Compaq Announces National Honor Roll Program, Recognizing Schools That Excel in Technology Use.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 1998--

First Three Schools Selected to Share Best Practices of Teaching

and Learning with Technology

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today announced the Compaq Honor Roll program recognizing select U.S. schools that excel in integrating technology into their curricula, infrastructure and culture. Schools selected as part of the Compaq Honor Roll program are national role models that will serve as Compaq education technology showcases, sharing with educators their strategies of innovative technology implementation into education instruction.

A total of twelve schools will be recognized as Compaq Honor Roll schools. Three outstanding schools are the first to be inducted into the Compaq Honor Roll program--Clark Magnet School With an Emphasis on Science and Technology in Glendale, Calif.; Collier County School District in Naples, Fla. and; Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

"The Honor Roll Program provides Compaq with a means to recognize K-12 schools and districts that offer exemplary examples of innovation and creativity through technology," said Gary Staunch, Director of Education, Compaq Computer Corporation. "Through this program, Honor Roll schools are able to share their technology plans and `best practices' while serving as replicable models for other schools across the country with similar objectives and technology needs."

Honor Roll Program

The Honor Roll program demonstrates Compaq's commitment to maximizing education technology in today's K-12 schools. The Honor Roll schools will serve as technology advocates sharing and showcasing their technology programs with other schools nationwide, hosting site tours and technology demonstrations.

In the spring of 1999, the Honor Roll schools will be featured through "virtual tours" on the Compaq Education web site (www.compaq/education). Using video-streaming technology, these web-based tours will allow educators from around the world to visit the Honor Roll schools via the Internet. Compaq will also provide forums for Honor Roll educators to share best practices during workshops and presentations at national and local education conferences.

Educators from these schools will serve as advisors to Compaq, assisting with product development and testing; Compaq will in-turn incorporate their feedback into future products and plans as it continues to design and deliver the best solutions for education.

A+ Schools

Each of the first three Compaq Honor Roll schools demonstrated an exemplary commitment to foster innovation through technology. They include the following:

-- Clark Magnet High School With an Emphasis on Science and Technology

Based on its commitment to create a true school-to-work learning experience, Clark Magnet High School has been selected as one of Compaq's first Honor Roll schools. A recent addition to the Glendale Unified School District, Clark Magnet High School was designed to meet the needs of today's students who are entering tomorrow's workforce. The school touts a unique curriculum that focuses on science, math and technology courses. In addition to standard classes, Clark students participate in a full range of high-tech activities including mastering computer-aided design applications, creating animation and studying network hardware infrastructure and computer programming. By working closely with local entertainment, engineering and design corporations and executives, Clark has designed a portfolio of courses that not only educates students, but also provides them with a solid foundation of technology skills to successfully enter the workforce.

Clark's goal is two-fold: to produce students who graduate and seamlessly enter a job or internship program in engineering, networking or graphic arts, and to provide students with the necessary tools for admission to a trade school, college or university.

-- Collier County School District

Collier County School District has been selected as one of Compaq's Honor Roll schools based on its robust technology infrastructure and long-term implementation plan. Collier County has created a five-year plan to implement technology in every classroom. The district, which comprises 34 schools, prides itself on providing a district average of a 1:3 ratio of PCs to students. Collier's Gulf Coast High School, which opened in August, has recently incorporated 600 new Compaq computers into classrooms and labs and provides teachers with Compaq notebook PCs.

In addition, the district has invested in onsite teacher training and technology specialists to provide professional development classes to educators ranging from conducting research on the Internet to incorporating educational software into the curricula.

-- Duchesne Academy

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart is recognized for its excellence in innovative, leading-edge technology solutions in a K-12 private school. The all-girl school is committed to educating students in grades 5 through 12 through the use of portable technology and recently implemented a Learning with Laptops program. This program, using Compaq notebook PCs and a wireless local area network (LAN), gives students, educators and administrators access to the Internet and technology-based learning and teaching at any time and from any place. Whether the participants are e-mailing faculty, conducting Internet research, sitting outside under the trees completing a homework assignment or preparing lesson plans, Duchesne's laptop program allows teachers and students to teach, learn and communicate more efficiently.

Duchesne teachers are learning to incorporate the Learning with Laptops program into existing curricula while making the most of their creativity for instructing, researching, analyzing, presenting and sharing ideas and information.

Selecting Honor Roll Schools

Honor Roll schools are selected by a committee comprising Compaq public relations, marketing and sales professionals. Each school or district considered for the Honor Roll program must meet Compaq's specific criteria. Honor Roll nominees must be established K-12 education providers; have a dedicated technology advocate/coordinator; have an established relationship with a Compaq Certified Education Partner(1) or a Compaq Sales Manager; maintain an 80 percent installed base of Compaq hardware; continue to demonstrate a commitment to educational technology(2) and professional development programs(3); represent a replicable(4) model for other schools and; be a visible model on a local and national level. In addition, nominees considered for the Honor Roll program must represent outstanding examples for specific education environments, such as a private or public school, or a newly constructed building or retrofitted infrastructure.

Compaq personnel will nominate select schools for the Honor Roll program. For more information about the Compaq Honor Roll program and Compaq Honor Roll schools, contact your local Compaq representative.

Compaq in Education

Compaq is a leading provider of PCs and servers to the education marketplace, offering a broad suite of technology solutions and services. As a full-service computer company and the worldwide leader in the PC industry, Compaq delivers to K-12 schools, colleges and universities complete solutions for outfitting entire classrooms, school districts and campuses. Compaq's comprehensive education program includes customized products and solutions - including the popular Presario ES family of education PCs; extensive service and support programs; and technology purchase programs. The company's full array of networking, server, desktop and notebook products is sold through Compaq, Compaq Certified Education Partners and Compaq's online education store (www.compaq.com/education). Education buyers can contact Compaq directly at 1-800-88-TEACH for more information.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a Fortune Global 100 company. Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking and communication products, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices. Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners.

Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Editor's Note: Each school will be formally inducted into the Compaq Honor Roll program with a local event at their site. For details regarding local activities, please contact Erin Farrell at [phone].

Collier County - October 19th Duchesne Academy - November 9th Clark School - November 18th

(1) Compaq Certified Education Partners are a network of independently owned and operated computer sales outlets that specialize in schools and educational technology. These CEPs help educators keep their computers at optimal performance and provide them with an even better ownership experience.

(2) Selected schools/ districts must have a multi-year budget commitment of at least 2.5 percent per year for technology, a dedicated full-time person to support integration and use of educational technology and a technology plan that can serve as a test site for Compaq's technology planning tools.

(3) Selected schools/ districts must have a dedicated budget for professional development/ teacher and staff training on technology use, a professional development plan, a record of scheduled technology-related professional development activities and a willingness to serve as a test site for Compaq's professional development products and services.

(4) Honor Roll schools must have a primary funding source for technology that is replicable such as a local bond election, state or federal funds or a yearly expenditure for technology. Primary funding should not be unique to that school, district or area such as funds that are primarily by private grant or local businesses. Schools/districts must be willing to share non-sensitive components of their technology plan.