FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Farstar’s CEO Kevin Lofgren Wins Metroplex Technology Business Council’s 2008 Tech Titans Community Hero Award for Contribution to Mindbender Academy

Summer Camp Created to Inspire Technology Careers for Frisco’s Seventh and Eighth Graders

DALLAS – Sept. 30, 2008 – Kevin Lofgren, founder and CEO of Farstar, a technology-based creative marketing firm in Frisco, was named winner of the Community Hero Award at the Metroplex Technology Business Council’s Eighth Annual Tech Titans gala held on Sept. 26, 2008. Lofgren was recognized for his work conceiving Mindbender Academy, a weeklong summer camp for Frisco ISD seventh and eighth graders to inspire and excite students about careers in math and science. Read Kevin's posting about Mindbender Academy here.

The Tech Titans Community Hero Award recognizes individuals in the technology industry who accomplish outstanding achievements in community involvement.

"Our math and science employment situation in the United States has reached a critical point with more than 500,000 engineers retiring by 2010 and no one to take their place," stated Kevin Lofgren, founder and CEO of Farstar. "I realized students were more interested in the latest celebrity news rather than math and science disciplines, so I took the initiative to try and make a difference. With my colleagues in the Frisco Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Frisco Class XI, we were able to create and implement Mindbender Academy this summer, giving students hands-on experiences building creative projects involving math, science, engineering, technology and creative thinking skills. I am honored to accept this award on behalf of Frisco ISD, Leadership Frisco and Mindbender Academy for our work and look forward to an even more comprehensive and creative camp in 2009."

Farstar created the name, advertising collateral and website for Mindbender Academy (www.mindbenderacademy.com), including a dynamic video that was played in classrooms, eye-catching posters that were placed in area schools, as well as the application process. The Frisco Education Foundation assisted in holding the donations and overseeing the budgetary decisions.

"It is an honor to be included with these finalists. It is clear that everyone in the Community Hero category made exceptional contributions and should be recogonized for their efforts," stated Lofgren. "Our objectives are very similar; we all want to improve our communities by identifying a need and creating unique ways to give back."

Lofgren and Farstar were responsible for branding Mindbender Academy by providing the camp with an interesting look and feel. He served as spokesperson, and led the charge in conceiving the curriculum and providing the vision in order for class members to recruit sponsors for the camp.

The Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC), North Texas’ most comprehensive organization supporting technology, also honored executives with the Corporate CEO, Emerging Company CEO, Corporate Horizon, Emerging Company Horizon, Innovator, Technology Adopter, Technology Advocate and Titan of the Future awards.

About Farstar
Farstar is a technology-based creative marketing firm that focuses on producing overwhelming customer acquisition, retention, and loyalty results for its clients through a variety of services. Based in Frisco, Texas and led by founder and CEO Kevin Lofgren, Farstar was founded in 2001 to build a team of creative and technology-driven professionals. As a strategic partner, Farstar acts as a one-stop-shop for its clients and routinely develops large-scale or specialty advertising programs to help achieve overall sales and marketing goals. For more information, visit www.wedontplayfair.com.

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Ginger Greenberg or Emily Bruce
972-716-0500 x32 or x21
Ginger.Greenberg@hck2.com or Emily.Bruce@hck2.com

Related Work:
Mindbender Academy Website
Mindbender Academy Print Campaign
Mindbender Academy Promotional Video