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Home : Media : News
NEWS | Sept. 15, 2021

NSWC Dahlgren Division Gives Back to Local School Districts with Laptop Computer Donations

By NSWCDD Corporate Communications

Helen Keller once said, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” The statement rings true when speaking about community outreach and the importance of providing services and assistance to local areas. Dedicating time, effort and resources can inspire others, advocate for involvement in charitable acts and contribute whenever possible within the community. Within academia, industry and government, countless communities come together for the greater good of their members.

The workforce at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) echoes this concept and participates in multiple programs and projects to serve the community at large.

On three separate occasions in August, NSWCDD personnel visited Colonial Beach, Westmoreland and King George County schools to donate laptop computers and carrying cases. NSWCDD personnel also plan to visit Fredericksburg City Public Schools tentatively scheduled for a later date to donate the remaining laptop computers.

Kyle Lackinger – director of collaborative innovation for the NSWCDD Technology Office – provided lead for the donation effort. He and his team worked diligently with school administrations to coordinate and deliver the donated computers.

Lackinger supports numerous academic outreach programs, projects and initiatives in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields sponsored by the warfare center and the Department of the Navy.

According to Lackinger, “a surplus of 40 laptops that were utilized to maintain STEM engagements throughout COVID-19 became available as regional schools transitioned back to in-person attendance. NSWCDD leadership decided that the laptops served best in the hands of students in the community.”

Following proper procedures, collaboration between multiple NSWCDD departments worked to clear and reprogram the donated laptops for student educational use.

The computer donation was made possible through an existing education partnership agreement (EPA) with local school districts which is part of a larger statewide initiative. In early May 2021, the bipartisan legislation – introduced to Congress by U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman, Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria – seeks to provide refurbishment capabilities to certified, nonprofit organizations which in turn distributes former government computers to veterans, students and seniors. The legislation also requires the organizations to provide technology usage training programs to those receiving the equipment.

Under the EPA, NSWCDD’s sponsorship efforts for the programs, projects and initiatives create opportunities for STEM participation and interaction across the board.

The EPAs that contribute to NSWCDD efforts in supporting STEM outreach programs include base tours, STEM demonstrations, supply and equipment distribution, training development workshops and speaking engagements.

NSWCDD Commanding Officer Capt. Stephen “Casey” Plew attended donation visits with Westmoreland and King George County Public Schools and commented on the importance of community relationship building. “We live and work in the community. We are part of the community and have an obligation to ensure that our work, our tools and our talents fit in the community,” said Plew. “We want to provide not just the physical tools like computers, but also to ensure that the community knows that the educational tools are available from the folks that work here at the warfare center.”

The laptop donations provided by NWCDD presented opportunities for school districts to manage technology needs for faculty and students.

Sarah Walker, director of technology for Colonial Beach Schools, expressed appreciation for the donation and the continued support by NSWCDD. “We are very grateful to receive these laptops because many students in our schools have technology needs and this provides an opportunity to grant access to fulfill those needs,” she said.