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IT Academy juniors have been learning about personal computers, including aspects of hardware, software, troubleshooting, and security. Students have been exposed to new technologies using a virtualization platform to explore hardware and software components in Windows desktop and server environments as well as in Linux. Web design skills have included more HTML basics and learning basic styling techniques using cascading style sheets (CSS). Juniors have also been preparing to develop their course project website that will be the capstone element of the Web Design course. In addition to these entry-level skills, 13 of 22 juniors have successfully earned their CompTIA Tech+ credential and are now beginning to prepare for Microsoft Excel and Word Associate certifications. Overall, the juniors continue to work hard and are demonstrating career-ready skills in a vast career field. For the junior class, I would like to spotlight Jaleah Jones and Taysean Irby. Taysean was recognized as the IT Academy Junior Student of the Month for his dedication to learning and his engagement in lab activities over and above the day-to-day work. Jaleah has shown exceptional efforts in both her lab work and in her dedication to earning industry-recognized credentials in her junior year, having already earned both the CompTIA Tech+ and Microsoft Office 365 Excel Associate certifications.

IT Academy Seniors have been learning computer networking fundamentals, including understanding the layers of the TCP/IP networking model, examining various network media and devices, and beginning to learn key networking concepts using Cisco Packet Tracer to create working network simulations. Like the juniors, 14 of 22 seniors have successfully earned their CompTIA Tech+ certification. There are also seniors working on their CompTIA A+ or Network+ or Microsoft Office Associate certifications as well. Senior IT Academy students have also been equipping themselves with knowledge by participating in a three-week simulated work environment at the Diamond Oaks IT Help Desk and 12 of 22 seniors have completed their learning rotation for this work-based learning simulated work experience. In addition, 2 seniors have already earned 250+ work-based learning hours in the program with another 3 likely to do so as well before they graduate. For the senior class, I would like to spotlight Zander Wahl and D’nyla (Tori) Jordan. Zander was recognized as the IT Academy Senior Student of the Month for his dedication to learning, his engagement in activities over and above the day-to-day work, and for his continued work in his placement at the Diamond Oaks IT Help Desk on a full-time basis two days a week. Tori has grown immensely during her senior year and has done a great job in her learning in lab, working toward industry-recognized credentials and always being a support to her classmates in lab.