ALISON LOR-ICTC
Sallisaw senior Alison Lor is in the process of turning a passion into a reality as she completes the second year of the Information Technology class at the Indian Capital Technology Center in Sallisaw.
“I’ve always had a passion for the technology field and ICTC offered this opportunity to expand my knowledge in this area,” said Alison.
The class, taught by Ray Ludwig who has over 30 years’ experience in the field, is a two-year program that can lead students into a variety of technology areas.
“While we offer paths in up to seven different areas, most students focus on getting certified in computer support and repair, networking or cybersecurity,” said Ludwig. “They can obtain CompTia Network plus, Security plus or the most sought after, the CompTia A plus certification. This requires passing two very difficult tests. Out of the 17 students who have taken the first test, only seven passed on the first try with Alison being one of those. We also teach some side skills such as soldering which students will need to learn for these jobs.”
Among the tasks involved in the course are class projects as explained by Ludwig.
“The first semester I had my morning and afternoon classes compete to see who could build the best gaming computer on a fixed budget as judged by the ICTC student body and Alison’s team won that and this semester the classes are competing to build a small office network and her class is about two weeks ahead of the afternoon class. A lot of these successes have been due to Alison’s leadership.”
A soccer player at Sallisaw High, Alison says there are similarities behind leading her soccer team and leading these class projects.
“Both require taking a leadership role. In soccer our goal is to win a district title this year, so we work on improving individual skills and learning from our mistakes. Here at ICTC I’m working with my partner Seth on this networking project, and we work on our weaknesses and learning from the things that haven’t worked in order to get better.”
Alison’s experience at ICTC gives her insight for students who aren’t sure about what they want to do after high school.
“I believe that if you’re unsure about your future, taking a course at ICTC is a good choice. It can help you figure out what you might like to do and the experience you get from ICTC, you can’t get anywhere else.”
Alison plans on getting two certifications from this ICTC course then go to college to further her technology education while also holding a technology job while she’s in school.
