/24-7PressRelease/ - DENVER, CO, August 21, 2008 -- Westwood College today announced that eight of its Cisco(R) Networking Academy(R) students have been selected to help install and support the vast communications infrastructure for the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Westwood students will work alongside Cisco engineers to install more than 700 voice over IP (VoIP) telephones, a wireless service canopy and the routers and switches that will transform Denver's Pepsi Center into a global hub for collaboration and communication.
"This is a-once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity for our Computer Network Management students," said Clay Chandler, national program advisor for the Cisco Networking Academy, Westwood College. "Most people take for granted that the telephone, Internet access and secure data networks are always available, but in fact, the technologies behind those tools are extraordinarily complex. The fact that Westwood students were selected by Cisco after a rigorous selection process demonstrates how capable our students are."
Eight Westwood College-Denver North students in the Computer Network Management's three-year bachelor degree program will work before, during and after the convention to install Cisco solutions, conduct monitoring of those solutions, and staff the I.T. help desk. Their work will allow political reporters and bloggers to post the latest news from the convention floor to the Internet in real time as well as provide the communications backbone for thousands of conventioneers, delegates and political operatives.
"Providing DNC participants with a fast, reliable and secure network is a great example of the kinds of connections that we try to facilitate in the Networking Academy program," said Mags Doty, DNC project manager, Cisco. "By applying the lessons learned in the classroom to relevant, real world experience and collaboration, Westwood and Cisco are helping to educate the next generation of networking talent."
Westwood College students will be on hand lending support to the Cisco engineers from July 28-Aug. 31. The DNC takes place Aug. 25-28, 2008.
About Westwood College
Westwood College, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is one of the largest private for-profit providers of post-secondary educational services in the United States. Westwood College has the mission to deliver career-focused education and services that prepare individuals to launch, enhance or change careers. Westwood operates in seventeen locations in six states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia and Texas. Westwood College Online operates nationally and was recently honored, for the second year in a row, with a top ten ranking of all US online colleges by the Online Education Database. Westwood College, including Westwood College Online, recently became a candidate for regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The College has graduated and launched the careers of over 20,000 students. Accreditation: Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).
About Alta Colleges, Inc.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Alta College, Inc. (Alta) is the parent company of a system of higher education institutions that include, Westwood College, Redstone College and Westwood College Online. With over 12,000 students currently enrolled in our programs, the company operates 19 campuses in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia as well as Westwood College Online - a part of Westwood College - Denver North.
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