亚洲AV

Mason students refurbish donated laptops for community members

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Some Northern Virginia families will have free laptops in time for classes this fall, thanks to an enterprising group of 亚洲AV information technology students.

group shot of people, some are wearing masks
On Saturday, August 13, the VA STAR student group turned over 20 refurbished laptops to Arlington nonprofits for distribution. Photo courtesy of IDIA

The students鈥攕eniors Judy Yang, Dennis Amoah, and Sital Luitel鈥攈ave been refurbishing more than 20 used laptops, donated through the (VA STAR), and preparing them for their new owners.

young woman at a work table with laptops
Senior Judy Yang started the student group that refurbished the laptops. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

On Saturday, August 13, the laptops were given to representatives from the Arlington nonprofits Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, American Legion Post 139, Bridges to Independence, Doorways, and PathForward, who will place them with their new owners.

The program, which is sponsored by Mason鈥檚 and the , was started by Yang, who has been doing this kind of work since elementary school. She began working on computers through the GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) Club while attending Herndon Elementary School and never stopped. She has wanted to establish a VA STAR group at Mason since she was a freshman.

Yang鈥檚 favorite part of the computer repair work is the opportunity to give back to the community.

鈥淚 enjoy seeing students and their families get the resources they need,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hese computers will enable them to do so many things online, from getting assignments done to applying for jobs.鈥

She said she hopes that the laptops also provide some stress relief for recipients, acknowledging that many families struggle to pay for technology.

Yang and her colleagues have been working on the laptops in the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) makerspace in Horizon Hall, which has the tools they require and space to work.

headshot of Dennis Amoah
Dennis Amoah. Photo provided

Luitel was new to computer repair work and said she 鈥渓earned a ton鈥 while working with the VA STAR group. 鈥淚t is a very gratifying experience to be able to help others while also bettering my own skills and learning more about the technology field,鈥 she said.

Amoah said he joined the program because he wanted to learn more about computer repair. 鈥淚 thought it would be cool to learn how to fix my own computers and replace any broken parts whenever it breaks,鈥 he said.

He was surprised at how many computers the three of them were able refurbish.

Yang plans to continue the program in the fall semester and hopes to recruit more volunteers to work on the donated laptops.

headshot of Sital Luitel
Sital Luitel. Photo provided

Volunteers can gain a hands-on experience with computers, and the opportunity can expose them to concepts that could come in handy as they prepare for their careers, Yang said. And students don鈥檛 need to be information technology majors to participate in the program.

Niki Vlastara, an assistant professor of marketing in Mason鈥檚 , served as a mentor to VA STAR group, and Toni Andrews, senior associate director in the university鈥檚 , helped connect them with area nonprofits interested in placing the laptops.

鈥淢ason students are passionate about using their skills to give back to others, and this is just one of several efforts to build strong ties with the Arlington community,鈥 said Kamaljeet Sanghera, IDIA executive director. 鈥淲e are excited and looking forward to many more initiatives in the coming years.鈥