Category Archives: Industry Tours

Bridge Programs, Career & Technical Education, Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Engineering Technology, Industry Tours, Micron, NOVA IET, STEM Careers, STEM Degrees

ET Career Scholars Complete Bridge Program, Start Fall Classes

22 ET Career Scholars Complete the Summer Bridge Program

The inaugural cohort of ET Career Scholars began their year-long. tuition free journey at NOVA by completing a 4-week bridge program before fall classes begin.

For the first two weeks of the bridge, students engaged in hands-on learning in topics like AC-DC principles, pneumatic systems, and mechatronics. During the AC-DC lab students were able to create a simple circuit with lightbulbs, batteries, and fans to better understand the flow of electricity. They also used pneumatic and mechatronic trainers to show how compressed air, and PLC’s (programmable logic controllers) play a role in many of the automated manufacturing facilities we see today.

Additionally, to help better understand how companies incorporate these types of systems, ET Career Scholars also toured STACK Infrastructure data center and semiconductor manufacturer giant Micron. It was during the tours students could then relate what they had learned in the classroom to a real-world application. Students also received college credit, and a head start into the fall by completing SDV-101 and OSHA-10.

During the second half of the bridge program, ET Career Scholars focused on interpersonal skills. Students were trained in skills like professionalism, communication, public speaking, and self-development.

Students also received their NFPA (national fire protection association) 70E electrical safety certification. Finally, to ensure students success we spent time reinforcing math concepts from fractions to trigonometry.

Many students described ET Career Scholars as an exciting, hands-on, rigorous program designed to help them navigate their career path. Some have already decided the pathway they want to follow, whether it’s DCO or engineering technology. Some are attempting both, which will make them even more valuable job candidates in the industry.

Students are currently taking fall classes, and IET team members will be working to mentor them as they need help. Students will be finishing up their certificates in the spring where they will also be preparing for internships at companies within the region.

ET Career Scholars eagerly shared their experiences in the program so far:

Nichole Luna, a graduate of South Lakes High School, applied to the program because it relates to electrical engineering, her desired field of study. She also thought it would be fun to learn about semiconductors and data science.

“My dad is an engineer, and he has some breadboard circuits at his workplace,” she said. “I’ve always wondered how they work, so I was excited to use one. It’s been super fun using the trainers for electrical engineering and thematics. I think my favorite part has been visiting Micron and meeting the interns. STACK was interesting, too.

“My dad has encouraged me to go into engineering and says there need to be more females in the field. This program has been very helpful—I’m learning about many opportunities. It’s motivating and supportive, making me want to work even harder. I would recommend this program to everyone.”

Nau Hernandez, another graduate of South Lakes High School, saw the program as a great opportunity because he’s interested in the IT field. Additionally, seeing his sister recently graduate from NOVA inspired him to follow in her footsteps.

“This is a great program. I’ve been introduced to many new possibilities—fields I hadn’t even considered as job options. At Micron, I learned more about breadboard circuitry, which is used for basic wiring. Micron has a great atmosphere where people support each other. Interns shared some of their fun experiences.

“STACK is enormous. When we entered the building, we were shown blueprints and the size of the rooms holding all of this equipment. We also learned about the UPS system—just one system and how the technology works for that. I found it very interesting, especially since I didn’t know anything about data center operations before. I could see myself working at either company. I’m really enjoying this program.”

Mileydi Villalobos, a recent graduate of Manassas Park High School, has been interested in computers since childhood. In fact, she once took her dad’s laptop apart, took STEM classes in middle school, studied mechatronics in high school, and helped with IT issues at school. She was excited to apply for the program and has had a great experience so far.

“Mr. Owen had us jump right into things, which was great. He has a lot of experience. The teachers here are awesome—they’re very knowledgeable. It’s cool to have different teachers while staying with the same cohort. It’s encouraging and empowering, especially since there are several females in the cohort.

“The tours of STACK and Micron were eye-opening and helpful in figuring out which IT path to pursue. The internships would be beneficial. I’d like to one day work nights at a data center. I could see myself working at STACK; the benefits sound great, and the people were friendly, including TJ Ciccone. I could also see myself working at Micron with microelectronics.”

Fernando Cueva, a graduate of Garfield High School, gravitates towards math and took computer information systems and cybersecurity in high school.

He shared, “This program is an incredible opportunity. Students who are interested in IT will be even more enthusiastic after attending. It’s a great starting point.

“I enjoyed the tour of STACK. TJ Ciccone was very transparent—if you asked him a question, he gave you a straight answer. There are a lot of NOVA students working there, which proves that the data center operations certification is effective. Plus, TJ is a professor at NOVA. I can see myself working in the data center field.”

Ben Pham, a graduate of Parkview High School, shared, “This is a great program that introduces you to many opportunities and allows you to meet new people all the time, so you’re always learning something new. I’ve enjoyed meeting people, touring industries, networking, and making connections.

“STACK seems like a very nice, professional company—it’s unlike anything I was used to. I could see myself working there. Micron was cool, too. It’s really impressive.”

Unity Reed High School graduate Hannah Duenes’ former engineering teacher encouraged her to apply for the program.

She shared, “Mr. Owen is a great teacher. I learned so much more about engineering and discovered that I’m most interested in hands-on engineering technology.

“We learned a lot about the mechanical and hands-on aspects at Micron. Seeing how things work on the inside was really cool—it reminded me of the movie Wall-E. STACK seems like a great place to work. TJ Ciccone gave us a tour and taught us about data center operations. He’s really fun and engaging, and I like the way he teaches with diagrams and explanations.”

Sean Williams, a graduate of Battlefield High School, applied to the program because he wanted to learn something new.

He said, “I’m enjoying the program and learning about electronics, pneumatics, how circuits work, and how every piece has a part in a system and how important that is in making things function around us. I’m looking forward to learning more about it.”

Currently, 20 ET Career Scholars are working toward obtaining NOVA’s Data Center Operations Career Studies Certificate (CSC) or an Engineering Technology CSC focusing on the semiconductor field. In 2025, they will receive a guaranteed interview for an internship with a data center or semiconductor industry partner, all at no cost to them.

More openings will be available for the 2025-26 academic year, with applications opening in early 2025. If you are a rising senior or have already graduated high school, fill out the interest form linked below, and we’ll keep you updated about the next application cycle.

ET Career Scholars Interest Form 2025

Career & Technical Education, Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Engineering Technology, Industry Tours, Micron

ET Ready Highlights Summer 2024

62 Local High School Students Attended NOVA’s Summer ET Ready Program

This summer, NOVA’s Engineering Technology (ET) Ready program attracted 62 local high school students. ET Ready is a one-week program for 9th to 11th graders that provides hands-on exposure to Engineering Technology topics and includes tours of local industries such as Iron Mountain, QTS, and Micron. The goal of ET Ready is to guide students into Bridge Programs next summer and ultimately into a technology career pathway through NOVA.

NOVA STEM Education Coordinator Ti’Era Worsley led the program. She explained, “During the ET Ready program, students experienced pneumatics, industrial PLCs, and electronics to understand some of the daily job demands of engineering technicians.”

To further provide students with real-world experiences, they visited data centers to learn about the rapidly growing field and see firsthand the role of pneumatics, industrial PLCs, and electronics within data center operations.

“Students also engaged in open discussions with the instructors about various career paths, breaking down the differences between engineering and engineering technology, and exploring the options that NOVA provides.”

Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

Emma Nguyen, sophomore at Gainesville High School:

“I discovered that engineering involves building, hands-on activities, and covers various subjects. The field trip to Iron Mountain was fascinating because I didn’t know much about data centers before. Now, I’m even more interested in engineering and feel like it’s a great path for me.”

Jennifer Guevara, sophomore at Patriot High School:

“Since I’m not sure what I want to do after high school, I’m exploring various programs and careers. I attended a STEM information night at NOVA, learned about the bridge program, and signed up. I’ve enjoyed my time here, especially learning about the STEM simulators and touring Iron Mountain.

My uncle, who repairs and builds laptops from scratch, has inspired me to enter the technology field. My parents support my decision to attend NOVA after graduation. I like that NOVA offers flexible class schedules, which will allow me to take classes and work.”

Godwin Ansu’gyan, senior at Woodbridge High School:

“Three years ago, I became interested in engineering and STEM. I signed up for the bridge program to learn more about engineering and figure out which field interests me before starting college. I’ve enjoyed the program; it has built up my confidence, and it was great to have Mr. Castro, who was my teacher in 10th grade, as an instructor again.”

Hailey Denton, sophomore at Washington Liberty High School:

“I attended this camp to explore whether engineering technology is a field I’d like to pursue. I’ve learned a lot this week, including how to program machines to perform various tasks. At Iron Mountain, I was surprised by the amount of energy required to keep everything running. I plan to take an engineering-related class at school to learn more about it.”

Hadi Tabbara, sophomore at Manassas Park High School:

“I’ve always loved math and science, and after taking an engineering class at school, I was curious about this program. I enjoyed touring the data center and learning about different jobs, how they interact with each other, and the various clearance levels. I have a better understanding of the engineering field now and want to explore it further.”

Adonya Hailu, sophomore at Colgan High School:

“This week, I learned more about STEM, programming, and circuit boards. Iron Mountain is very secure; everything has passwords, and there are dark screens to prevent visibility. I’m more excited about engineering now.”

Gabriela Dettre, sophomore at Gainesville High School:

“I’ve learned more about NOVA, engineering, and programming. The trip to Iron Mountain was cool. There are a lot of data centers in our area, but I wasn’t sure what they did, so seeing inside one was eye-opening. I’m even more interested in engineering now that I know more about it.”

Navira Azad, senior at Virginia Virtual Academy:

“During the trip to Micron, I learned so much more than I expected. They told us about a new apprenticeship program they started this year, and we learned how they make wafers and similar things. I really enjoyed it.”

Akyra Obligacion, sophomore at Falls Church High School:

“Highlights from this program include figuring out how things work, like the insides of machines. I loved the Micron tour. We learned that their rooms are a thousand times cleaner than a hospital because of their air pressure floors. If there’s any dust, they have to scrap the entire disc. Certain parts of the building cost $30 million.”

Ryan Hagan, rising senior at Hayfield High School:

“I’ve enjoyed the hands-on learning in this program, especially working with the breadboard. It’s interesting, and it makes learning easier. This program demonstrates what some of the IET pathways are like and what you would do in a career.”

Darin Hagen, rising sophomore at Hayfield High School:

“I’ve enjoyed learning about pneumatics and the hands-on activities. This has been a great program.”

Safi Azad, sophomore at Virtual Virginia:

“I love this program. I’ve really enjoyed Mr. Carlos Castro’s teaching style. At Micron, there’s a mirror that looks like a red layer of glass you can’t see through, almost like a window. But then they flipped a switch and cleaned the window with a massive vacuum. It was amazing.”

The NOVA ET Ready program sparks students’ interest in engineering technology, providing practical knowledge and a strong foundation for their future success in STEM.

 

Bridge Programs, Computer Science, DCO Tech NSF Grant, Engineering Technology, Industry Tours, Information Technology, NOVA IET Career Pathways, STEM Careers, STEM Degrees

Bridge Program Highlights Summer 2024

Many HS Students Set to Attend NOVA This Fall Following Successful 2-Week Summer Bridge Programs

This summer, local high school students participated in intensive two-week bridge programs offered by NOVA’s IET department. Designed for both rising and graduating seniors, these programs provided a unique opportunity to explore the fields of Engineering Technology (ET), Data Center Operations (DCO), Information Technology (IT), and Computer Science (CS), all while earning college credit.

NOVA’s IT/CS program, guided by Business Administration Management Professor Cameisha Chin and IET Project Manager Dr. Chris Russell, attracted 31 students. Meanwhile, 36 students enrolled in the ET/DCO program, led by Career and Technical Education Coordinator Justin Owen.

Participants engaged in a variety of hands-on activities and gained real-world insights through industry site visits to places like Micron, George Mason University, Iron Mountain, QTS, and STACK.

“Micron is a leader in semiconductor chip manufacturing. During the tour, students receive an overview of several topics,” Justin said.

“First, the speaker introduces Micron and explains their work, including the process of creating a wafer and identifying their primary customer base, which is the automotive sector. Next, they discuss employment and internship opportunities. They also bring out a panel of 4-6 employees to participate in a Q&A session with the students. Micron understands that it’s more effective to answer the questions of their future workforce rather than lecture for an hour. By engaging with students where they are, Micron helps them achieve their employment goals,” he added.

Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The following comments come from students who will attend NOVA’s cybersecurity program this fall:

Brian Resau, graduate of Heritage High School

“I’ve learned a lot about cybersecurity, generative AI, Linux, building computers, and college. It’s like a sample of everything. The site visit to Micron was a real-world experience. They’re hiring people and training them, which gives me hope for finding a job in IT.”

Javier Martinez, graduate of Hylton High School

“I’ve enjoyed it and wish it was longer. A highlight was the tour of George Mason University. We talked to engineering students who built robots, and it was cool and interesting to see different technology disciplines.”

The following comments are from rising seniors who plan to attend NOVA’s cybersecurity program in the fall of 2025:

Leiben Ezana, rising senior at Lake Braddock High School

“It’s been a lot of fun, especially the first week because it involved plenty of hands-on, challenging, and insightful assignments. It also gives you a taste of college life. If you’re interested in the IT field, you’ll definitely learn a lot. I’ve learned something new every day.”

 

SaVanna Jackson, rising senior at Woodbridge High School

“Since I’m interested in cybersecurity, attending this program made sense. The IT field is growing rapidly, and it’s always going to be in demand. It’s the future. I’ve enjoyed creating a website with HTML code, taking apart a computer and putting it back together, meeting new friends, and more. It’s excellent because it allows you to try different things, which helps you figure out what suits you and what doesn’t.”

Sheetaltal Stalin, rising senior at Marshall High School

“It gave me hands-on experience and a sense of what it’s like to take a college-level course. It’s great for students who don’t know much about the IT field, as well as for those who already know they want to enter it.”

Feedback from future NOVA computer science students:

Cat Tran, graduate of Brentsville High School:

“I loved summer bridge.The professors were amazing, I met new people, and had a productive, fun time. I enjoy learning about artificial intelligence, computer science, cybersecurity, and IT. When I talk to experts in the field, such as Dr. Russell, I find those complicated subjects really interesting.”

Omer Omer, graduate of Potomac High School:

“These past two weeks have been an amazing experience. I’ve explored tech and tech career paths in more depth, learned how to break into computer codes, and more. I enjoyed the trip to GMU because that’s where I plan to transfer after NOVA, and learning about the different types of engineering fields at Micron.”

Feedback from a future NOVA IT student:

Brian Miriashtiani, graduate of Heritage High School:

“It was extremely interesting to take a look into Micron, one of the biggest IT companies in the United States.”

These programs are part of NOVA’s ongoing commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders in the ever-evolving fields of technology and engineering.

 

Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Fellowships, Industry Partnerships, Industry Tours, NSF Grant

DCO PD Educators from Across the Nation Complete Fellowship

DCO Program Development Fellowship

This summer, post-secondary faculty and staff from NOVA, fellow VCCS colleges, and community colleges from across the country completed a fellowship in data center operations, funded by an NSF ATE grant. The first cohort of the DCO Program Development Fellowship kicked off their fellowship with a 3-day professional learning (PL) series at NOVA in June. During their time at NOVA, they learned about NOVA’s DCO program, toured the STACK data center in Ashburn, and explored topics in the Introduction to Data Centers class taught by adjunct faculty member and STACK employee, TJ Ciccone.

The fellows then returned to their home institution to complete a five-day externship at a local data center where they could see first-hand the concepts explored during their PL. Upon completion of the externship, fellows submitted a Plan of Action on how they plan to implement what they learned into their professional practice. SySTEMic will follow-up with them this fall to provide support in helping them to implement their proposed plans. Fellows received a $3500 stipend for completion of the program. Community College faculty and staff who would like to participate in the Summer 2025 program are invited to apply online at http://teacherpd.novastem.us/fellowship.

This first cohort of fellows hailed from NOVA, Laurel Ridge Community College, Germanna Community College, Houston Community College, Texas State Technical College, Estrella Mountain Community College (AZ), and Prince William County Schools. SySTEMic wishes to thank the following data center partners for hosting fellows this summer: Coresite (Reston), Equinix (Ashburn), Iron Mountain (Manassas), Equinix (Ashburn), Middletown Data Center (Middletown, VA), STACK (Dallas, TX), and Stream Data Centers (Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix).

Bridge Programs, CTE, Engineering Technology, Industry Tours, Micron

Local CTE Educators Complete Professional Learning in Engineering Technology

Last month 8 CTE educators from Northern Virginia completed an Engineering Technology Professional Learning (ETPL) program.

Educators participated in a four-day training in June on using LJ Create desktop trainers to introduce students to pneumatics, industrial controls, electronics and the engineering technology career pathway.

Then, in July, ETPL educators practiced their skills by co-instructing one of four 1-week high school bridge programs, held on a NOVA campus. These Bridge programs, called ET Ready, focus on training 9th to 11thgraders in ET pathways.

In addition, all ETPL educators embarked on an industry site tour to Micron Technology or a local data center to experience first-hand how these facilities operate.

ETPL participants will be invited to return next summer as instructors to help support ET/DCO Bridge programs (for 12th graders and graduated high school students) to increase awareness of ET and DCO career pathways and the educational opportunities available to them at NOVA.

ETPL participants hailed from 5 of 8 school districts in NOVA’s service region. All received a $2500 stipend for completing the program, paid out of a $15,000 grant received from Micron Technology to support educator professional development.

AFCOM, Business Engagement, Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Engineering Technology, Industry Partnerships, Industry Tours, Internships, Mentoring, Professional Development, Scholarships

AFCOM Interns Celebrate Completion

The AFCOM summer internship concluded on August 16 at Top Golf in Ashburn with job offers for NOVA Students!

Hard work paid off and career pathways were established after the completion of the 2023 AFCOM Internship. This year, $25,000 was donated to NOVA DCO students through the Wendy Darling Scholarship, established by Stuart Dyer, a board member of the Potomac Chapter of AFCOM, and managed by the NOVA Educational Foundation.

During the internship, students experienced working at 2 and sometimes 3 different companies, gaining a much broader understanding of how their role as a DCO technician impacts the business and keeps the critical infrastructure up and operational 100% of the time.

Out of the 20 AFCOM interns, 16 were from NOVA. Every NOVA intern was given a job offer, and while some declined in order to continue their education, many decided to take up the offer and pursue their careers with data center partners. Of those who accepted, 4 went to Iron Mountain, and 1 each went to Google, Aligned, Coresite, and Iconicx.

AFCOM is an association for career advancement of IT and data center professionals. The 10-week internship program lead by the AFCOM Potomac Chapter, connects students to industry partners and is centered around building the data center industry by partnering with NOVA’s IET Division and providing paid summer internships to students in the DCO programs.

For those of you who would like to take advantage of this opportunity for next summer, be on the lookout for applications in early 2024!

Bridge Programs, Data Center Operations, Engineering Technology, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Industry Tours, Information Technology, Mentoring, Micron

Summer Programs In Review

Bridge Programs

This summer, NOVA SySTEMic conducted 4 bridge programs for rising and graduating high school students interested in pursuing further education in an IET discipline.

2 of the programs centered around Engineering Technology and 2 were focused on Information Technology.

In the Engineering Technology program, students spent two days onsite at data center partner Stack Infrastructure, visited Micron Technologies, and learned the basics of industrial process controls.

In the Information Technology program, students learned to assemble a desktop computer, trained a simple generative AI, and conducted cybersecurity exercises in the Virginia Cyber Range. In total, 57 students participated in the bridge programs, earning credit for SDV 101: College Success Skills. 

STEM Camps

This year’s STEM Camp enrollments were the highest since 2019. Among our 26 camp sessions, including robotics, coding, cybersecurity, fabrication, rocketry, and more, we totaled 508 registrations and 454 participants.

Fabrication, cybersecurity, and rocketry camps sold out completely and 10% of camp participants took 2 or more camps. We continually strive to engage more girls in STEM and our fabrication camps averaged 65/35 male to female ratio while our STEM elementary camp held a 67/33 ratio.

When asked about the camp experience, one parent said about their child: “He’s been wanting to explore coding for a long time. He was slightly intimidated by the circuitry of the raspberry pi and arduino, but is also anxious to learn more about them now. This is EXACTLY what I was hoping for!!! This camp was AMAZING and we can’t wait to attend more next summer.”

Another parent reflected “What a great group of kids and counselors. I especially loved that you invited parents to come watch. Everything was so positive and encouraging and I really enjoyed the positive environment while kids explored new things.”

We’re looking forward to next year’s camps already. Registration will be available in January 2024.

Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Engineering Technology, Externships, Industry Partnerships, Industry Tours, Information Technology, NSF DCO Tech Grant

Educator Externship Participants’ Embark on Engineering Tech and Data Center Site Visits

The DCO Tech Secondary Externship Program for secondary educators and career counselors is grounded in the necessity to guide students into successful, in-demand tech careers.

A major component of the externship is visiting these state-of-the-art engineering technology and data center facilities to bring first-hand visuals of daily operations and knowledge gained on-site back to their classrooms.

Eighteen educators and counselors from Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County Public Schools participated in industry tours in April and May to Data Centers such as CoreSite, Equinix, Iron Mountain, QTS, and STACK Infrastructure, as well as Lockheed Martin and Micron Technology. These companies are thoroughly invested in the formation of tech career pathways and provided informative tours of their facilities while fielding questions about careers in the industry.

The NSF-funded externship began in March with an introduction to NOVA’s Engineering Technology and Data Center Operations degree programs, and will conclude in July with a tour of the NOVA Fab Lab where educators will begin to work on their Plan of Action to take back what they have learned to their schools and their students.

Action Plans submitted from last year’s cohort resulted in NOVA SySTEMic school presentations, class field trips to NOVA campuses, and industry site visits by educators and their students.

Applications for 2024 Externships will be open next January. They will be announced in our newsletter and through NOVA IET Twitter and LinkedIn.

For more about Engineering Technology and Data Center Operations at NOVA, click here

Business Engagement, Career & Leadership Readiness Institute, Career Skills, CLRI, Data Center Operations, Engineering Technology, IET Events, Industry Partnerships, Industry Tours, Information Technology, Internships, Interpersonal Skills, Mentoring, Networking, NOVA Foundation, Student to Workforce

CLRI Celebrates Fall Graduates at Networking Event

The Fall Career and Leadership Readiness Institute (CLRI) concluded on November 17 at the Woodbridge Campus (at the site of the future NOVA Data Center Training Facility). NOVA IET students put their newly enhanced career skills in action to make industry connections at a final networking session, the culminating event for students before they receive their certificates of completion. This was particularly notable this semester as it was the first in-person CLRI at NOVA since it was established in 2020.

Through an extracurricular 5-week course, CLRI students were trained how to interview, create a resume that stands out, manage interpersonal skills in a diverse workplace, and more. Students were also treated to two tours of an IET partner, STACK Infrastructure Data Center.

The final networking event kicked-off with remarks from VP of IET and College Computing Dr. Chad Knights before students and IET professionals gathered for a round table discussion and Q & A on relevant experiences and pressing needs in the tech workforce. After the discussion, Executive Director of the NOVA Foundation Kelly Persons addressed graduates and presented them with completion certificates and a leather CLRI portfolio. Graduates also receive a digital CLRI badge that they can add to their LinkedIn profiles.

Following the certificate presentation, CLRI students put their skills to the test during a catered meal where there were opportunities to network with the industry partners from the roundtable discussions. One of the major draws of CLRI and especially the final networking event is that graduates obtain immediate internship opportunities and receive priority consideration for our paid summer internships. 2-3 students from the fall CLRI cohort have been offered winter-break internships at Digital Realty and 3 CLRI students have already been extended an offer of employment from various industry partners.

Feedback from CLRI graduates included the following:

“CLRI helped me to get professional skills, to meet people, to make connections, to build my network. I really learned how to rebrand my resumé to attract hiring managers.” – Kanyin, NOVA IT Major

“I want to get better, I want to be better, I want to do better, and I want an opportunity to come my way. This gave me the opportunity. It was a lot of fun and definitely built my confidence” – Elizabeth, NOVA IT Major

“The nicest thing about CLRI is that you get to know a lot of people who are like-minded, and industry professionals who give you really good advice. It’s definitely worth joining.” – Hamid, IST Major

“I would 100% recommend CLRI. The networking aspect was what I got the most from. Tom (Tom Gerencer, CLRI’s Technical Resume Instructor), who I was able to contact via LinkedIn, turned my resume from OK to fantastic.” – Tim, ET Major

“Once [NOVA students] come into the program, they will feel how impactful CLRI is on their career journey.” – Tahiba, IT Major

For the Fall 2022 cohort, 34 NOVA students are scheduled to complete CLRI (make-up sessions are due Dec 15) and 52 students attended at least one workshop. Overall, since it’s implementation, CLRI has surpassed 100 completers.

Special recognition goes to M. Andy Chaves, NOVA SySTEMic CTE Coordinator, and Sedrick Settle, IET Career Advisor for their exemplary work in running CLRI with excellence and enthusiasm from beginning to end this semester.

You can reach M. Andy at machaves@nvcc.edu and Sedrick at ssettle@nvcc.edu

Industry Partners who attended the CLRI Networking Event:

Keron Taylor, Data Center Operations Manager, Google
Troy Hill, Director of Data Center Operations, Iron Mountain Data Centers
Jay Mitchell, Operations Manager, Iron Mountain Data Centers
Scott LaCasse, Supervisor of Workstation Support, PWCS
Darlene Armenta, Director of Talent Acquisition, Red River
Koren Flint, Senior Director of Customer Experience, Red River
Christopher Lettiere, Director of Data Center Operations, Coresite
Rob Morgan, Director of Project Management, CompuDynamics
Sal Amado, Director of Learning & Development, Simple Technology Solutions

Spring CLRI Opportunities:

If you are a NOVA student and want to get ahead in your career, CLRI will continue in Spring 2023, with a kick-off event on Feb 16 and workshops beginning the following week on Feb 21. You can sign up for our Spring 2023 Interest Form at https://www.nvcc.edu/career-services/clri.html to be notified when applications are available. We will also keep you up to date through our monthly Newsletter, which you can sign up for at http://newsletter.novastem.us

Another good resource to keep up with IET and future CLRI sessions and feedback is the NOVA Engage App, which you can find on Apple and Google Play. Some CLRI students who received internships applied directly through the App.

3D Printing, ATE PI Conference 2022, Business Engagement, Career & Technical Education, Data Center Operations, DCO Tech NSF Grant, Design Thinking, Engineering Technology, Fab Lab, Fabrication, Fellowships, Grants, Industry Tours, Makers By Design NSF Grant, Makerspace, NSF Grants, PDI NSF Grant, Professional Development

NOVA IET at the ATE PI Conference

 

In Washington D.C. from Oct 26-28, five NOVA PI’s (principal investigators), leading three National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects attended the 2022 NSF ATE PI Conference to network with community college PIs and program officers at the annual conference. The NOVA PIs highlighted their project successes and collaborated with colleagues from around the country to advance the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive the nation’s economy.

The conference brought together more than 600 NSF ATE grantees and their project partners to focus on the critical issues related to advanced technological education. Conference participants represent community colleges, business and industry, secondary school systems, and four-year colleges in a wide variety of areas, such as information technology, engineering technology, micro- and nanotechnologies, chemical technology, biotechnology, and more.

>> Article on Benefits of ATE Grants

Because of grant-based programs and activities, NOVA students have more access to in-demand, high-paying STEM careers, and NOVA faculty and staff are provided the tools to increase awareness and opportunities for these important fields of study.

NOVA’s NSF ATE Projects:

 DCO Tech: Expanding Regional Capacity for Training in Engineering Technology and Data Center Operations.

PI: Josh Labrie | Co-PIs: Amir Mehmood & TJ Ciccone

At the ATE conference, Josh Labrie, Director of NOVA SySTEMic, and TJ Ciccone, DCO Adjunct Faculty and VP of Critical Infrastructure at STACK Infrastructure, highlighted the NSF ATE project DCO Tech. This project is designed to increase regional capacity for training in Engineering Technology (ET) and Data Center Operations (DCO) through expanded recruitment, employment training, and increased collaboration between industry, K-12 educators, and faculty. At the conference the team highlighted the successes of the Summer Bridge Program and the Secondary Externship. In addition, Ciccone lead a presentation on DCO: Building Awareness and Opportunity for an Emerging Field.

In 2022, NOVA’s Summer Bridge Program for Engineering Technology saw 20 high school students (14 rising seniors and 6 graduates) complete the 2-week summer enrichment program which provided them with 1-credit in SDV. Students participated in industry tours of Micron Technology and STACK Infrastructure, a local data center, to learn about the career opportunities and pathways in engineering technology. Additionally, students experienced NOVA through campus tours and NOVA student offices presentations, and 14 earned an OSHA 10 industry certification. NOVA included transportation between campuses, field trips to industry partners, and an ice cream social to cap off the program.

In addition, 18 educators completed the Secondary Externship for school CTE administrators, teachers, and counselors to raise awareness for engineering technology and DCO careers. NOVA’s Secondary Externship program equips educators with knowledge about ET and DCO careers and the educational pathways NOVA provides to prepare students for the technology workforce. Externship educators attended tours of Micron and STACK Infrastructure, as well as a professional development day at the NOVA Fab Lab. The goal is to create clear pathways and provide materials to illuminate NOVA’s ET and DCO programs and the careers they lead to.

After the conference, Labrie was ebullient about the importance of Data Center Operations and the players behind its growth: “NOVA has exceptional faculty members like TJ Ciccone whose combination of industry experience and passion for education benefit our students and the grant funded work we do. At the NSF ATE PI conference, TJ and I were able to share NOVA’s DCO program with faculty from around the country. My hope is that NOVA’s successful program can serve as a model for other colleges to engage in DCO education, and that this work will raise awareness for data center education and career opportunities.”

Bridge programs and Externships continue in spring/summer 2023. Students and educators can sign up now to receive notification when applications are available at info.novastem.us/SummerPrograms

Makers By Design: Supporting Instructors to Embed Design Thinking in Digital Fabrication Courses.

PI: Josh Labrie | Co-PIs: Hamadi Belghith & Richard Sewell

Makers By Design (MBD) strengthens engineering technology pathways by providing professional learning for postsecondary faculty and K-12 educators and seeks to create a community of practice among engineering educators involved in community-based makerspaces at public libraries, private organizations, public school systems, colleges, and universities.

MBD Grant Project Manager Chris Russell represented MBD at the conference and highlighted the Design Thinking Fellowship to attendees.

The Fellowship, funded by MBD, is comprised of middle and high school teachers, informal STEM learning professionals, and college faculty. The fellowship comes with a stipend and involves completing a 5-day Professional Learning (PL) Institute at the NOVA Fab Lab in Spring 2023, teaching PL topics at a 1-week summer camp and creating and implementing PL classroom activities.

In 2022, the design thinking cohort of 17 fellows participated in five professional learning workshops and provided 116 middle and high school youth a digital fabrication summer camp at NOVA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. The cohort will complete the fellowship by creating a design challenge and contributing a lesson plan to the project for design thinking.

Next spring we will host a second cohort of Design Thinking Fellowship educators. Recruitment will begin in November and there will be interest meetings on Wednesday November 9th and also on Tuesday December 6th. You can sign up for these sessions at fellowship.novastem.us/MBDinfo. If you are already familiar with the fellowship and ready to apply you can do so at fellowship.novastem.us/MBDapply

On the ATE conference, Russell reflected: “increasing alignment between industry needs and classroom instruction is a pressing concern in rapidly advancing technological fields. Through the thoughtful feedback from our ATE colleagues, we will improve our teacher preparation to better serve employers and students in the region.”

Product Design Incubator (PDI): Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindset Through Interdisciplinary Product Design

PI: Richard Sewell | Co-PIs: Cameisha Chin & Paula Ford

Richard Sewell, NOVA’s Fab Lab Manager, was at the conference and observed: “the ATE Conference was an excellent opportunity to engage with fellow technology educators to compare our approaches, learn new methods, and share our findings in a constantly changing tech arena. By the end of the conference, it became clear that NOVA’s NSF ATE programs are tackling head-on the most pressing issues shared throughout the nation’s top academies.”

Sewell is the PI on the NSF Product Design Incubator (PDI) Grant. PDI is a new project designed to train community college students through a product design challenge that aims to combine technical knowledge with soft skills and interpersonal development. Each year, PDI participants will:

  • Learn entrepreneurship skills during 6 spring workshops.
  • Design and protype a product during a summer product design incubator.
  • Pitch a product to regional entrepreneurs
  • Receive a $3000 stipend for completion

Essentially, PDI will increase contact between students and industry professionals, foster interdisciplinary collaboration between NOVA students and staff, and increase the supply of IET workers with industry required collaboration, communication, and critical-thinking skills.

You can complete a apply PDI application at fablab.novastem.us/PDIapply

Interest meetings will be held on Thursday, November 10 and Thursday, December 8. You can register for those at fablab.novastem.us/PDIinfo

To learn more about our Grants in general visit www.nvcc.edu/academics/divisions/it/sponsored-grants.html