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. 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.
“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.”
