Graduation Blog

Graduation Planner

admin — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:44:00 GMT

Learn how to plan a high school graduation day with these steps. The graduation planner includes tips on getting through your teen's senior year, taking a look at your teen's future after graduation including starting the job search and looking at careers and how to handle the empty nest for parents whose young adult is moving out.

Graduation

admin — Wed, 17 May 2006 20:52:00 GMT

Graduation is closer than normal! only a couple more weeks

Get Grads In Gear With Technology Tools for Success

admin — Tue, 16 May 2006 19:02:00 GMT

(ARA) -- As graduates move from one stage of life to the next, technology can help them in their journey to success. The latest gadgets are smaller, more powerful and less expensive, allowing graduates to take advantage of the best in mobility and efficiency while watching their pocketbooks.

“Technology is essential for students,” says Tony Weiss, president and CEO of CompUSA. “With graduation around the corner, parents, family and friends can help their graduates get in gear for life with the hottest technology and the expert services to bring it all together.”

“Note” Worthy Technology

Most high school and college students spend the better part of their days taking notes. Top-quality note taking is essential to learning and understanding. This graduation, equip eager scholars with mobile technology to help them learn more efficiently from anywhere.

Consider the Sony SZ230P Notebook ($2,099.99). The sleekly designed, lightweight VAIO SZ Notebook optimizes mobility and the Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology gives students advanced multi-tasking potential. Parents can ensure their investment is safe with advanced security features like biometric fingerprint sensor and G-Sensor shock protection.

Notebooks equal convenience. Students don’t study just at their desks. They complete tasks in libraries, at coffee shops and at group members’ homes. The HP Pavilion dv8240us Notebook ($1,899.99) provides desktop replacement-caliber mobile performance and entertainment capability.

Balance Work and Play

As the popularity of digital entertainment like MP3s and movies increases, the selection of devices to access this technology is expanding. Graduation is the perfect time to update a graduate’s technology and give the gift of entertainment.

* iPod Video 60GB, $399.99; iPod Video 30GB, $299.99 -- Not only does the new iPod play music and store photos, it now plays videos. Graduates can download their favorite songs, view memorable photos and watch television shows and videos.

* LF-X5 LocationFree 7-inch Television by Sony, $699.98 -- No cables and no plugs means graduates can roam around with the dual-band wireless LocationFree LCD television. Programs, movies, even Internet and e-mail, are streamed from the device’s Base Station that can be placed in a living room, dorm room or bedroom. The Base Station also can be used in airport or university WiFi hotspots for ultimate mobility.

* The SLVR L7 Wireless Phone by Motorola, $249.99 -- Staying connected to friends and family helps graduates transition from one life-stage to the next. With its ultra-thin shape, SLVR keeps graduates connected in style. Listen to Mp3 music tracks, take and share digital photos and talk to anyone anywhere with this mobile phone.

Savvy Grads Know When to Ask for Help

As technology advances, it becomes more complex, and consumers need help from a resource they can trust. CompUSA offers the Techknowledgist network, consisting of more than 20,000 mobile service providers, all backed by CompUSA. Consumers can get service in-store or on-site and next-day if appointments are scheduled by 3 p.m. local time, making it the fastest, most convenient service program of its kind. Its flat-rate pricing gives consumers peace of mind.

Techknowledgists are available in almost every city in the United States, even where there isn’t a CompUSA store. Parents can rest assured that their students’ technology service needs can be met when they give Techknowledgist as a gift.

Wireless networks are essential to achieve full mobility, especially for college students living off-campus. CompUSA Techknowledgists can set up and configure a wireless network with two computers and a USB printer and more.

Technology can make graduates’ lives more fun and easy, if they know how to use it. CompUSA Techknowledgists set up computer systems and other technology like game consoles, digital cameras, music players and PDAs. Techknowledgists make sure graduates know the ins and outs of operating their new tech toys while they’re setting it up.

Trends in technology show that products continue to be more mobile, smaller and less expensive. Consumers will need help as product integration increases. See all of these products and services online at www.compusa.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Great Gifts for Graduates - Graduation Gifts

admin — Tue, 16 May 2006 19:01:00 GMT

(ARA) – The arrival of graduation season may have you fretting over how to find just the right gift for that special graduate in your life. Graduation gift-giving doesn’t have to be hard. Some creative thinking, and delving into your graduate’s future plans and current interests, can help you give a memorable graduation gift.

Here are some universal, practical, fun and inspirational ideas for graduation gifts:

For Everyone

* Some graduation gifts fit well for both high school and college grads. Of course, the majority of graduates will always welcome money. But an envelope with cash can seem impersonal. Gift cards are a great alternative. A survey by Coinstar shows that graduation is third on the list of top 10 occasions to give a gift card. What’s more, 75 percent of those surveyed said they would appreciate a gift card for graduation.

Don’t think you have the budget to give a gift card? Think again. Empty your pockets of spare change, round up loose coins lying around the house (in the laundry room, the floor of the closet, etc.) and take the spare change jar to your nearest supermarket Coinstar machine. When you convert your coins into a gift card or e-certificate, Coinstar waives the counting fee. You can easily use your spare change to purchase gift certificates for such grad-friendly retailers as Starbucks, Borders, Linens ‘n Things, Pier 1 Imports and Hollywood Video. For that graduate who loves to Internet shop, consider an e-certificate such as Amazon.com or iTunes.

Coinstar’s Web site, www.coinstar.com, also offers a handy selection tool that will help you identify the top five gift card choices for your graduate. Simply enter gender, age and relationship information into the tool and it makes five suggestions for cards that survey respondents similar to your graduate found popular.

* Give a framed print of Rudyard Kipling’s renowned inspirational poem “If.” In the poem, “The Jungle Book” author outlines the ideal techniques for coping with the adversities of life. Its calm, no-nonsense advice is sure to inspire both high school and college graduates to excel. Prints are available from many sources, and can even be personalized with the graduate’s name and date of graduation.

High School

* If you know a senior on his or her way to college, put together a “Survival Kit” that includes a watch, caffeinated beverages, chocolate, breath mints, cushioned shoe insoles and a telephone calling card.

* Does your grad favor “way-out and wacky?” For high school graduates who will be going away to college (and missing the family pet), try a sea monkey kit. These are actually shrimp that look like little monkeys swimming around in a theme aquarium.

* On the practical side, high school graduates going off to college have some very basic needs that can add up, from a laundry basket to bed sheets and towels. Consider putting together a basics basket, using a laundry basket as the base, and fill it with personal items like a toothbrush case, a set of plastic dishes, silverware, plastic tumblers, etc.

College Graduates

* College graduates entering the business world can always use some help to look the part. A good-quality brief or attaché case can help the job-seeking grad make a professional statement.

* Your college graduate might want to appear grown up as he or she enters the workforce, but all can still benefit from a touch of fun and nostalgia. College graduates enjoy the “Sea Monkey Executive” version, available at www.discoverthis.com, that includes a tiny tank, cleaning tool and aeration pump.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Get you grad a nice gift!