Ivy Tech Community College says a $10,000 AT&T Aspire grant will help its efforts to recruit 100 early college and dual credit high school students from Northwest Indiana for its technology program each semester.
The Ivy Tech foundation will use the grant funds to purchase routers, allowing the community college to fully implement a state-of-the-art data and cyber security computer lab in its computing and informatics program.
“This is a win-win for our community,” said Ivy Tech Community College Lake Co. Campus Chancellor R. Louie Gonzalez. “With this support from AT&T, we’re not only cultivating a higher quality workforce, we’re also helping to decrease the drop-out rate by keeping kids engaged in learning about interesting potential careers.”
The local high school students will assemble the routers on their own; the technology will then be used to complement classroom and lab activities.
“This backing from AT&T is paramount, as the college works closely with dual credit students – particularly those who face social or economic challenges – to encourage them to take rigorous college-level coursework that prepares them for possible careers in computing and informatics,” said Cindy Hall, Ivy Tech Foundation executive director of resource development.
Through the AT&T Aspire initiative, AT&T helps provide access to education and training people need to get and keep good jobs. Since 2008, AT&T says it has committed $450 million to programs to help millions of students in all 50 states and around the world.
