MIHS students provide tech support for seniors
Published 8:30 am Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Aegis Living resident Michael Giannini glances at the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) students in the room and said that he appreciates the volunteer tech support they provide the seniors for one hour each Sunday afternoon.
“These kids are so good. They don’t talk that much, but it’s all pearls,” Giannini said about the students bringing their wisdom and confidence to the table when the seniors feel like if they press the wrong button on their computers, “It’s all going to end.”
Giannini added that the seniors have nothing to fear but fear itself and that it’s a wonderful feeling when the tech support students get the job done.
MIHS junior Sean Barneson began his tech support volunteerism to aid seniors three years ago, and now he and his fellow students lend a hand at Aegis, Aljoya and Vineyard Park on the Island. While they answer any questions the seniors have regarding their phones, computers and printers, the students also enjoy interacting with the residents and learning about their life journeys.
Sean and his sister Shannon started the Student Tech Support club at MIHS and currently have more than 30 other students plugged into the volunteerism realm and at the ready when the seniors arrive each week.
“I think it’s been going great. We’ve got some new faces, like Lois (Cohen) is a new regular, which is great. It’s been nice to not only be able to help, but also get to meet all the people,” said Sean, adding that he’s got to know about resident Jonathan Shuval’s experiences as a guard in the Israeli army and listen to him read his poetry. “It’s nice to have relationships with people that aren’t just my age. It’s nice to connect with multiple generations.”
Shannon, a MIHS freshman, said she didn’t expect to form so many new connections while helping the seniors navigate the tech world.
“It’s been really nice hearing more about the residents’ lives, not just what they need help with with their phones,” she said.
Cohen said the students are polite and do an exceptional job when the seniors need tech assistance. She anticipates the arrival of the Student Tech Support members each week, she noted with a smile.
Resident Shirley Turner said the volunteers are nice and efficient while they go about their work. One time, Turner said that it took Sean just 45 seconds to hook up her computer printer and get it running. Turner knows this because she timed him.
“They don’t look down on you for not being at their level of understanding and knowledge,” Turner said.
When it came time for resident Reilly Atkinson to chip in about the students’ tech expertise, he was ready to distribute praise all around.
“One, they’re great kids and I would be proud to call them my own. But the main thing that they do is they make the incomprehensible understandable,” he said. “The generational gap between them and us is virtually infinite and they know how to bring us together. They’re terrific and very useful.”
