ones that we participated in at CITI bank. Each team had to think outside of the box to solve real life problems. It was amazing to me to see how quickly our teams came up with solutions to these problems."

Maria Dienger, 11th grader, Mt Notre Dame High School, wrote:
"I really LOVED the INTERalliance IT Careers Camp... I learned so much about the world of Information Technology that I had no clue even existed. So, when I started going to the major corporations in our Cincinnati area, I began to realize just how important IT is in today's times. However, what surprised me the most was the wide range of uses for IT in the every type of business, which is not only in computer companies. Also, I wasn't expecting Cincinnati to be so full of opportunity and importance in the IT world. I definitely learned a ton of information from Interalliance about Cincinnati and now I know that it is the best place in the world that I could have grown up in! Thank you sooooo much Interalliance for teaching me so much about IT..."

Jill Glazer, 11th grader, Walnut Hills High School, wrote:
"The INTERalliance program was a great experience for me. I never knew how important Cincinnati is in the IT world. I learned so much about the large companies that are located right here in the city, and how significant they are in the country. The program taught me that there are many opportunities for great careers in my hometown, and it caused me to consider staying in Cincinnati in the future. I'm looking forward to spending more time with the INTERalliance and with the many great people I met during the program."

Joel Verhagen, 11th grader, St Xavier High School, wrote:
"INTERalliance brought me up to date on the world of Information Technology. I also learned that IT isn’t just a bunch of computer nerds sitting in front of computers all day. Real people with real jobs use IT on a daily basis. This includes doctors in surgery, car manufacturers, and companies controlling the shipping of thousands of packages. Even though I have had the aspirations to become a hard-core computer programmer, I am now convinced that I should double major in another field, so I can use my knowledge of computers in both computer programming and some other field, such as Biochemistry.
"...I was expecting a bunch of nerds (like myself) sitting around computers typing away, in reality the camp is more geared towards kids who are interested in learning more about IT and how it is applied to the real life. In my mind, I find this information far more helpful than any computer programming camp..."

Natalie Bradley, 11th grader, St Ursula Academy, wrote:
"The IT Careers Camp showed me that the world of IT is an exciting field with many things to offer. IT taught me to analyze a problem and work with a team of different personalities to eventually solve the problem. My favorite part of this program was the experience we received in all different aspects of the IT world. This camp really opened my eyes to all the opportunities right here in Cincinnati. I would recommend this camp to other students, because not only did I learn from the multiple business' that hosted us this week, but because of the things I learned from working with my team. Working with my team to solve a common problem and learning from them was a priceless experience."

Esther Wu, 11th grader, Sycamore High School, wrote:
"The INTERalliance IT Careers Camp has showed the many avenues an IT career can lead to. I got to see how IT corresponds with banks, insurance companies, airports, and more. The competitions were very fun and instructive.... it is such a good opportunity to learn more about different careers and meet influential people, as well as have fun!"

Paolo Gabriel, 11th grader, Sycamore High School, wrote:
"Attending IT Careers Camp truly broadened my view on IM. By visting Great American, Comair, and other businesses here in Cincinnati and seeing IT in action, I realized "Hey, I want to use this in my career." Originally, I had planned on taking engineering courses, but now I am interested in studying IT/IM.... [t]he best part about the program was meeting and working with new people. I know that I made several new friends. Thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity."

High Schools Participating in the 2007 camps: