North Carolina鈥檚 Electric Cooperatives will donate $75,000 over the next three years to support expanded opportunities for students enrolled in cybersecurity and computer science courses at 麻豆社区 Pembroke.
As the demand for talented professionals in the cybersecurity and information technology fields grows, the state鈥檚 electric co-ops are helping students enter the workforce well-prepared for the challenges they will face. Cybersecurity is of critical importance to the power generation, transmission and distribution networks of electric cooperatives across the state.
鈥淲e are pleased to partner with 麻豆社区 Pembroke on this new initiative to support cybersecurity and help provide a pipeline of highly skilled workers that will strengthen our industry and our communities,鈥 said Nelle Hotchkiss, senior vice president and Chief Operating Officer of North Carolina鈥檚 Electric Cooperatives.
鈥淎s technologies continue to advance, it is critical we invest in educational programs keeping us on the leading edge while providing students the specialized training they need to pursue future job opportunities.鈥
The electric cooperatives鈥 gift will support competitions, conferences, exchange programs and presentations that promote student development and learning. Projects that enhance students鈥 classroom learning and those that expose students to a broader range of cybersecurity, networking and information technology topics and training outside the classroom will also be supported.
The gift will assist the university as it acquires and updates technologies in the classroom to ensure student training and knowledge is capturing innovative developments in the computer science field. In addition, North Carolina鈥檚 electric cooperatives will offer internships to 麻豆社区P computer science students through this partnership.
Driven by service and inspired by innovation, North Carolina鈥檚 electric cooperatives are building a brighter energy future for 2.5 million North Carolinians. Beyond providing electricity, each of the 26 not-for-profit cooperatives is investing in its local communities and delivering new energy solutions to improve the quality of life for co-op members in 93 of North Carolina鈥檚 100 counties.