Software Designer Builds Educational Bridge

THE CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE - DECEMBER 29, 2002

By: Marlene Lucas

High school students checking out college websites get personalized responses from two Minnesota schools using software

developed by Leepfrog Technologies of Iowa City.

The software gives students a direct link to admission workers, professors and other prospective students.

"This is cutting-edge technology," said Derek Haidle, project director at Leepfrog Technologies. "We specialize in sophisticated or customized Internet applications. Our customers are very marketing-oriented."

Leepfrog Technologies, a company with 17 employees that was founded by Lee Brintle in 1995, is working with several dozen colleges on admission portals.

The portal, dubbed MySaints, opened in November and is shared by the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph and St. John's University in Collegeville, neighboring towns about 10 miles west of St. Cloud, Minn.

Visitors to MySaints.org are asked to indicate their interests and the Website then presents school events and topics related to those interests.

Visitors can post a message to a professor, conduct live chats with an admissions counselor and receive individual attention.

The software "allows them to build relationships over the Web," Haidle said.

The target audience is high school seniors who are comfortable communicating through computers.

"Repeat visitors are higher than with standard Websites. We're one of the first out there with this relationship concept," Haidle said.

The new recruitment tool cuts down on paper and mailing costs, said Erica Martinez, Leepfrog marketing coordinator. The program provides a quick view of how many visits each student makes to the Web site so admissions people can identify those who are seriously interested.

High school guidance counselors also can use the recruitment portals to easily learn about colleges, she said. The program can help diversify the student body of a college, said Eric Justian, Leepfrog technology writer. Recruiting is not limited by the geography recruiters can physically cover but can include anyone with access to the Internet.

Knowledge about Leepfrog Technologies travels from college to college by word-of-mouth at such a rate the company has not had to advertise to attract business, Haidle said.

Leepfrog Technologies also serves as a host for Websites, including NationJob.com, sends out half a million e-mails for customers each week and saves one multinational industrial product maker hundreds of thousands of dollars in printing and mailing costs by making its product handbook available online.

The company also provides connectivity and consulting services and can be contacted at www.leepfrog.com or by calling (319) 337-3877.