The next Wisconsin iFair: Experience the Future will be held Thursday, December 4, 2008 at Washington High School, Milwaukee. Approximately 350 MPS high school and 300 middle school students will be invited to this event focusing on the exciting careers in IT and Engineering in a trade show atmosphere.

Since March, 2007, we have held four iFairs in this tradeshow format. The major goal of these four events was to stimulate interest in and excitement about IT and Engineering career choices. By all reports, these undertakings were resounding successes for the 26 companies, 8 educational institutions/programs, and 2250 MPS high school/middle school students, teachers and counselors who have participated/attended.

Building on that success, we invite you and your company to join us to reach out and influence even more students this year on December 4. There are several ways you can participate:

(1) First and foremost is to sponsor a company booth. In order to capture the interest and imagination of students, we are looking to you to provide a trade show type booth which will be visually interesting, interactive, and staffed with young IT professionals who can talk to and excite kids about their chosen careers in your industry. Visitors will also include both middle and high school guidance counselors and teachers who need good information about IT careers to take back to their students.

As you prepare your booth, we believe that addressing these items will help provide a successful experience for both you and the students who visit your booth.

  • Particularly because most visitors will be youngsters aged 13-17, your booth should be visually interesting using props (the larger the better), products, colors, etc.
  • The most successful booths are interactive, engaging the students in activites
  • If you are going to feature a demonstration, the use of a data projector and screen is more effective than students crowding around a monitor.
  • Your booth should be staffed by young IT professionals who are casually dressed, who represent people of color, represent both genders, and who are willing to interact with students between ages of about 13 and 17.
  • Remember, the focus is to “sell” the excitement of IT and Engineering careers and encourage students to pursue the necessary educational steps.

Those who are sponsoring booths should fill out the attached form and e-mail it as soon as possible to Bob Horton: . We would like to have this information by October 24. These companies will have their name/logo included on the colorful iFair flyer, poster and publicity releases similar to last year. Feel free to contact Bob if you have questions or would like to discuss ideas about your booth.

(2) Financially support the April 2 iFair

This event has a budget of $7,000 (buses, booth curtains, space/infrastructure set up, security, etc.). Last year, many companies (including booth sponsors) and professional societies donated $250 - $2,000 to show their support. If we receive your donation by November 7, your company name/logo will also be included on the iFair flyer, poster and publicity releases.

Checks can be made out to Washington HS of Information Technology and sent to

Joe Kmoch / iFair Fund

Washington HS of IT

2525 N. Sherman Blvd.

Milwaukee, WI 53210

Questions can be addressed to Joe at (414-530-6892)

(3) Volunteer to participant in the wrap-up panel discussions at the April 2 iFair. In choosing panelists, we want to be sensitive to age (youthful), minority status and gender (female) (or at least to as many of these as possible) in order to be as empathetic with the students as possible.

Please e-mail Bob Horton: for times and instructions.

(4) Visit the April 2 iFair

You and your colleagues are cordially invited to drop by the event. Once you witness the excitement being generated, you’ll want to be part of it.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your ideas for your booth, I encourage you to call Joe (414-530-6892) or Bob (262-472-1467).

Sincerely,

Joe Kmoch

Bob Horton

iFair Booth Coordinators

The iFair Steering Committee:

Robert Horton; University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Chair)

Lauren Baker; MPS Coordinator of Career and Technical Education

Joe Kmoch; JK Associates

Richard Oakes; NVISIA Consulting

Dorothy Valentine; Harley-Davidson (retired)

Larry Domine, MATC