On Friday April 13, we are very pleased to be able to welcome Steve Allen Mashburn of the Forsyth County Schools in Georgia, as well asSnoopy Pfeffer of Dreamland Metaverse, to talk about a project that will be bringing an opensim virtual world into every classroom in metro-Atlanta district in Georgia. Called the NOBLE Virtual World, this opensim-based 3d environment will allow educators to transport their students to far-off lands and places of the imagination, such as the Berlin Wall during the Cold War or a castle in the Medieval era. Comprised of 35 schools with 35,000 students, the metro-Atlanta district will offer each school teacher the opportunity to use this 3D world in their classroom.

To learn more, come to the Nonprofit Commons this Friday April 13, starting at 8:30am. We'll also have news from TechSoup.org, knowledge sharing from our Mentors Team, and general announcements. See you at the Plush Nonprofit Commons!

For you educators and archeology buffs, we've got a special treat. Ms. Marion Smeltzer of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania will be at this Friday's Nonprofit Commons to talk about the sim she built called Archeology Island on the ScienceSim (opensim) virtual platform.

Archaeology Island consists of virtualizations of archaeological sites investigated by faculty members in the IUP , including a Monongahela Village, a Roman site in Cyprus, an underwater shipwreck, a Maya site in Belize , and the Laurel Hill /Brown farm, was the site of an antebellum community of former slaves. Come find out how these recreations are being used to further research and education at IUP.

That's this Friday, April 6, starting at 8:30am PT at the Plush Nonprofit Commons amphitheater. See you then!

Thanks to all of you who turned out for the fun and festival TechSoup Digital Storytelling Gala Awards Party, that took place both in San Francisco, in Second Life and on Livestream / Facebook. It was a wonderful affair with about 30 avatars showing up to cheer on the finalists and winners.

We'll post more about the full list of winners and recap of the event later. 

But we just wanted to appreciate the many of your who have been supportive of this effort through submitting your digital stories, telling your friends and networks about the challenge, and attending our events.

More pics in our flickr set here. Tag any of your photos #tsdigs so we can find them too!

Are you coming to the awards ceremony for the winners of 3rd Annual TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge tomorrow?  Of course you are! RSVP now to join us on Wednesday, March 28 in San Francisco, in Second Life and on Facebook, when we award and screen top photo and video entries. We will gather at the Aloft Nonprofit Commons Drive-in Theater starting at 7pm Pacific Time for the livestream of the event. Get there early to pick the finest ride to sit in!

From March 30 to April 1 there will be a "Mardi Gras Weekend" series of events that are part of the Second Life Relay for Life 2012 campaign.  Two sims will feature four entertainment venues, the French Quarter, a mysterious swamp, Jazz and Blues courtyard, and a riverboat with live singers.