Young techies

Last Friday was just another school day for a handful of IN-Tech Academy students: reading, writing … saving astronauts lost in space?

Thirteen students from the MS/HS 368 were treated to a special lesson in computer science when they visited the corporate offices of Computer Associates in Manhattan.

Along with two teachers, students, working as mock NASA engineers and directors, were able to participate in a simulation in which they save the lives of virtual Apollo 13 astronauts. The training, according to the school, usually costs $2,000 per person.

But students and teachers visited for free, thanks to an arrangement made by Riverdale resident Cordell Schachter, the former president of the now-defunct Community School Board 10 who envisioned the theme of the middle school/ high school and helped the school get built. Mr. Schachter now works as the chief information officer for the city Department of Transportation.

According to the school, participating students came away with a graduate-level introduction to managing IT customer service.