Network Computer Technology (NCT), a program at Portage Lakes Career Center, links students with high-paying careers.
“Students in this program earn industry certifications, earn college credit and provide them with experience that will set them apart in the workplace at a young age,” said Cory Kendrick, the NCT instructor.
Kendrick learned this lesson first- hand. He was a 2000 graduate of Manchester High School and a PLCC technology student in Leon McCombs’ classroom. He said he loves PLCC and kept in touch with the school, even during his years of intense technology schooling at Stark State College, business at the University of Akron and teaching from Kent State University. He worked for the Summit County Engineer’s office and served as a systems administrator.
“The class provides students the opportunity to an entry-level help desk job or as a assistant networking administrator for a small to medium business,” said Kendrick. “They get a huge jumpstart on college.”
The NCT class, a two-year program, has capacity for 20 juniors and 20 seniors. Kendrick’s junior class is 18 students and already Steven Sieverding, a junior from Green, has earned A+ certification. Six of his junior classmates are preparing to test for the same certification soon.
“I’ve been working all for this,” said Seiverding. “It’s a lot of studying.”
Seiverding said his dream job is to become a network administrator for a large company or a university.
“I’m getting college credit and I can go right into the workforce with a good job,” said Seiverding.
“I’ve loved working with computers since I was little,” said Clifton Jindra, a junior from Manchester. “I like the hardware and learning how it works.”
Jindra’s desire to understand how technology works makes him a perfect candidate for NCT, according to Kendrick.
“To do well in this class, students need to want to know how things work,” said Kendrick. “They need to be problem solvers. They don’t have to be good in math, but they need to be problem solvers and they need to be goal-oriented.”
“You have to love computers,” said Jindra.
Kendrick said the juniors immediately begin taking apart computers, installing hardware and putting the computer back together. Once they have the grasp of hardware and software technology, the can take the A+ certification. Next they learn networking, the linking of computers, printers and servers. The students get certified by internationally recognizes Computer TIA on the basics of networking.
“The certifications – which the students pay $100 per test and if they fail they don’t get the money back – are internationally recognized,” said Kendrick.
Next year the program will change. It will be accelerated, Kendrick said. Each student will have their own server to work on.
"We participate in a Microsoft program in which Microsoft provides their newest technology,” said Kendrick. “The day Windows 7 was released our students were given Microsoft 7. It’s theirs to keep, to compare, to explore.”
Kendrick said next year students will work for Microsoft IT accreditation.
“It’s thousands of dollars of education, free,” said Kendrick. “With those certifications, students should have 12 to 15 credit hours. The credits transfer to colleges and universities.”
Kendrick said most of the NCT students are college-bound, but even if a student decides not to pursue computer networking technology as a career, it’s a skill that they can use every day.
“You can have zero experience, from the ground up, you learn,” said Jindra.
“If you can put a puzzle together, you can do this,” said Kendrick.
When he was a student, Kendrick said McCombs stressed, “Always do your best. Be reliable and responsible. Work hard and you’ll be rewarded.” It’s what he hopes to translate to his students today.
“Students learn to be well-rounded,” said Kendrick. “We don’t have geek-speak. They learn how to communicate and how to present ideas. They will go far.”
To learn more about the Portage Lakes Career Center and its programs, call 330-896-8200 or go online to www.plcc.edu. The school is located at 4401 Shriver Rd. in Green.
