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Spirit of Innovation Challenge

August 31st, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Promote IT - (0 Comments)

Hey, students! Check out this cool opportunity we heard about today through CSTA!

The Conrad Foundation believes high school students have the skills and potential to create the next world-changing, commercially-viable product or solution in the areas of: Aerospace and Aviation, Cybertechnology and Security, Energy and Environment and Health and Nutrition. Participation in the program is free to all students, as is membership in the online community.

The Foundation’s Spirit of Innovation Challenge invites high school students and their coaches to Get Their Genius On during its annual competition. Using science, technology (including computer science!), engineering and math skills, teams develop innovative products and services to help solve global and local problems while supporting global sustainability. This is the perfect activity for your students to demonstrate how well they are mastering the STEM knowledge you provide in the classroom. 

Student teams compete for awards and recognition, including a chance to attend the 2013 Innovation Summit at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will present their products and vie for $10,000 seed grants, patent assistance and commercial opportunities. The Conrad Challenge also provides free access to mentors, webinars and forums to answer all your questions. 

The first step is easy, so get started today! Students and coaches register online, form a team of 2-5 students, create an innovative product and submit a one-page abstract. 

For more information contact:  www.conradawards.org

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Cyber Foundations Online High School Competition

August 28th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Promote IT - (0 Comments)

Cyber Foundations Online High School Competition - an entry-level competition focusing on the fundamentals of cyber security and covers three important modules: Networking, Operating Systems and System Administration. 

Cyber Foundations has three competitions in each cycle:

  • Networking
  • Operating systems
  • System administration

Each competitor gets access to online training materials (for approximately two weeks) and then competes for prizes on competition day.

Module 1 – Networking – A firm understanding of Network fundamentals is essential to being able to secure a network or attack one. This section provides a broad overview of networking, covering the fundamental concepts needed to understand computer attacks and defenses from a network perspective.

Module 2 – Operating Systems – An operating system is a foundational piece of software that provides an interface to the hardware of a computer or device. Programs are written by application developers to utilize this interface, which are in turn utilized by human users and other programs to perform tasks and effectively manage the resources of the computer. Operating systems typically manage the interaction of the user and other software applications with the computer’s hardware, provide the ability to load and execute other programs, and implement important security functions.

Module 3 – System Administration – This module is intended to provide you with the tools you need to perform common administrative functions in some of the most popular scripting environments. We will examine PHP and PERL in the context of an Apache webserver, and then we will examine using GNU BASH and Microsoft Powershell scripting from the command line to complete every day administrative functions.

The Competition Day – Each module ends with a competition day where students skills will be tested with a series of quiz questions.

Each competition-day quiz can be completed in 40 – 90 minutes and may be taken any time during the day. Test scores and rankings will be available a few days after the competition has completed. Results are no longer updated live so as not to give an unfair advantage to competitors in later time zones.

NOTE: Competitors will need access to a computer with Internet access, including the ability to watch YouTube videos and read materials on numerous third-party websites to view all module tutorials content.

Fall 2012 Cyber Competition – Registration Open!

  • Aug 1 (Wednesday) – Registration Opens, 8am Eastern Time
  • Oct 15 (Monday) – Payment deadline
  • Oct 15 (Monday) – Registration deadline
  • Oct 20 (Saturday) – Module 1 (Networking) tutorials open
  • Oct 30 (Tuesday) – Competitor registration entry code deadline
  • Nov 2 (Friday) – Module 1 Competition
  • Nov 3 (Saturday) – Module 2 (Operating Systems) tutorials open
  • Nov 16 (Friday) – Module 2 Competition
  • Nov 17 (Saturday) – Module 3 (System Administration) tutorials open
  • Dec 7 (Friday) – Module 3 Competition
  • Dec 31 (Monday) – Access to content expires

For more information or to register, go to: https://www.cyberfoundations.org/

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13th Annual UNC Charlotte Cyber Security Symposium October 10, 2012

August 28th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Grow IT | Teach IT | World of IT - (1 Comments)

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to attend the 13th Annual UNC Charlotte Cyber Security Symposium being hosted by UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics.

UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics will host its 13th Annual UNC Charlotte Cyber Security Symposium on the UNC Charlotte campus on Wednesday, October 10, 2012.  The premier security conference in the region will again feature expert guest speakers from around the country who will address the latest issues surrounding cyber crime and what is being done to combat this ever-increasing global threat.

“The Cyber Security Symposium continues to draw attention to the urgency of dealing with cyber terrorism,” said Yi Deng, Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics.  “It’s quite clear that we have entered a new era when it comes to cyber crime and cyber war as evidenced by ongoing world events and weekly reports in the media. Our distinguished list of speakers will address these complex issues that impact our daily lives.”

Rapid advancements in communication and information technology have increased interdependence among diverse groups including businesses and government agencies. The spread of such technologies, and the consequential reliance on them, require participants to understand and take action to minimize security threats. As we enter this age of cyber war it is also important to understand how governments and countries will work to secure their complex infrastructures from attack.

The conference is a must for business continuity professionals, information technology managers, software developers, systems administrators, information security professionals, information security consultants and government leaders.  Each year the City of Charlotte has proclaimed October Cyber Security Awareness Month in recognition of the conference.

The symposium will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Cone University Center on the UNC Charlotte campus.

Our distinguished list of speakers include:

Jim Manico, White Hat

Theresa Payton, Fortalice, LLC.

Ron Richie, Bank of America

Will Stranathan, CyberDNA

Will Thornhill, TIAA-CREF

To register go to cci.uncc.edu/security2012 or on your mobile device at cci.uncc.edu/security2012mobile.  And don’t forget to share with your social networks.

Contact Marjorie Bray (Marjorie.Bray@uncc.edu) if you are interested in more information on sponsorship opportunities.

The Department of Software and Information Systems’ Information Assurance program was one of the first in the country to be designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a National Center of Academic Excellence (NCAE) in Information Assurance “Research” for academic years 2008-2013.   The Information Assurance program has also been designated by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance “Education” since 2001.  A designation that has been extended through 2017.  In 2006 a team of students from SIS won the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, which is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security.

About The College of Computing and Informatics 

The College of Computing and Informatics provides academic programs in computer science, software and information systems, information technology and bioinformatics.  It is also the home to leading research centers and institutes, including the Cyber Defense and Network Assurability (CyberDNA) Center, the Bioinformatics Research Center, the Charlotte Visualization Center, the Complex Systems Institute and the Diversity in Information Technology Institute.  Active research awards currently total $35 Million.  cci.uncc.edu 

 About the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research university. It is the fourth largest campus among the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina system and the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. Fall 2011 enrollment exceeded 25,300 students, including 5,000 graduate students.

 

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Media Contact:  Clark G. Curtis, 704-687-7983, clarkcurtis@uncc.edu

 

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Greater Columbia BDPA Chapter brought home the gold by placing 1st in the BDPA National Conference IT Showcase competition

August 15th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in IT-oLogy Defined - (0 Comments)

Submitted by Jamesetta James, BDPA Volunteer

Greater Columbia BDPA students and instructors did an OUTSTANDING job representing the Greater Columbia BDPA chapter, its sponsors IT-oLogy, Wal-Mart, BlueCross BlueShield of SC and the State of South Carolina at the 34th BDPA National Technology Conference held in Baltimore, MD July 31st – August 4th, 201. Our chapter also received high marks in several other category competitions.

Tyra Foulks, a junior at Irmo High School, took 1st place in the IT Showcase High School competition presenting a technical research paper titled “PET) POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (CT) COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY. (PET/CT):THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER”. Tyra was awarded a $3,000 Johnson and Johnson IT Showcase scholarship.

Brandi Taylor, also a junior at Irmo High School, took 3rd place in the IT Showcase High School competition. Brandi’s technical research paper is titled “INNOVATIONS OF THE GPS”.. Both research papers have been published in the BDPA Proceeding journal.

Tyra and Brandi were also members of the 3rd place winning team for the Video Creation and Editing workshop. The student’s task were to produce a video around the theme “BDPA is IT, Share The Fun”.


(Tyra Foulks and Brandi Taylor: 2nd and 3rd position from right)

Nathaniel Abraham, III, a graduate of Keenan High school, a rising freshman at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and a member of the computer competition team, received one of three Johnson and Johnson High School student scholarship awards.  With an 1820 SAT score, Nathaniel was awarded a $2,000 Johnson and Johnson scholarship.

Greater Columbia BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team also ranked 8th out of 17 teams. The chapter also received 3rd place in the tee shirt competition design encompass this year’s conference theme “Transforming the IT professional”.

Below are links to the video clip shown at the 22nd BDPA National Awards gala and pictures taken during the conference.
http://vimeo.com/47017969
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/2012bdpaconference/

BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates) is an internationally recognized organization of IT professionals whose goals include preparing young people who are interested in becoming the next generation of ‘Information Technology Thought Leaders’ in academia and corporate America. The regional and national HSCC championships are part of the BDPA science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pipeline summarized in its motto, ‘From the Classroom to the Boardroom’.www.bdpa.org.

Classes will be starting up soon and we look forward to new students, 9th – 12th grade, enrolled

in our workshops. Please check for upcoming registration date at http://www.bdpa.org/group/GC

 

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IT-oLogy Hosts Gartner for Big Data Conference

August 14th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in IT-oLogy Defined - (0 Comments)

Big Data Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2012

Contact: Powers Strickland, Communications Manager – 803.354.5735 or powers.strickland@it-ology.org or Frank Avery, Project Manager, iTs|SC – 803.692.1141 or fjavery@newcarolina.org

IT-oLogy hosts Gartner for Big Data Conference

 Columbia, SC – For the second year in a row, IT-oLogy is excited to host Gartner, one of the world’s leading information technology research and advisory companies, for a Big Data Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 12. The conference will center around big data and analytics, with Doug Laney, Gartner analyst presenting during the morning session. There will also be a panel talking about predictive analytics in various industries around the country. The afternoon session, led by iTs|SC, will focus on insurance technology and services. The event is tailored towards bringing key leaders and executives together to network, build intellectual capacity and connect to emerging technology topics.

The morning session will kick off with a presentation by Laney, a premiere Gartner analyst around big data, the future of analytics and the economics of information. The afternoon is being led by iTs|SC: Columbia’s Insurance Technology and Services Cluster. It will feature case studies highlighting Columbia’s competitive advantages in Big Data as applied to the insurance technology and services industry, as well as an executive panel discussing growth and opportunities both in the region and industry. The day will include a networking lunch, sponsored by IBM, and a networking reception following the afternoon sessions.

The Big Data Conference program begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. and has limited seating. Attendees will have the opportunity to request one-on-one sessions with Laney, network with colleagues and executives from the Midlands region and learn how to handle big data and analytics.

The event will be held at IT-oLogy, located at 1301 Gervais Street in downtown Columbia. Registration is free with limited seating. To register, please visit www.bigdataconference.eventbrite.com.

About IT-oLogy

IT-oLogy is a non-profit collaboration of businesses, academic institutions and other organizations dedicated to growing the IT talent pipeline and advancing the IT profession. IT-oLogy has three major initiatives: Promote IT (K-12 schools), Teach IT (Higher Education) and Grow IT (Professionals and Businesses).

For more information about IT-oLogy, visit www.it-ology.org or contact Powers Strickland at 803.354.5735 or powers.strickland@it-ology.org.

About iTs|SC

The Columbia Insurance Technology & Services Cluster (iTs|SC) is a NewCarolina cluster dedicated to promoting the Greater Columbia area’s wealth of opportunities within the insurance technology and services sector. Representing 10 private sector companies and 5 public partners, its mission is to foster a collaborative environment where the private sector, government, and higher education work to strengthen industry competitiveness, develop a world class talent pool, and enhance Columbia, South Carolina’s reputation as a premier destination for insurance technology and services. News, events, and information can be found online at www.its-sc.com or contact Frank Avery at fjavery@newcarolina.org.

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Thirty Attend Arduino/Microcontrollers Workshop for Educators

August 7th, 2012 | Posted by ToddLewis in IT-oLogy Defined - (1 Comments)

Approximately 30 people attended the Arduino/Microcontroller workshop for Educators workshop held on August 3rd and 4th at IT-oLogy. The majority of attendees were educators, but students and local IT professionals also participated. The purpose of the workshop was to train educators and other IT leaders on the skills needed to understand and teach basic microcontroller programming as well as the circuits in the Sparkfun Inventor’s Kit (SIK). This content is important because it teaches basic engineering principles vital in education. It will now be taught and implemented in a classroom environment in high schools, middle schools and even elementary schools. Linz Craig, Educational Outreach Coordinator for Sparkfun Electronics, conducted both workshops and did an outstanding job.

For more information on upcoming workshops and the Open IT Lab go to www.open-it-lab.com or www.it-ology.org.

Here are a few pictures for you!

Arduino Workshop 3

Arduino Workshop 2

Arduino Workshop

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Building a New Degree Program in Health Information Technology

August 6th, 2012 | Posted by Bob Brookshire in Teach IT - (0 Comments)

In December 2009, responding to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act passed earlier that year, faculty members at the University of South Carolina in the Integrated Information Technology  (IIT) Program in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and the Department of Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) in the Arnold School of Public Health, began discussing the development of a master’s degree in health information technology. The HITECH Act provides incentives to the medical community to achieve the goal established by President Bush that all Americans will have electronic health records by 2014. To this end, approximately $36 billion is being made available over six years for the development and implementation of healthcare information technology. This stimulus had already begun creating a need for a new cadre of health IT professionals.

During the spring of 2010, faculty members in the two programs prepared a draft outline of the new program, one which would combine information technology coursework with courses in health care administration to prepare leaders in this rapidly developing field. Through the spring and summer, the faculty worked to refine the proposal and to build support for the program from the deans and department heads of the various schools and colleges at the University. By the fall, a full formal proposal was ready to go before the appropriate university committees.

During the summer of 2010, a search committee consisting of faculty from both programs as well as a student, who was also a manager at Palmetto Health, began the process of searching for a director for the program. That fall, ads were placed online and in various academic periodicals, and applications began to be received.  By January 2011, the finalists for the position were selected and interviews began.   The process culminated in April 2011, as Dr. Elizabeth Regan, the Elmer and Donna Smith Endowed Chair in Information Systems at Morehead State University, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Northeast Kentucky Regional Health Information Organization and member of the Tri-State Health IT Regional Extension Center,  accepted the position. She arrived at the university in July.

At the same time that the candidates for the director’s position were being interviewed, the faculty members were busy writing the syllabi for the new courses that would be included the in the program. Meetings were held with executives from organizations such as BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the South Carolina Hospital Association and Palmetto Health to get their input about the program and its content. Likewise, a presentation about the proposed program at the Innoventure Conference that spring gathered additional input from the business and health care community. During the fall of 2011, under Dr. Regan’s leadership, the proposed courses and the degree program received approval from the Graduate Council of the university and the Board of Trustees.

While the course approval process was underway, searches were started in HSPM and in IIT for new faculty members with health information technology expertise.  Candidates were interviewed during March, April and May of 2012, and three faculty members were hired to arrive this fall, one in the HSPM and two in IIT.

The final hurdles for the program proposal were approvals from the external regulatory agencies. In April 2012, the Southern Association of College and Schools gave its blessing to the program, followed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in May. The program is scheduled for fall 2012 start-up and students have started to enroll. The program is being offered in executive format with courses scheduled evenings, Saturdays and online. Applications for the first class will be accepted through August 15, and enrollment in the first health IT classes is open to graduate students in other health science programs as well as unclassified graduate students.

Details about the Master of Health Information Technology (MHIT) degree program will be coming up in another blog post next month. For more information, please visit the program web site at http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/iIT/graduate/mhit.html.  Comments and suggestions about this new program are welcome.

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August Open IT Lab Schedule

August 6th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in IT-oLogy Defined - (0 Comments)

August Open IT Lab Schedule

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Information Technology Council Announces Palmetto Pillar Awards Finalists

August 6th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Grow IT | IT-oLogy Defined - (1 Comments)

 

IT-oLogy is honored to be represented among the innovative and inspiring nominees for the 2012 Palmetto Pillar Awards. Each year, the Palmetto Pillar Awards recognize leaders and achievers in the field of information technology. The Palmetto Pillar Awards ceremony takes place on Tuesday, August 21 at The Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium. This is an evening of celebration, complete with a cocktail reception and dinner. Tickets are available at www.columbiachamber.com/PPA.htm.

The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce Information Technology Council (ITC) has announced the finalists for the 2012 Palmetto Pillar Awards (PPA), which honor the best and brightest of the Midlands Technology Community.

The winners in each of eight categories will be recognized at an awards banquet to be held on August 21 at The Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium. There will be a welcome reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and awards at 7:30 p.m.

Click here for more information on the ITC and here for more information on the PPA.

Finalists listed below represent technology leaders and IT executives who have shown outstanding leadership, support, innovation and vision over the past year.

2012 PPA Finalists:

Leadership in Technology Award
Terry Floyd, TM Floyd
Terris Riley, NewVenue Technologies
Jeff  Salters, Lexington County School District 1

Public Service Through IT Award
Phil Yanov
Richland Country Government
Richland County School District 2

IT Infrastructure Services Award
A3 Communications
AgFirst
Richland County School District 2

Custom Application Development Award
Capital Software
SCANA

Start-Up Venture Award
52Apps
Carolina Technology Conference

One to Watch
Anthony Cooper, NewVenueTechnologies
IT-oLogy

Student Achievement Award
Chris Richardson
Nicholas Stiffler

Cloud Computing
Dovetail
VC3

About the Information Technology Council

The Columbia Information Technology Council is a membership-based advocacy IT organization in the Greater Columbia region. In that capacity, we reach out to, acknowledge and embrace all who are involved in the IT community. Our programs are designed to create awareness, to provide professional development and networking opportunities and to recognize the achievement of those in the IT community. To learn more, visit www.columbiachamber.com/PPA.htm.

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ECPI Partners with GIS

August 6th, 2012 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Teach IT - (0 Comments)

ECPI Columbia has partnered with GIS (General Information Services) joining our University’s  Education Partnership Program.  This program was developed to promote higher education while fostering a relationship with proven leaders in the community.  ECPI University in Columbia has selected 10 influential organizations in the Columbia metropolitan area to extend the benefits of our Educational Partnership Program.  GIS is the first to affiliate with the Columbia campus as an education partner.  Welcome GIS!

About GIS:

Established in 1966, GIS is the second oldest and one of the largest background screening providers in the world. GIS began with strong roots in providing services to the insurance industry to mitigate their risk and has always been known for our trusted client service. In 1996, GIS was purchased by current Owner and CEO, Raymond Conrad.  GIS has dramatically expanded their capabilities and the industries they serve. Now GIS is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the nation and provides solutions to some of the world’s largest employers.

Over the past decade GIS has experienced record corporate growth (without acquisitions) in revenues, corporate size, and scope, and they now serve over 2,500 clients nationwide, from small business to Fortune 500 companies. Some of the largest employers in the United States and a wide variety of industries trust GIS for their hiring solution needs.

GIS employs approximately 600 people and is headquartered in Chapin, South Carolina (just outside of the capital city of Columbia, SC). In addition, GIS has a Western Operations Center in Dallas, Texas, and sales offices throughout the nation.

GIS staffs over 90 in-house IT personnel for continued research, support, and development of our technology. GIS also has one of the strongest business continuity plans in place to ensure the security of data and uninterrupted operations. 

To learn more about GIS: http://www.geninfo.com

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