Contributed post by: Marco Cervantes, Store Manager, Microsoft Austin Store

As a native resident with an insatiable sweet tooth, I have always had a strong positive connection with our local Girl Scout troops. From food drives, to community service, to cookie sales, the girls are out to make a difference. Now, if I can just convince my wife that I know nothing about the entire sleeve of Thin Mints missing from the cupboard.

One of the great pleasures of my job as the manager of the Austin Microsoft Store, is the ability to give back to local community groups. When the Microsoft Store first opened at The Domain in April 2012, we donated more than $500,000 in software to the Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GXCTX). In addition to donations, we host weekly workshops offering local scouts a chance to get hands on with technology. Recent workshops have taught Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts about internet safety, apps and more, all a part of earning a “Computer Expert” badge, which they can proudly wear on their vests.

In the past 100 years, the Girl Scouts of America have been teaching girls values such as honesty, compassion, and citizenship through a variety of outlets including community service and outdoor exploration. The recent tech boom in the Austin area, coupled with the exponential job growth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, have helped us expand the Girl Scouts’ understanding of technology and computers so they can improve their skills in these ever-evolving areas.

Lolis Garcia-Baab, director of marketing and communications for GSCTX, is a big supporter of the workshops and is excited about the growth she sees in the girls. Her team is working to help create the next female leaders of tomorrow and we’re glad to be able to assist in this challenge.

During our workshops we encourage the girls to express themselves in creative ways, including planning a road trip using the Bing Travel App and writing a letter to the President in Microsoft Word. The girls are learning valuable skills that will give them a head start in today’s tech savvy world.

Marco Cervantes – Marco is the store manager at the Austin Microsoft Store at The Domain. To learn more about workshop opportunities, visit the Austin Microsoft Store website.

Photos – Brownies learn about the history of the computer to earn their “Computer Expert” badge in a recent workshop.