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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.