OTC: Post-Semester Boot Camps Popular With IT Students

For over a decade, a large number of students involved in Ogeechee Technical College’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Cybersecurity programs have been attending boot camps between semester breaks to gain additional training.

“If the students are willing to use their break-time to come and get advanced training then I am more than happy to be here to facilitate the boot camps,” said Terry Hand, a CIS and Cybersecurity instructor at OTC. “I consider myself very fortunate to have students who are so excited about the content they are learning that they are willing to come in during their breaks to get additional training.”

Hand says he is always pleasantly surprised each year at the number of students who come to his boot camps. The 2-hour training sessions he offers include Cable-Making/Testing, Advanced Cisco Routers/Switches, CompTIA A+ Hardware/Software, and Networking Certification preparation.

Mikayla Haigh, a Cybersecurity graduate raved about Mr. Hand and his willingness to help his students prepare for certifications. “I really enjoy the boot camps because it gives you a chance to dive deeper into the material we cover in class. It’s great to have a teacher so ready to encourage his students and give us an opportunity to strengthen our knowledge and skill set,” said Haigh.

Another of Mr. Hand’s students, Skyler Causey said these boot camps helped her pass a portion of her certification, “I have already taken the first exam for the two-part A+ certification, and was able to pass it without issue due to the additional support I received by attending a boot camp.”

Hand has been teaching at OTC since January 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University and a Masters of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix. He additionally holds the CompTIA A+, Network+, Secruity+, and CySA+ certifications.

To learn more about Computer Information Systems (CIS) or Cybersecurity at Ogeechee Technical College please visit www.ogeecheetech.edu/academics.