PURE GOLD VALLEY

MPS academies give students early career boost

When Henry Louder started his information technology (IT) internship at Jackson Thornton accounting firm this summer, the duration of his stint was set to be about two months.

Nearly five months later, he is still there.

The 17-year-old Lee High School senior was hired as a part-time employee and said he hopes to stay as long as the firm will have him.

After graduation, Louder plans to go to Alabama State University and major in computer information systems, a career field he has always wanted to pursue.

?My interest in computers began as soon as I came out my mother?s womb,? he joked. ?IT changes day to day, and I love every second of it.?

Louder, who has been in the IT Academy at Lee High School for three years, credits the program with preparing him for his current position and exposing him to the right resources.

The internship program is an integral part of the academy?s mission, Lee IT teacher Alesia Ruffin said.

Jackson Thornton is one of nearly 15 companies in the community that partner with Lee for the internship program. Those companies provide feedback on resumes and then interview and hire students for professional training. Ruffin said interns are paid about $9 to $10 an hour, which surpasses the current minimum wage.

During the summer, Louder?s duties ranged from shadowing co-workers to installing monitors to assisting in troubleshooting problems. He also recently earned two Adobe Acrobat X professional certifications, credentials that will set him apart from his peers.

Ruffin said students are prepared and encouraged to sit for at least two of the rigorous certification exams, such as Java programming or the A+ certification, which are typically obtained while in college.

?The more certifications you have and the more experience you have, the more money you can possibly make,? Ruffin said. ?So our students are very advanced when they leave our program.?

Lisa McKissick, Jackson Thornton?s director of human resources, said Louder?s preparation was recognizable.

?It is an outstanding idea to begin teaching these skills in high school and prepare students for careers in fields that are in demand,? she said. ?We really approached it as an opportunity to support our community and (MPS).

?However, we were so pleased ... we offered him an extended part-time position through the end of the school year,? McKissick added. ?Henry has done an excellent job for us.?

Students must apply for entrance into the academy, with an average of 35 freshmen selected each year.

?I don?t think I would be in the position I am in without the IT Academy,? Louder said.

Although this position was his first in the IT field, Louder is confident it is only the beginning of a great career, where entry-level pay typically starts around $45,000.

Ruffin said the possibilities are almost limitless for those like Louder who have a vision and are willing to work hard for it.

?We are very proud of our students, and we think this is a great start,? she said. ?The opportunities are definitely out there, and we are here to help them.?

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This post was written by: Franklin Manuel

Franklin Manuel is a professional blogger, web designer and front end web developer. Follow him on Twitter