CVCC Opens Valley Datacenter Academy sponsored by Microsoft
HICKORY, N.C.– On Tuesday, March 4, Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) held a ribbon-cutting event for the new Valley Datacenter Academy, an initiative supported by Microsoft to empower individuals in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and IT.
03/04/2025
HICKORY, N.C.– On Tuesday, March 4, Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) held a ribbon-cutting event for the new Valley Datacenter Academy, an initiative supported by Microsoft to empower individuals in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and IT. The newly opened facility provides students with a real-world, hands-on learning environment, featuring a mock datacenter equipped with decommissioned servers, racks, and networking gear recycled and donated by Microsoft Circular Centers.
“Today marks a monumental step forward in shaping the future of technology education and workforce development in our community” states Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, CVCC President. “The grand opening of the Valley Datacenter Academy, made possible through our continued collaboration with Microsoft, is a testament to the dedication of Catawba Valley Community College to provide cutting-edge training and career opportunities for our students. We are proud to offer a world-class facility that will equip the next generation of technology professionals with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-evolving digital landscape.”
Located in CVCC’s state-of-the-art Workforce Solutions Complex, the Valley Datacenter Academy is a workforce development program in which Microsoft collaborates with CVCC to train students for skills and certifications which will enable them to gain employment in the growing cloud computing and IT sectors.
“Microsoft is proud to sponsor this lab, demonstrating our dedication to education and innovation in IT,” states Kelly Arnold, Community Affairs Regional Manager. “The lab will help students gain real-world skills, earn certifications, and get hands-on experience to prepare them for jobs in the rapidly evolving technology industry.”
The Valley datacenter expands CVCC’s growing program offerings in Information Technology. Through this program, training is designed to prepare students for national industry certifications and to be highly skilled for employment in the growing cloud computing and IT sectors. Embedded industry certifications include CompTIA’s: A+, Server+, Net+, and Security+.
CVCC’s Valley Datacenter Academy provides training and education in the community. This ensures that when companies like Microsoft need skilled professionals, they will have access to a well-prepared talent pool to meet their workforce needs.
"Today marks a significant milestone for CVCC as we celebrate the opening of our new Valley Datacenter Academy” states Jennifer Jones, CVCC Chief Development Officer and Foundation Executive Director. “The CVCC Foundation is honored by Microsoft’s investment in our students and technology programming. This relationship not only strengthens our commitment to providing cutting-edge education but also empowers our students to step into the future of technology with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-evolving industry. We are
excited to see the innovative leaders of tomorrow emerge from this academy and contribute to the growth of our community and the tech landscape at large."
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Catawba Valley Community College empowers students to transform the communities of our region and our state by providing exceptional learning experiences, premier workforce development, and engaging personal enrichment. Learn how you can SOAR at cvcc.edu
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Media Contact: Jennifer Lowe Cobb
Phone: 828-327-7000, ext. 4020 864-908-0383 (cell)
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CVCC Photo 1: (L to R): Photo in Front of Backdrop
Jennifer Jones, CVCC Chief Development Officer and Foundation Executive Director; Brooks Raiford, NC Tech CEO; Kelly Lanier-Arnold, Microsoft Americas East Regional Manager; Torre Jessup, Chief Deputy/State Chief Information Officer, NCDIT; Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, CVCC President; Teena Piccione, Secretary & State Chief Information Officer, NCDIT; Aden Cranford, Dean, CVCC School of Career and Technical Education; Scott Sample, Senior Client Director, Microsoft; Sherry Butler, Board Chair, CVCC Board of Trustees.
CVCC Photo 2: (L to R): Ribbon Cutting
Jennifer Jones, CVCC Chief Development Officer and Foundation Executive Director; Sherry Butler, Board Chair, CVCC Board of Trustees; Torre Jessup, Chief Deputy/State Chief Information Officer, NCDIT; Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, CVCC President; Kelly Lanier-Arnold, Microsoft Americas East Regional Manager; Teena Piccione, Secretary & State Chief Information Officer, NCDIT; Brooks Raiford, NC Tech CEO; Aden Cranford, Dean, CVCC School of Career and Technical Education.
CVCC Photo 3: Microsoft, NCDIT, NC Tech, and CVCC
Members of the Microsoft team stand outside of the CVCC Valley Datacenter Academy, sponsored by Microsoft. Also in the photo are Torre Jessup, Chief Deputy/State Chief Information Officer, NCDIT (far-right first row); Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, CVCC President (center, 2nd row); Teena Piccione, Secretary & State Chief Information Officer, NCDIT (2nd from right, first row); and Brooks Raiford, NC Tech CEO (2nd from left, first row).
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