FITC Alliance holds Jacksonville area Press Conference

Posted by Kate Blosser on

Since it’s inception in May 2014, the Florida IT Career (FITC) Alliance has worked to recruit, retain and employ Florida’s upcoming technology workforce. The group has been busy hosting a career fair for 500 high school students, a college career fair, building partnerships with 30 schools and 6 community colleges, etc.  In addition, the group has hired numerous student ambassadors at FSU and FAMU from Information Technology, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering to host schools at FSU as well as visit Panhandle schools.  In an effort to recognize some of the schools, educators, and corporations that make FITC possible, a press conference was held last week at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s South Campus, one of the FITC school partners.

IMG_0047
FSCJ Dean, Robin Cole

 

In the past six months, FITC has hired thirty five full time employees and faculty and hired 16 student ambassadors from FSU and 20 from Florida A&M. With a strong team in place, FITC put on teacher workshops, established eleven educational partners in Leon County, and funded initiatives in those schools like robotic & computer equipment, after school tech clubs, career fairs, and internships.

Speakers at the conference included:

  • Dr. Robin Cole, Dean of Career Education – Florida State College at Jacksonville
  • Dr. Lawrence Dennis, Dean the College of Communication and Information – Florida State University
  • Bob Hitchins, Lead IT Architect – Everbank
  • Dr. Alvin Brennan, Principal – First Coast High School
  • Aaron Lakatos, Assistant Principal – Sandalwood High
  • Willie Clark, Teacher – William Raines High School
  • Keneshia Williams, Student – Florida A&M University
  • Patrick Bresland, Student – FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
  • Rachel Whiteside, FSCJ Student
IMG_0180
FSU and FAMU Ambassadors with FSCJ Faculty and Students

Educators from A. Philip Randolph Academies of Technology, Andrew Jackson High School, First Coast High School, Lake Asbury High School, Orange Park High School, and Sandalwood High school attended the event. College level partners in the area include Florida State College at Jacksonville, Tallahassee Community College, Pensacola State College, Northwest Florida State College, and St. Petersburg College.

FITC Ambassadors, Keneshia Williams, talked about her experience working with students. “It’s been an incredible experience,” shared Williams. For more on future press conferences and news, check FITC’s website.