Justin Bagley has become the first Crooms Academy of Information Technology Class of 2005 graduate to join The Founders Society. As a resident of New Jersey working for Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical sector, he also represents – geographically – the furthest-flung Founder as of yet. Justin states he joined The Founders Society because, "the investment gives me the opportunity to help someone else reach their dreams, just as I have."
As part of the first class of Crooms Academy of Information Technology, Justin and his family took a risk in attending Crooms AoIT. Yet, as Justin explains, the choice was pretty easy, "Crooms was the only school seriously offering IT classes. The technology bubble highlighted the possibilities within IT. I thought preparing for this field would be a good opportunity." This focus on information technology from an early age is paying dividends now. Given the opportunity to study IT over the course of the last decade, Justin has received jump on the competition. The small class sizes at Crooms provided hands-on attention from teachers and allowed a special bond to form with the faculty.
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Alumni Association to Offer Annual Grant for Crooms AoIT Athletics, Create Grant Committee to Oversee Process
Submitted by admin on January 22, 2012 - 4:43pmThis past Wednesday, the Crooms AoIT Alumni Association's Board of Directors unanimously approved a measure to offer an annual grant to a Crooms AoIT sports team. The grant comes after Crooms AoIT Class of 2006 graduate Frank C. Bracco signed a four-year gift agreement with the Alumni Association. As part of the agreement, the Alumni Association will offer a grant of at least $250 to Crooms' athletic teams for at least the next four years.
"Although the amount of the grant may be small when compared to the overall expenses our athletic teams face, it is my hope this grant can provide some moral and financial support to the athletic activities that played a pivotal role in the development of so many Croomies - myself included," Bracco declared. Statewide budget cuts to education over the past several years have erased financial support for extracurriculars, which Bracco cited as a motivating factor for the gift. He also noted the shuttering of the Crooms AoIT Athletic Boosters as an issue that encouraged him to earmark his financial support for athletics.
Some members of the Alumni Association's Board of Directors saw the grant program as something long overdue for Crooms AoIT. "Considering the massive budget cuts for Seminole County Public Schools next year, this grant program can help Crooms' student organizations remain intact and strong,” stated Board member James “Brock” Mangus, Class of 2007. Mangus has been advocating for increased financial support for Crooms AoIT from his fellow alumni for the past several months.
The grant process will be overseen by a newly formed grant committee. Over the next several weeks, the committee will determine the criteria for the grant and will invite the physical education department and sporting teams at Crooms to file a request for funding. Membership on the grant committee is open to all alumni, but preference will be given to Alumni Association members. Individuals interested in serving on the grant committee should e-mail scholarship@croomsalumni.com.
Crooms AoIT Receives 'A' Grade
Submitted by admin on January 4, 2012 - 10:50pmThe 2011 high school grades are finally out, and it's great news for Crooms Academy of Information Technology. Students at Crooms AoIT rose to the occasion and earned the school an 'A' grade for 2011. School grades are based on student performance and learning gains on the FCAT standardized test. Crooms AoIT is one of two high schools in Seminole County to have received an 'A' grade for four out of the past five years.
Holiday Cheer: Join the Alumni Association Before Christmas and Get...
Submitted by admin on December 17, 2011 - 12:56pmSpread some holiday cheer this winter season. For the next three people that join the Alumni Association before Christmas at the Orange Croomie or above level ($30/year or more) we will send you a $35 gift card for Wal-Mart while receiving all the other benefits of membership in the alumni association. You seriously cannot beat this deal; you can actually walk away having received more holiday cheer than you gave while still supporting a good cause. Join now at http://www.croomsalumni.com/join.
As the President, Chief Technology Officer, and Director for publicly traded Vidaroo Corporation, Micheal Morgan leads a technology company that provides a best-in-breed online video platform and state of the art video production. Micheal oversees a growing on demand OVP and production company whose ever expanding roster of current and former clients include Microsoft, Coca-Cola Company, Tribune News Company, Toyota, Emmis Communications, Clear Channel, Black Eyed Peas, and Justin Timberlake. He also serves as the President of his own SaaS, e-commerce, and software development company Stand Vertical, Inc. Having graduated from Crooms Academy of Information Technology, Micheal is also one of the most prominent entrepreneurs from the class of 2006 and is now a member of The Founders Society.
Born in Houston, Micheal Morgan moved to Seminole County at the age of seven. Eighth grade at Milwee Middle School proved to be a pivotal point for him. "At the time, I was evaluating the benefits of attending Lyman's engineering program," Micheal explains, "but, Crooms AoIT offered so much more with its focus on IT and the Cisco Networking Academy. It was a presentation by Crooms' assistant principal during my tech resources class that cemented the deal." During his time at Crooms AoIT, Micheal pursued a regimen of networking courses and was also active in extracurricular activities. This included serving as Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, and head of Crooms' delegation to the Seminole County Association of Student Councils when it served as the Secretary/Treasurer school; being an active member of Business Professionals of America (BPA), BETA Club, and the National Honor Society; and, being a part of the BPA e-commerce team that would place first at national competition.
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