(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - June 28, 2016) - - - The Columbia State Community College Professional Staff Organization and Dell Computers have recently teamed up to present one student with a new laptop computer.

"I had told our Dell account executive the story of a student who had a difficult time creating a 3-page paper on their cell phone and that it is a struggle for some students to afford school and purchase technology to use when they are not on campus," said Dr. Emily Siciensky, associate vice president of information technology. "Dell wanted to help and I thought this would be a good way for the PSO to maintain the tradition of supporting a deserving student."

The PSO composed criteria to be met by prospective students, including a letter of recommendation from a Columbia State faculty member and a 500-word essay on how the computer would be beneficial in achieving their academic goals.

Columbia resident and single mom of four, Crystal Fernandez, wrote the winning essay. She said she started taking classes at Columbia State two years ago and will now be able to take more classes each semester and finish her degree quicker.

"I also want to be a great example to my children," Fernandez said. "I want them to see me study and I want to encourage them to seek a college education. I want to be someone they look up to and someone that teaches them how to succeed."

Dell has had a long standing working relationship with Columbia State due to its position as a technology provider for all of the Tennessee Board of Regents institutions. However, Dell representatives stated that the laptop giveaway would allow the company to grow a true education partnership with Columbia State, as opposed to just a vendor-purchaser relationship.

Photo Caption: Pictured left to right: Brent Fleming, Columbia State database administrator and PSO representative; Dr. Emily Siciensky, Columbia State associate vice president of information technology; Crystal Fernandez; Shawn Young, account executive at Dell Inc.-Nashville; Erica Smith, Columbia State internal auditor and PSO secretary; and Carl Jones, digital and print communications coordinator and PSO representative.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.