2008 Woodie Awards
Planetarium renamed after Fujitsu donation
Daniel Gamberg
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News
he renovated De Anza College planetarium will be renamed "Fujitsu Planetarium at De Anza College" at a ceremony on May 6 after a $1 million donation from Fujitsu.
De Anza will spend half of the $1 million donation on planetarium maintenance and future program costs, and the other half on Fujitsu products.
Prior to the donation, the planetarium relied on show sales and fundraisers for maintenance and upgrades. "[The donation] is going to take the financial pressure off the planetarium," said Karl von Ahnen, planetarium technical director.
Fujitsu specializes in palm pilot-like tablet PCs called Lifebooks, which De Anza administrators hope to integrate into classrooms.
Lifebooks with Power Point will allow instructors to write onto their lesson plans by hand. They are compatible with Windows Vista and have built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth. Fujitsu will train De Anza staff members on how to use the equipment. "We're very excited about this impacting our teaching," said John Swensson, vice president of instruction. Fujitsu products are expected to enter several classrooms this quarter, with a full launch by fall of 2008. "De Anza is tremendously grateful for Fujitsu's generosity to the students and the community," said Marisa Spatafore, director of marketing, Communications and Development at De Anza College.
In agreement with college planners, Fujitsu plans to utilize the planetarium with their business customers and partners, holding meetings and functions at the planetarium.
"It's great to be able to contribute to community college students," said Richard McCormack, senior vice president of marketing of Fujitsu Computer Systems. "Fujitsu is really proud to be associated with De Anza in this way."
On May 6, following the first planetarium show as the Fujitsu Planetarium, "Passport to the Universe," Farhat Ali, president and CEO of Fujitsu Computer Systems will lecture on ethics in instructor Jack Lynch's business class at 11:30 a.m. in ATC 102.
The naming ceremony opens at 9 a.m. with a one-hour breakfast reception at the Science Center outdoor classroom. Following the reception, spokesmen from Fujitsu and Foothill-De Anza Community College district will speak to commemorate the donation. Speakers include Farhat Ali and De Anza College President Dr. Brian Murphy.
Fujitsu Computer Systems is based in Sunnyvale, less than 10 miles away from De Anza College, and employs several thousand in the area.
McCormack said it is great to work with a distinguished local college that has such unique entities like the planetarium. He added that many Fujitsu employees have family members who have attended De Anza.
De Anza will spend half of the $1 million donation on planetarium maintenance and future program costs, and the other half on Fujitsu products.
Prior to the donation, the planetarium relied on show sales and fundraisers for maintenance and upgrades. "[The donation] is going to take the financial pressure off the planetarium," said Karl von Ahnen, planetarium technical director.
Fujitsu specializes in palm pilot-like tablet PCs called Lifebooks, which De Anza administrators hope to integrate into classrooms.
Lifebooks with Power Point will allow instructors to write onto their lesson plans by hand. They are compatible with Windows Vista and have built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth. Fujitsu will train De Anza staff members on how to use the equipment. "We're very excited about this impacting our teaching," said John Swensson, vice president of instruction. Fujitsu products are expected to enter several classrooms this quarter, with a full launch by fall of 2008. "De Anza is tremendously grateful for Fujitsu's generosity to the students and the community," said Marisa Spatafore, director of marketing, Communications and Development at De Anza College.
In agreement with college planners, Fujitsu plans to utilize the planetarium with their business customers and partners, holding meetings and functions at the planetarium.
"It's great to be able to contribute to community college students," said Richard McCormack, senior vice president of marketing of Fujitsu Computer Systems. "Fujitsu is really proud to be associated with De Anza in this way."
On May 6, following the first planetarium show as the Fujitsu Planetarium, "Passport to the Universe," Farhat Ali, president and CEO of Fujitsu Computer Systems will lecture on ethics in instructor Jack Lynch's business class at 11:30 a.m. in ATC 102.
The naming ceremony opens at 9 a.m. with a one-hour breakfast reception at the Science Center outdoor classroom. Following the reception, spokesmen from Fujitsu and Foothill-De Anza Community College district will speak to commemorate the donation. Speakers include Farhat Ali and De Anza College President Dr. Brian Murphy.
Fujitsu Computer Systems is based in Sunnyvale, less than 10 miles away from De Anza College, and employs several thousand in the area.
McCormack said it is great to work with a distinguished local college that has such unique entities like the planetarium. He added that many Fujitsu employees have family members who have attended De Anza.
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