July 25, 2007
Exhibitor registration under way for TECHFEST at Monmouth College

MONMOUTH—Exhibitors are being sought for TECHFEST 2007, a celebration showcasing emerging technologies in western Illinois, to be held Oct. 12 at Monmouth College’s Huff Athletic Center.

An initiative of the West-Central Illinois Technology Source (WITS), the second annual event will feature displays, demonstrations and discussions relating to cutting-edge advancements in commerce, education, health care and the environment, currently being used or developed in the region. Free to the public, the exhibition is geared to persons of all ages, but is expected to attract a large number of college and high school students.

“Western Illinois is in the forefront of the development of many important new technologies, from biotechnology to energy conservation, and we are excited to be hosting this year’s festival,” said Monmouth College president Mauri Ditzler. Joining him at the event will be the presidents of Knox College, Western Illinois University and Carl Sandburg College, which are co-sponsoring the exhibition in conjunction with Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, the Prairie Tech Learning Center and R Cubed Technologies.

Exhibits from last year included a thermal camera from the Galesburg Fire Department, spinal scanning equipment from Midtown Chiropractic and Battling Robots from Knox College. Highlighting this year’s program will be discussions and information about “open source” software, a job fair, vintage arcade games and a floppy disk toss.

“We are particularly seeking exhibits that have a hands-on component,” said Nathan Rockhold, chairman of WITS. “We also encourage exhibitors to provide information about available positions—particularly jobs related to technology—as well as the skills necessary for those jobs.”

The event will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on the main concourse of the athletic center. Lunch will be provided for exhibitors, who may begin setting up at 11:30 a.m.

Registration materials are available online at www.WITStechfest.com. For more information, call the Prairie Tech Learning Center at 309-734-1068,

Founded in 1853, Monmouth College is a private, four-year, nationally-ranked liberal arts institution of more than 1,350 students in western Illinois.
 

 
October 2, 2006
Galesburg, IL - John David reports

Techfest boosts careers and communities

By John David

Local colleges are proving that high technology isn't just the wave of the future. It's a crucial part of building careers in the present.

As a junior at Monmouth College, Cassie Tangney is designing a creative job by working with computers. The Decatur native is finding that high technology opens plenty of doors.

"There's a lot of design firms that hire you straight out to do a lot of literature work, magazines and brochures," she said. "A lot of that stuff is graphic design."

As Carl Sandburg College hosted Techfest 2006 on Friday, it became a first time event featuring local colleges and businesses across Western Illinois. The campus became a lab for learning.

"With a lot of baby boomers retiring, there's going to be a need for a lot of the high tech workforce," said Nate Rockhold.

Rockhold should know. As president of R3 Technologies, he's crafting a career in Galesburg. Now, he's launching a group to boost the development and growth of local high tech businesses. It's a way to keep the entrepreneurial spirit thriving.

"High tech can involve not only computers but the application of science and technology in anything," he said.

A spirit to keep these communities a step ahead during changing times. For students like Cassie Tangney at Monmouth College, it's just the right thing to do.

"It changes so fast that if you're not on top of everything that happens, you're gong to be behind," she said.

Organizers hope that Techfest will be an annual event to spark innovation and education. Education that will help students to discover a world of new opportunities.
 
September 22, 2006

TECHFEST 2006 at Carl Sandburg College set to be a great success!
Technology Professionals from Monmouth College, Knox College, Western Illinois University and Carl Sandburg College as well as private businesses, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, invite you to a celebration of technology uses in Western Illinois. “TECHFEST 2006” will be held at Carl Sandburg College from 1 to 4:30 pm on Friday, September 29, 2006. Attendance is free and no registration required.

TECHFEST 2006 is being sponsored in part by the Western Illinois Technology Source http://www.witsonline.org/ a technology advocacy group for the West Central Illinois Region.  TECHFEST 2006 will kick off at 1 pm in the Crist Student Center at CSC with a short welcome to the event by each of the three participating colleges and Western Illinois University. Following the welcome event, organizers will hold a small press conference for interested parties.

Beginning at 1:30, TECHFEST 2006 will be featuring a wide variety of break out sessions. Each 30 minute session will be offered twice. There are nine topics offered this year including;  Internet safety, job searching on the Internet, free and open-source software, digital photography tools, how to buy a computer (buyer awareness), Smart Board technology, e-mail marketing, video conferencing, and using E-bay.

Also throughout the TECHFEST 2006 there will be area students on-hand to demonstrate and answer questions about new and exciting technology for the consumer market including; instant messaging, Google Earth, MMOG, IPOD/MP3, Wikipedia, and MySpace. These demonstrations are the perfect time to learn more about the technologies that are making headlines.

TECHFEST 2006 will also showcase some of the innovators in the region who develop and utilize technology every day. The three colleges and one university participating are bringing exhibits to demonstrate some of the technology they are developing and using on campus and in the community. In addition there will be exhibitors from the medical field demonstrating new technology such as spinal scanning equipment and portable ultrasounds. Internet ordering and e-marketing will be showcased and participants will learn hands-on how they can order dinner online. Alternative fuels are on everyone’s minds but the TECHFEST 2006 is your opportunity to learn about Ethanol and Wind Energy!

TECHFEST 2006 has a wide variety of door prizes including software programs and technology books that will be given away at the event. Be sure to sign up at the registration desk to be entered in the electronic pool for the drawings! Also be sure to try your hand at the floppy disk toss and check out the history of computer technology display. 

This year’s host, Carl Sandburg College, has established a website for TECHFEST 2006 at:  http://www.sandburg.edu/TechFest2006/.  The fiscal agent and sponsor for TECHFEST 2006 is the Workforce Investment Office of Western Illinois.