Jasmine Hardy one of 10 selected nationwide to Cisco Dream Team
HFC student Jasmine Hardy is the only student from Michigan and one of 10 students from North America to have been selected as a member of the Cisco Networking Academy U.S. Dream Team. She will attend CiscoLive! in Las Vegas from May 27 through June 5.
Hardy is the third student and the first woman from HFC to have been selected to the Dream Team. Kenith Lewis III was selected in 2015, and Garrett McCollum was selected in 2012.
“It feels amazing and unreal! It’s definitely a proud moment for me,” said Hardy, of Detroit.
Added Lewis: “This is a huge achievement for both Jasmine and HFC. Congratulations!”
Will work with industry leaders at CiscoLive! in Vegas
This year, more than 100 students from the United States and Canada applied for the Dream Team’s 10 spots. The selections were based on geographic representation, diversity, technical and professional skills, instructor recommendations, and impact outside the classroom.
“CiscoLive! is one of the biggest computer networking and IT conferences in the world. It’s a great honor to be part of the Dream Team and to be able to attend this event,” said Hardy. “Everyone on the Dream Team is very positive. There’s a strong sense of community. Even without meeting them all in person yet, I’ve been in contact with them. It feels like we’ll get along very well. We’re very excited to learn, and it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Two instructors will join the 10 students at CiscoLive! This conference is Cisco Systems Inc.’s largest customer event, where the students will have the opportunity to work hands-on alongside industry leaders, including IT professionals and engineers, to deploy and support the event’s Network Operations Center (NOC), as well as support Cisco customers at the Help Desk. The students will gain relevant real-world experience, exposure to industry professionals, and learn about the latest technologies. Now in its fourteenth year, the Dream Team has become a vital element to the success of CiscoLive!, demonstrating IT talent and helping to deliver a positive experience for more than 20,000 attendees.
Based in San Jose, Cisco 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 competitive after graduation.
“It’s a true collaborative partnership between HFC, Cisco, and employers,” said HFC Cisco instructor Todd Browning. “As Dream Team members, students will enjoy behind-the-scenes access to one of the industry's largest events, gain hands-on experience, and participate in networking opportunities with Cisco leadership. This is an excellent chance for students to broaden their professional network and enhance their résumés.”
Following in her father’s footsteps
It came as no surprise for Browning that Hardy was selected for the Dream Team.
“Jasmine is an excellent student who is very deserving of this opportunity,” said Browning. “She continues to impress me with her leadership skills and network troubleshooting skills. I believe Jasmine will be an invaluable asset to the Dream Team!”
The fourth of five children, Hardy is an alumna of Woodhaven High School in Brownstown Township. She is working toward her associate degree in electrical engineering technology and her Cisco certification at HFC, both of which she will earn in 2027. She also completed coursework at Wayne State University. Her goal is to become an electrical engineer, following in the footsteps of her father, Randolph Hardy, an alumnus of HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) who earned his associate degree in electrical engineering technology.
“That played a huge part in my attending here. I love the environment at HFC. The teachers are wonderful and very attentive,” said Hardy. “I’m similar to my father; we share an interest in electronics and computers. I also have an interest in troubleshooting. I like to learn how things work, which drew me to electrical engineering and Cisco.”
Hardy is excited about traveling to Las Vegas for CiscoLive!
“I look forward to learning a lot,” she said. “It will be a new experience for me, but I’m up for it. It’s a new challenge, and I love new challenges!
HFC Cisco instructor Kathryn Fitzner has had a profound impact on Hardy and is proud of her student.
“I was thrilled to hear that Jasmine was selected. She is a great addition to the Dream Team,” said Fitzner. “She is the type of student that instructors love to have in class – motivated, hardworking, and talented.”