Cybersecurity majors and vintage computer enthusiasts Ismael Shaker and Chloe Wong.

Western Connecticut State University students Chloe Wong and Ismael Shaker have more in common than just their shared major: Cybersecurity. Both have an interest in vintage computers and with the encouragement of Professor of Management Information Systems Dr. Emilio Collar, they are getting their hands dirty — literally — to explore and refurbish hardware that in many cases is decades older than they are.

Outside of the classroom, Collar not only collects and restores old PCs, he’s also a member of the Vintage Computer Federation Mid-Atlantic Chapter, whose members repair and restore vintage computers, servers, and mainframes at the Computer History Museum, located at the InfoAge Science & History Museums in Wall, New Jersey.

MIS Professor Dr. Emilio Collar with his IBM 5120 and other vintage computers in his collection.

“I have an IBM 5120 from around 1980, and it was the first computer I restored,” Collar said. “The combined weight of the components is about 300 lbs., and I wheeled it into my classroom to discuss the history of microcomputers. The students were fascinated and were taking selfies with it. Later, some members of the university’s Cybersecurity Club inquired about starting a hands-on lab to work on fixing computers like this. It’s hard work, but during last summer, several students and even some alumni came in on multiple days as volunteers to start setting up a makeshift lab on campus for this purpose.”

Wong, from Danbury, said, “I was in Dr. Collar’s MIS 301 Database Applications in Business course last spring, and at the start of the semester he casually brought it up to our class that one of his hobbies was collecting retro computers, so I stopped by his office to see his collection. I personally collect vintage computers and video game consoles as well, so meeting another person who also shared the same interests really sparked my curiosity and I wanted to learn more about computing and the history of technology.”

MIS major Stefan Sigurdsson

Shaker, of Bethel, soon joined the team. “I learned about Dr. Collar’s interest in vintage computers through Chloe. She was really the one that started everything with him about taking his hobby and pushing for it to become something bigger at the university. She reached out to me asking for input on the lab design and helping with the initial cleaning of the computers. I naturally have an interest in computers, and at some point, I just got into the groove with Dr. Collar and here we are today.”

Management Information Systems major Stefan Sigurdsson, of Ridgefield, met with Collar to pursue an independent study with him, and quickly learned about Collar’s hobby when he visited his office. The professor mentioned that the club needed to acquire old hard drives to fully restore the old computers, but was having trouble finding them. To Collar’s surprise, Sigurdsson jumped onto eBay and found brand new hard drives that will work with these 40+ year old computers. Sigurdsson expressed a strong interest in the new club, and began by repairing an old Hewlett Packard server and a Sun System server that Collar had donated so the students can have retro game nights, playing games like “Doom” and “Quake,” which he played with friends and family using dial-up modems in the 1990s. Collar noted that there are emerging networks on the Internet designed to connect vintage computers, like GlobalTalk.

Ismael Shaker (left) and fellow students carefully carry in a vintage “Computers” sign that Dr. Collar acquired for the club.

As a result, the university’s Vintage Computer Association was created as an official student club with Collar as its adviser, and plans are underway for a physical space to be formally created for the lab. “The administration has been very responsive to the students’ requests,” Collar said. “We are going to revitalize a former computer science lab in the Westside Classroom Building to create a permanent vintage computer lab.”

Wong currently serves as vice president of the newly formed Vintage Computer Association club. “My responsibilities focus on assessing and repairing vintage laptops and helping with the setting up of the lab space,” she said. “I also lead our marketing efforts — designing flyers, managing our social media presence, and helping spread the word across campus.”

“I’ve been very involved in trying to get the club started, and I’ve done work on everything from initial cleaning to software acquisition” Shaker, the club’s president, said. “Personally though, I find myself to be handling more things on the hardware side of our computers. On top of that, I also handle a lot of the introductions of the club to prospective members. I try to catch everybody up with what we have/are doing, while keeping it beginner friendly and engaging.”

Sigurdsson now serves as the club’s treasurer, and has been setting up a list of hardware needed to get the club up and running. “Luckily, we have started with lot of machines from the school and donations from all of us,” he said. “Beyond searching for parts and computers, I have also been working on setting up servers, networking and repairing some older Macintoshes to set up as creative workstations for people to try and have fun with.”

MIS Professor Dr. Emilio Collar works on refurbishing the vintage “Computers” sign.

Collar is pleasantly surprised by the amount of enthusiasm coming from the students, and said, “If I had known they would react this way, I would’ve done this years ago. I’m hoping the current students will teach other students and continue to pass this knowledge down, even after they graduate.”

Most of the vintage computers the students are working on have been acquired by Collar and donated to the university. Since last summer, they have dismantled over 50 computers from the 1980s and 1990s and have already repaired nine of them. Collar frequents Vintage Computer Federation swap meets and scours Facebook Marketplace and eBay for not only retro hardware, but also signage and fixtures from a bygone era (Radio Shack, anyone?). Club members recently worked together to clean, rewire and revitalize an 11-foot long, lighted “Computers” sign from a now defunct computer store. It’s waiting to be mounted in its final home once the lab is completed.

While Wong and Shaker are Cybersecurity majors and Sigurdsson is an MIS major, the club is not limited to those who are in computer-focused programs. Collar said Brandon LaRose, a Communication and Media Arts major, is contributing ideas for a display case outside the lab to highlight vintage artifacts relating to computing, and all students are welcome. Over a dozen current students and alumni have already dedicated an incredible 380 hours between May and October 2025 to cleaning and repairing vintage computers, creating and promoting a new club, and continuously spending time researching how to address new problems they encounter during repairs that they have not encountered before.

Students Chloe Wong and Brandon LaRose pose in the lab as Dr. Emilio Collar works with Evan Moeun and Ismael Shaker on a computer repair behind them.

In spring 2026, Collar will offer a new class on computer hardware that has additional, hands-on content, including building circuits via breadboarding — the process of building temporary electronic circuits or user interface prototypes without permanent soldering. And while the lab will be fully operational before then, its “official” opening will be in January 2027, with the dedication of a plaque honoring the founding students’ contributions if they volunteered at least 50 hours between May 2025 and December 2026. The president of New Jersey’s Vintage Computer Federation will hopefully attend and videorecord the celebration to inspire other vintage computer enthusiasts to engage the next generation.

“I see this as a unique opportunity to bridge the past and present of computing,” Wong said. “By working hands-on with vintage hardware, I’m gaining a deeper appreciation for the evolution of technology and sharpening my troubleshooting skills. This is easily one of the top opportunities I have experienced here at WCSU, as a vintage tech enthusiast and retro gamer, I love how I am able to incorporate my hobbies and interest into academics and my concentrated studies.”

Students Ismael Shaker and Chloe Wong surrounded by vintage computers currently under repair.

Shaker agreed. “As for me personally, I have gained experience working with physical computer hardware, as that is great to have when working with anything computer related. Using this experience, I hope to be able to utilize it in my career. I would really encourage anybody who’s interested in computers or wants to work with computer hardware to join us. It’s a great hands-on learning experience and it’s great to put on your resume.”

Sigurdsson added, “I hope to gain a lot of soft skills and experience so that I am better prepared for future employment opportunities. This is an excellent learning environment that acts as a playground for the technology majors interested in it.”

None of this would be possible, of course, if Collar hadn’t mentioned his hobby to his students last spring, and for that, they are grateful.

“Dr. Collar has been of great assistance and his dedication to this project is remarkable,” Shaker said. “I really consider him my mentor due to all the help, information, and guidance he has provided me throughout the entire time I’ve been working with him. He really cares about all his students, especially once you get to know him, so I’m really grateful for that as well.”

Dr. Emilio Collar’s Westside Classroom Building office illuminated by vintage hardware.

Sigurdsson agreed. “I think Dr. Collar’s dedication to this project is admirable, I don’t think you will find someone as passionate as him about the vintage computer lab and the potential it offers to current and future students.”

Wong added, “Dr. Collar is one of those rare professors who brings genuine enthusiasm to everything he does. As one of his students, I personally believe his teaching style is approachable and engaging. His dedication to this project is inspiring. He’s not just sharing knowledge; he’s building a community around it. His mentorship has been a huge part of why this lab came to life. I don’t know any other professors who are willing to drive across states to pick up computers, parts, and signs: that is dedication.”

The Vintage Computing Association is continuously looking to acquire more vintage computer hardware and software, and will accept donations. Anyone who wishes to donate their old computers in any condition to this new club, please email Professor Emilio Collar at collarE@wcsu.edu.

To watch a video about the club, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184YhO215is

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