Thirty young people who completed RochesterWorks! Digital Skills program were honored at a Celebration Ceremony Thursday August 30, from 5-6 p.m. at Unity St. Mary's Campus, 89 Genesee Street (East Auditorium). New York State Senator Joe Robach and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks awarded youths certificates.   Presentation Ceremony Participants Stewart Putnam, Executive VP/Chief Operating Officer, Unity Health System Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive Joe Robach, NY State Senator Lou DeGregorio, ITT Space Systems, Participating Employer Janixa Mejias, Student in Digital Skills Program   “I am in awe of the wonderful opportunity that this program represents for youth in our community.  It not only offers the opportunity to learn something new, but the potential to work towards a better future than perhaps some thought they could aspire to...I am truly grateful to RochesterWorks!” Janet Mejias – Mother of intern Janixa Mejias see more testimonials Digital Skills is an innovative program that trains high school students in technology and business and provides them with paid summer internships at local companies. Administered by RochesterWorks! the rigorous eight-week program utilizes an on-line curriculum that helps youth gain critical business and technical skills.  Established in March 2005, Digital Skills is offered in conjunction with New York Wired for Education, local school districts and businesses.  A grant from NY State Senator Joe Robach also helped fund the program. “This program gives youth the skills and experience that will help them compete and succeed in today’s high-tech and global economy,” said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. “Connecting students with jobs at local companies is a vital part of our efforts to retain more young talent and enhance our economic vitality. I commend these outstanding students for their hard work and I thank our community’s employers for their participation.” Twenty employers participated in the 2007 program, providing internship opportunities for program graduates.  RochesterWorks! supported the internships by providing funding to companies for the intern's wages. Each youth was paid $7.15 per hour for approximately 20 hours a week over a six-week work period. Senator Joe Robach said, “I am proud to secure funding to support the Digital Skills program at RochesterWorks! which provides young people with summer employment, valuable job skills and work experience that will benefit them as they seek careers in the future.  I want to congratulate these fine young people for completing this program and I thank the businesses that participated by providing these internship opportunities.  Programs like this help ensure that our local employers have a prepared workforce and that our youth gain much needed experience and are ready to obtain employment and begin their careers.” "The program has provided an outstanding opportunity for young people to be exposed to high-tech careers in the local workforce and to gain practical experience and be better prepared to make post-high school career decisions," said George Scharr, Chair of Workforce Investment Board, which oversees RochesterWorks! and Senior Vice President and CFO of Flower City Printing. Technical certification in the program equips participating youth between ages 14 and 18 in ten core competencies including time management, business etiquette, listening skills, and coping effectively with diverse populations. The program also teaches Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point. Employers Participating Accucoat, Inc. Adecco Medical & Science American Aerogel Ameritherm, Inc. Bridgekey Corp. Center for Disability Rights, Inc. Children Awaiting Parents, Inc. Cook Iron Store Co., Inc. Culley Marks Tanenbaum & Pezzulo, LLP Greece Community Learning Center ITT Space Systems Litron Laboratories Quality Containment Services Rochester City School District Rochester General Hospital Rochester Museum &Science Center State Farm Insurance Sterling of the Northeast TEV Productions Unity Health System