Four Watervliet High School seniors will be equipped with the technology necessary to succeed in college next year thanks to the Watervliet Housing Authority and the generosity of dozens of area businesses and community members.

The soon-to-be graduates – Alexandria Collier, Khalaysia Dowdell, Ruben Rodriguez-Jimenez and Elexis Strack –  received the laptops as a result of working toward their goals to successfully complete high school and pursue higher education at a two- or four-year college.

For the past 15 years, the Housing Authority has sought funding from community sponsors for the “Laptops for Graduating Seniors” program, which provides the devices to college-bound high school seniors who may not otherwise have the resources to purchase their own.

This year, Housing Authority Executive Director Matthew Ethier presented computers to a total of nine high school seniors from Watervliet and Green Island’s Heatly School during a special ceremony at the Joslin Apartments on Monday, June 17.