SACRAMENTO – In celebrating the best of what the Golden State has to offer, the California State Fair and the California Department of Technology have determined the winners of the 2018 Champion of Technology Awards.

The Individual Champion is Sunne Wright McPeak.

The Project/Organization Champion is San Joaquin County for its Innovative Care for Adolescent Needs (I-CAN) application.

Sunne Wright McPeak is the President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), whose mission is to close the digital divide.

McPeak led bipartisan efforts to pass the Internet for All Act. Under McPeak’s energetic leadership, CETF advocates digital inclusion in all areas, including education, workforce preparation, health care, public housing and the delivery of government services. Her call to action is “access delayed is access denied.”

McPeak has taken an active leadership role in forming and funding the California Telehealth Network, to bring broadband internet to rural health care clinics, hospitals, and medically underserved communities at an affordable rate.

CETF has also funded dozens of digital literacy training programs in our state, and has pioneered a School2Home initiative, which closes the Achievement Gap and the Digital Divide by integrating computing and broadband technologies in low-performing middle schools with a focus on parent engagement.

San Joaquin County's Innovative Care for Adolescent Needs (I-CAN) application was developed as a way to streamline support services for "at-risk" youth; specifically achieving permanency and ensuring safety in the placement of foster youth.

The previous process was manual, included numerous paper files and spreadsheets, and lacked detail that could be used to determine a better match.

With I-CAN: time is saved on collecting data on a youth; time is saved identifying placement; and permanancy in placement is improved. San Joaquin County intends to share I-CAN with other counties if requested.

The Champions of Technology will be publicly recognized at California Agriculture Day on the west steps of the State Capitol at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20.

Both the individual and project/organization winners will be honored guests at the California State Fair Gala on Thursday, June 21.

The Gala benefits the youth scholarship programs of the Friends of the California State Fair. Purchase gala tickets here.