NEWARK, August 6- New Jersey Institute of Technology students have a long history of performing volunteer services to improve the quality of life for people in Newark. Last year, approximately 165 NJIT students worked on Newark-based projects.

"NJIT collaborates with approximately 88 Newark non-profit organizations including schools and church-sponsored programs," says Greg Mass, director of Career Development Services and the community service program at NJIT. "We are strongly committed to the renaissance of Newark and the people who live and work here."

NJIT students are enthusiastic about their volunteer efforts, especially in and around a city they see everyday. "It gives you an opportunity to get to know your community," says Miriam Perez, a community service student and a biomedical engineering major. I've had the privilege to work with all sorts of people "from border babies and school children to doctors and politicians. Community service allows you to make a positive difference in someone else's life. As a result, I'm more confident in myself and know that I have something to give to help others."

Such good deeds and good thinking do not go unnoticed. On September 27, 2002, the Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc. (NESF) will honor NJIT and other organizations for their dedication.

"Through the years, NJIT has continued to believe in and share our vision of providing comprehensive emergency services to the Essex County community," says Jeanette Page-Hawkins, NESF Executive Director. "NJIT has been a valuable partner. We could not have prospered without NJIT's loyal support." NJIT projects for NESF have included creating Power Point presentations and databases, repairing donated personal computers and helping to create a children's computer lab.

Such work represents only a smidgeon of the ways NJIT students annually serve the Newark community.

A sampling of NJIT volunteer projects in Newark during the last school year follow.

• Two dozen-plus students tutored Newark nursery and elementary school children through the America Reads program.
• Five students joined different non-profit organizations to study affordable housing.
• Ten students contributed 15 hours each to the Newark chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
• Fifty students cleaned up the lake in Weequahic Park.
• Five students trained people in computers and Internet usage at the Victoria Technology Center and assisted in adult education courses taught in English and Spanish.
• Twenty students contributed 600 hours tutoring in computer and Internet usage at Brown Academy, Newark.
• Eight NJIT students documented the development of the West Ward in for a project sponsored by the International Youth Organization. Other NJIT students worked on developing and designing websites.

NESF is a non-profit and non-secretarian social service agency delivering comprehensive emergency services to families in crisis. Founded in 1977, NESF annually helps nearly 40,000 clients providing emergency assistance to working families, the unemployed, destitute, homeless, elderly, handicapped, victims of crime and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Qualified individuals and families may receive temporary assistance for rent/mortgage, public utilities, childcare, transportation, shelter, food, prescriptions, information and referrals.

NJIT is a public, scientific and technological research university enrolling more than 8,800 students. The university offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to students in 80 degree programs throughout its six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey School of Architecture, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, Albert Dorman Honors College and College of Computing Sciences. The division of continuing professional education offers adults eLearning, off campus degrees and short courses. Expertise and research initiatives include architecture and building science, applied mathematics, biomedical engineering, environmental engineering and science, information technology, manufacturing, materials, microelectronics, multimedia, telecommunications, transportation and solar astrophysics. Yahoo! Internet Life magazine cites NJIT as a "perennially most wired" university.

Contact Information:

Sheryl Weinstein Public Relations (973) 596-3436

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