Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

This is a little late, but not for lack of admiration. Ralph Smith and the Computer Mentor Group hosted another very successful tech bowl Oct. 27.

A team sponsored by Microsoft that included Eric Castillo, Jorge Martinez, Jarred Futrell, Anthony Pritchett, and Gordon Kratz took first place in the competition that was held at the Hillsborough Community College Brandon Campus. Castillo, Jim Lathrop and Rick Roux, all from Microsoft, were the team’s coaches.

Twice as many teams - 12 - competed in this second tech bowl. That’s 48 teens who were inspired to spend their free time learning about computers and technology, and numerous volunteers who spent their free time mentoring and tutoring.

This year’s sponsors included Microsoft, Citi, Nielsen, Interface Network Systems, Holland & Knight, Suncoast for Kids Foundation, Acuity Solutions, JP Morgan Chase, Numara, Tampa Bay Community Network, the St. Petersburg Times, the College Reach-Out Program at HCC and Air Tran.

They all deserve a round of applause.