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Microsoft Marks 15th Anniversary Milestone in Motivating Minority Students to Explore Opportunities in Technology


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Bill Gates addresses students in high school classrooms throughout the U.S. via webcast.

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 10, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. and Blacks @ Microsoft (BAM) have partnered to host the 15th annual BAM Minority Student Day in six cities throughout the United States: Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Las Colinas, Texas; New York; Mountain View, Calif.; and Redmond, Wash. Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect, will be the featured keynote speaker at the event in Redmond. His remarks to students from the Microsoft campus there will be broadcast live to the general public, including in high schools across the country.

“Activities such as the BAM Minority Student Day are part of a larger Microsoft effort to provide urban high school students with exposure to the real-life experience of working in the high technology industry,” said Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division at Microsoft. “Through the event, we also hope to inspire young minority students to become the information technology leaders of tomorrow.”

During the BAM Minority Student Day, participating Microsoft campuses will provide area high school students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds an opportunity to tour the Microsoft facilities and learn about the high-technology tools, resources and career opportunities available to them. Throughout the day, students will be given an inside look at the world of technology through games, projects, tours, hands-on technology labs, information sessions and Microsoft® product demonstrations. Microsoft employees also will serve as mentors to the students, helping them learn about the wide variety of career options available to them in the technology industry. Students will meet Microsoft employees involved in the development of state-of-the-art digital media products, embedded devices and gaming software.

“The BAM Minority Student Day is a tremendous opportunity for students to learn about exciting internships and career opportunities in the computer science industry, as well as engage with a BAM mentor,” said Claudette Whiting, general manager of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Microsoft. “We’re pleased to expand our event to high school students nationwide.”

BAM representatives will also announce the 2006 BAM Minority Student Day essay contest winner for each participating city. Winning students will receive a new laptop and Microsoft software and will be mentored by a BAM member for the remainder of the school year.

“The BAM Minority Student Day webcast offers the perfect opportunity to encourage and entice minorities to enter the field of technology,” said Delanda Sydney, product manager of BizTalk Server at Microsoft and president of BAM. “From gaming to digital devices, technology offers a world of opportunity for the workforce and technology leaders of tomorrow.”

The live webcast of Bill Gates’ keynote address will begin at 9:50 a.m. PST.

About BAM

Blacks @ Microsoft (BAM) was founded in 1989 and serves as a company-sponsored diversity organization dedicated to supporting the continued growth and development of African-American employees at Microsoft Corp.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential

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