CSI Macaulay Student receives Microsoft MVP Honors
April 15, 2008
 Jonathan Maltz, a CSI sophomore Computer Science major and Macaulay
Honors College student was named a Microsoft Most Valuable
Professional (MVP) for his in-depth knowledge and ability to provide assistance to online
users of Microsoft software. His computer skills began early on, and
this is the fifth time that Maltz has received this
annual award.
“During the summer between grade school and high school,” Maltz
explains, “I found out about this program that [Microsoft] had,
where the general public could sign up for test versions of their
then-next server operating system (used by businesses to administer
their systems). I was interested in gaining experience with the
platform. So, I took a look and signed up, and part of the program
was a discussion group system. Since I was sort of young, 13, I
thought I would read what other people were saying in order to try
and learn more about the different components. While I was reading
the questions, I saw that I knew the answers to some of them. I
started answering them, too, because it was an open discussion.
After a while I kept answering them and I started a Website in order
to describe more detailed answers in a way that was easier to
understand, and I just kept doing it.”
Maltz, who says that most of this computer prowess is self-taught,
notes that he “had seen other people in these discussion groups who
were awarded, and then to actually be recognized for it myself was a
really nice experience.”
According to the company, Microsoft MVPs “are exceptional technical
community leaders from around the world who are awarded for
voluntarily sharing their high quality, real world expertise in
offline and online technical communities.” Microsoft adds that they
“are a highly select group of experts that represents the technical
community’s best and brightest, and they share a deep commitment to
community and a willingness to help others.”
Deborah Popper, Acting Director of the Macaulay Honors College/ CUNY
at CSI described Maltz as, “one of those students who you quickly
realize has a lot of really interesting things going on in his head.
I've often seen him in the Honors College suite in the late
afternoon when things are quiet. He sits, he paces, he's on the
computer. Mostly he is working through problems and/or problem
sets--carefully, meticulously, but with an ironic smile on his face,
sort of amused that he is getting such a kick out of working. I
hadn't known about the Microsoft award before he got it, and I
hadn't known about all the online wizardry Jonathan was doing, but
it certainly makes sense. He is a clear, careful, logical thinker.
It is wonderful to have as part of CSI's Macaulay community someone
making such a valuable contribution to the online world.”
Although he isn’t quite sure of his career plans at this point,
Maltz says that he hopes to go to graduate school after he receives
his undergraduate degree from CSI.
Visit the Microsoft MVP Website.
By Terry Mares
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