In January, Hocking College became one of 35 other secondary schools to be awarded a Choose Ohio First grant.
The grant — worth $65,600 — from the Ohio Department of Higher Education will fund scholarships for students joining the college’s Website and Application Development and Cybersecurity and Networking programs.
“I’m proud of the work the team put into the COF grant application,” Tasha Penwell, Computer Sciences programs manager for Hocking College, said.
The grant allows for one scholarship each worth more than $2,700 for both programs for the next five years.
The scholarships are available to Ohio residents applying or transferring to Hocking College or changing their major to one of the two Computer Sciences programs.
“We’re looking forward to how this grant will create opportunities for learning and growth as we provide students an education for a career path that is growing and in-demand,” Penwell said.
Why choose Hocking College for Computer Science?
Hocking College’s Computer Science programs give students the real-world experience they’ll need to find employment as development or network security professionals.
Penwell said that in her conversations with recruiters, she’s been told that while they don’t require college degrees, it’s a preference.
“Employers want the college degree because it shows the graduate has some experience being on their own and having accountability,” Penwell said. “That’s the reason they want the college degree.”
More than that preference for many recruiters is support students can get through in-person classroom instruction.
Penwell says the classroom provides more structure for students and gives them a chance to ask their instructor questions as the lesson or lab moves along.
Students in the programs are also encouraged to attend conferences and workshops. Penwell says she tells students when they have the chance to attend as volunteers because they can usually get in for free.
“At Hocking, you not only get that structure in the classroom, but you also get the connections and the resources to go out and connect with people,” Penwell explained. “They get to network, meet with professionals, meet with recruiters and just build those connections and those relationships.”
That process starts in the first semester of classes, so when a student graduates, they’ve established relationships with companies and professionals to help them get a job.
“They’ve learned the soft skills they need to meet with people, work with people, talk with people and just be successful in their particular field,” Penwell said.
More about the Website and Application Development Program
Hocking College’s Website and Application Development program prepares students to work as entry-level website or application developers while offering them real-world job experience through community partnerships.
Students also have the opportunity to receive additional certifications through Hocking College’s partnership with Amazon Web Services Educate.
The hands-on curriculum is designed to help students gain experience using Java, JavaScript and HTML code. In addition, some of the essential skills they’ll develop include:
- Critical thinking skills
- Entrepreneurial skills
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Diversity appreciation skills
- Research skills
- Problem-solving skills
Hocking College’s Associate of Applied Science in Website and Application Development degree program also provides students with the academic foundation they’ll need to pursue a bachelor’s degree in website or application development.
- Graduates from the two-year program will learn to:
- Analyze problems they encounter or are given.
- Identify the goals, tasks and challenges of their clients expect them to meet, complete and solve.
- Implement the development cycle for websites and applications.
- Construct, modify, implement, query and maintain effective databases.
- Develop and use code.
More about the Cybersecurity and Network Systems Program
Hocking College’s Cybersecurity and Network Systems program provides students with the real-world experience they’ll need to find employment securing data systems for commercial businesses, banks, schools and government agencies.
The hands-on curriculum is designed to teach students how to react to cyberattacks and how to prevent hackers from stealing data and creating havoc in network systems.
Hocking College’s smaller class sizes allow students one-on-one time with their instructors to become proficient in both operating systems and networking technologies.
Students also have the opportunity to receive additional certifications through Hocking College’s partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy.
Students who pursue an Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security and Network Systems Technology degree at Hocking College learn how to:
- Analyze problems and envelop logical solutions to resolve them.
- Design, implement, maintain and troubleshoot a small business network.
- Document network architecture, hardware and software.
- Install and configure PC-based security software.
- Configure and implement firewalls to protect network infrastructures.
For more information about the Website and Application Development program, contact Computer Science Program Manager Tasha Penwell by email at penwellt31810@hocking.edu or by phone at 740-753-7181.
For more information about the Cybersecurity and Network Systems program, contact Program Manager Mark Riley by email at rileym24177@hocking.edu or by phone at 740-753-7209.
