LCCC : LCCC IT Program Director Receives Microsoft Innovation Award

Press release from Laramie County Community College:

August 27, 2021

In 2017, Microsoft approached Laramie County Community College (LCCC) with a proposal
to develop a Microsoft Datacenter Academy at the College.  The Datacenter Technology
program began in the fall of 2018 with just 14 students and now boasts an enrollment
of 60 students working to earn their degree.  The datacenter technology credit diploma
is now the common first degree within the Information Technology (IT) Pathway and
leads to advanced credentials in network administrator, systems administrator, and
cybersecurity. 

The growth and popularity of the IT program is a product of high demand, high wage
jobs, and the flexible design and creativity of offerings.  The LCCC program stands-out
due to its innovation and creativity in both the classroom and labs, ensuring student
growth and comprehension.  That creativity is led by Troy Amick, program director,
information technology.  Amick began at LCCC in January 2018, following a donation
of equipment from Microsoft, to create a mock datacenter at the college.  Amick, utilized
the equipment to created 12 mobile datacenter carts allowing students to gain hands-on,
real-world application in a unique lab setting.

Due to Amick’s work with the LCCC Datacenter Academy, he was recognized as a 2021
Innovation Award winner at the first Microsoft Datacenter Academy Summit in August
2021. “This type of innovation highlights the exceptional work your program is creating
by making learning objectives engaging and accessible to all students,” said Anthony
Putorek, Microsoft senior program manager for workforce development.  “This award
specifically focuses on how you are driving innovation and increasing student interest,
performance, and overall achievement in the Datacenter Academy.”

Amick and his team of three faculty continue to create active learning and innovation
opportunities, through the design and development of a new hardware lab, Cyber City
and Cyber Range. The Cyber City provides a tactile learning environment for students
(and even guests to the College) to view the real-world implications of a cyber-attack.
The two cyber environments allow students to attack and defend the city as they learn
about the various ways cyber-crimes may occur.

For more information about opportunities and programs offered in the Information Technology
Pathway, contact Troy Amick at 307-772-7381 or wamick@lccc.wy.edu.

This press release was produced by Laramie County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.