LANSING The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Technology Council has awarded five mid Michigan high school seniors with $25,000 worth of paid internships, vouchers for classes and Personal Digital Assistants to help them build a career in Information Technology.
The awards were recently presented at the Lansing Chambers TechConnect networking and education event hosted by the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America.
The student winners are:
Daniel Bey, first place, Perry Public Schools;
Jason Eastridge, second place, Charlotte High School;
John Thurlby, third place, Capital Area Career Center;
Nickolas Kannawin, fourth place, Capital Area Career Center;M
Porsha Mariner, fifth place, Lansing Eastern High School.
Scholarship recipients receive a variety of awards, including paid internships, vouchers for classes and certification tests, and PDAs.
We have great companies locally that are looking for IT talent and we want to promote these opportunities, said Geoff Pollak, vice president and general manager of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Michigan and a Technology Council member. According to our 2001/2002 workforce survey, IT employers are looking for a combination of education, technical certification and experience not just a diploma. Our scholarships have been put together to provide all three.
The scholarship program encourages business and education partnerships that increase IT awareness and career opportunities in the region. In particular, the program is designed to increase awareness of local IT education programs for high school students, connect students with IT internships, and promote the use of interns to local businesses.
Despite recent economic conditions, IT jobs in the United States have increased by 10 percent during the past year. This trend is expected to continue, with Department of Labor estimates predicting that 8 of the top 10 high-growth positions through 2010 will be in the IT sector. According to a 2002 survey of mid-Michigan companies, the three most important qualifications for IT job seekers are education, certification and industry experience. The scholarships help recipients develop these assets through technical training, certification opportunities, and internships with local businesses.
New Horizonss Pollak, together with Capital Area Career Center teachers Barbara Allender and Bill Belt, founded the scholarship program five years ago. New Horizons has awarded several Capital Area Career Center students annual scholarships totaling nearly $80,000 during the last five years. This year the scholarship program expanded to include students in Eaton, Clinton and Shiawassee counties, and students from Lansings STAR Institute.
Scholarship sponsors include: New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, G.E.E. Communications and Network Solutions, Analysts International, The Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Sparrow Hospital, and Ingham Intermediate School District.
For information on the Career Ready Scholarship Program, contact Geoffrey Pollak at 517-318-4047, [email protected] or Gwendolyn Taylor, Placement Specialist, Capital Area Career Center, 244-1320, [email protected].
