FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2002

NetDay Wins Prestigious Industry Award

Los Angeles, CA -- NetDay was honored for its contributions to educational technology with the prestigious 2002 EDNET Pioneer Award at the Educational Technology and Telecommunications Markets Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California.

"I am extremely honored to receive this recognition for the work that NetDay is doing to connect children to a brighter future through technology. NetDay looks forward to continuing and expanding its commitment to advance educational achievement and empowerment through the effective use of technology in classrooms and schools across the country," noted NetDay CEO, Julie Evans.

In presenting the award, Nelson Heller, president and publisher of The Heller Reports and host of the EdNet conference said, "We are extremely pleased to honor NetDay for its contributions to the growth of education technology and the telecommunications industries. NetDay typifies the leadership we look for in our awards program. Through NetDay's vision, we have seen tremendous change in these industries for the betterment of education."

NetDay began in 1995 as a grassroots volunteer effort by companies, educators, families and communities to wire the nation's classrooms for Internet access. The impact of the NetDay initiative has been significant all across the country with 99% of schools today reporting Internet access.

Recognizing that today's educators face technology challenges that go far beyond wiring, NetDay is now focusing its efforts on helping schools and communities achieve their educational goals through the effective and appropriate use of technology within instruction and school management. NetDay's current programs and initiatives include:

	NetDay AmeriCorps Bridge: this community initiative recruits AmeriCorps volunteers (part of the President's USA Freedom Corps) to dedicate a year of service to help bridge the digital divide for over 17,000 students in 23 schools in four underserved communities (Oakland, CA, Detroit, MI, Mercedes, TX and Costa Mesa CA).
	NetDay Technology Enhances Student Success (TESS): this teacher training program provides direct mentoring and coaching to help teachers learn how to use technology to improve student achievement in Mississippi.
	NetDayCompass.org: the most comprehensive directory of education technology resources for educators on the web with over 2,200 resources reviewed and catalogued on the technology and funding topics of most interest to teachers and principals today.
	NetDay Index: a new initiative to track trends in school superintendents' opinions and feelings regarding the return on investment for technology use in education.

About NetDay
NetDay's mission is to connect every child to a brighter future by helping educators meet educational goals through the effective use of technology. NetDay (www.NetDay.org), a national non-profit organization known for its successful school wiring programs, today manages community and web-based programs that promote enhanced student achievement through the effective use of technology

About the EdNET Industry Awards
The EdNET Industry Awards are the only educational technology awards that honor companies and non-profit organizations that have made significant contributions to either education or industry growth or which promise to become significant players in the industry. Given annually since 1993, the awards are coordinated by EdNET, The Educational Technology and Telecommunications Markets Conference, which is sponsored by The Heller Reports. Individuals familiar with the educational technology and telecommunications industry nominate both for-profit companies and non-profit organizations for the awards. Each year EdNET (www.hellerreports.com) gathers a panel of education industry experts who subject each nomination to a rigorous judging process. Co-sponsoring this awards program, with The Heller Reports, a QED company, are Texas Instruments and Words & Numbers.

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