Student Selected to Cisco "Dream Team"
Kenith Lewis III, a Cisco Networking Academy at HFC, is the only student from Michigan and one of 10 students throughout the United States and Canada to earn selection as a member of the “Dream Team” going to CiscoLive! in San Diego June 10-14.
More than 160 students applied to be part of the “Dream Team,” but only 10 earned selection. Two instructors will join these 10 at this event, according to Todd Browning, HFC Cisco instructor. The final selections were based on geographic representation, diversity, technical and professional skills, instructor recommendations, as well as impact outside the classroom.
“It’s a true collaborative partnership between HFC, Cisco and employers,” said Browning.
Based in San Jose, Cisco Systems has certified HFC as a Cisco Networking Academy. Through this innovative partnership, HFC and Cisco prepare students for the demands and opportunities in the networking field. Students can prepare for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam to become more marketable and more competitive.
At CisoLive! – Cisco’s largest customer event – the 10 students will have the opportunity to work hands-on alongside industry leaders to deploy and support the event’s Network Operations Center (NOC) and support Cisco customers at the Help Desk. Now in its fifth year, the Dream Team has become a vital element to the success of CiscoLive!, demonstrating quality IT talent and helping to deliver a positive experience for more than 20,000 attendees.
“I received word that I was selected 30 minutes before work. It certainly made the workday a lot better. I was excited and shocked at the same time,” said Lewis, of Lincoln Park, Mich.
A 2000 alumnus of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Wyandotte, Mich., Lewis will graduate this fall with his associate degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS)/Network Administration. He has also completed additional coursework in computer science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (U-M Dearborn). Lewis works full-time at Ford Motor Company’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
“It’s an awesome opportunity. We have been blessed to have two HFC students (the first was Garrett McCollum in 2012) in three years be a part of the Dream Team. I am very proud of Ken, who is the only person that’ll be representing not only HFC, but the entire state of Michigan,” said Browning.
Cisco training can lead to well-paying positions, including Network Support Specialists, Network Control Technicians, Hardware/Telecom Field Support Technicians, LAN/WAN Technicians, Network Systems Technicians. Considerable growth and demand for these positions have been predicted by the Information Technology Association of America, the American Electronics Association, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To learn more about HFC’s Cisco Networking Academy, please visit https://cisco.hfcc.edu/.