By: Jennifer S. Gasiorek—
Muncie, IN—Muncie Ivy Tech Community College students participated in the 2018 statewide Information Technology Spring Expo. The Expo included opportunities for students to network and distribute their resumes to industry leaders like Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft and Wiley during the Career Expo.
During the IT Challenge, more than 100 students competed in 8 different challenges. Ivy Tech Muncie students brought home two gold medals and a bronze medal in the competitions.
The gold medal was awarded to the following Ivy Tech Muncie students: Amelia Tegerdine, Matthew Lewis, Kenneth Richhart and Taylor Robertson for their IT Support competition performance. Against the clock, 18 student teams of four were given the components and software to assemble a Microsoft machine and configure two operating systems.
“These competitions are great because students can highlight real world scenarios on their resumes,” said Mike Kingsley, Ivy Tech Muncie IT professor and lead coach. “This team had to complete a task that normally takes hours to do. These students completed the tasks flawlessly.”
The gold medal in software development was awarded to Ivy Tech Muncie students Chris Fields and Ethan Forrest. During the competition, 18 teams were challenged to design and develop a website using the most current version of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
“Our students are learning the most current computer language to develop attractive and professional websites, that will help them be effective developers in the workforce,” said Jim McKinley, Ivy Tech Muncie IT professor and coach for the software team.
The bronze went to the Database Management team from Muncie’s Ivy Tech campus, which included Jared Davis, Brennen Sinclair and Anna Staggs. During the competition, 12 student teams of three were given a database with tables. The teams were required to answer 10 query questions, create four graphs and one business briefing.
“Our team did a great job and the competition was tough. I’m proud of these students,” said Dr. Funmi Olorunda, IT professor and coach of the Database Management team.
Participating in IT competitions allows students to simulate the real world experience of solving complex IT problems while under pressure and time constraints.
“IT is pervasive throughout the entire economy and every economic sector. We live in the Information Age where the current and future labor market will require a wide-range of IT skills. The next generation of jobs will be dominated by Automation and Artificial Intelligence and Ivy Tech students will be very marketable in filling that entry-to-mid level IT skills pipeline. With Muncie students bringing home gold two years in a row, it just shows how marketable those students will be for Muncie and the economic growth of the community,” said Matt Etchison, vice president of Information Technology for Ivy Tech.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
