‘Future Speed Geeks’ gives CHS students real world tech training

Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Endeavor Communications’ new Future Speed Geeks include (front, from left) Jaren Rossok, Bryce Blevins, Davis Powell, Lauren Brannneman, Jasmine Gaston, Joeli Hamilton, Hayley Monroe and Julie Helton, and (back, from left) Calvin Taylor, Markus Priest, Dymond Foster and Future Speed Geeks instructor Jacob O’Rourke.
Courtesy photo

CLOVERDALE -- Endeavor Communications is continuing its commitment to support local schools by launching a new apprenticeship program that trains high school students in telecommunications and computer technology.

The inaugural “Future Speed Geeks” apprenticeship program was the brainchild of Endeavor President and CEO Darin LaCoursiere.

“At Endeavor, we call our techies the ‘Speed Geeks,’ for the fast and smart technology solutions they provide to our customers. This new program is about exposing students to technology problem-solving in hopes that we are deepening the talent base to keep our community ahead of the curve technology wise,” LaCoursiere said.

“Real world technology experience will ensure that our students are better equipped to move on to their next level of education or to begin a career in the IT industry directly after high school,” LaCoursiere added. “This new program is one of the first of its kind in the nation, so we are excited about the potential positive impact it could have. It’s our hope to expand a student’s circle of technological knowledge and also to instill a sense of the importance of service to others.”

The inaugural “Future Speed Geeks” apprentice class includes approximately 13 Cloverdale High School (CHS) students who were accepted to the program based on their level of interest and computer knowledge.

Students were also required to provide a recommendation from one of their teachers or school administrators. CHS agreed to be a part of the apprenticeship program because it provides an added level of technical knowledge for students beyond the normal classroom experience.

“Our vision within the Cloverdale Community School Corporation is ‘Success for Everyone,’” Cloverdale High School business instructor, Patrick Rady said. “Endeavor Communications is giving a talented group of CHS students the opportunity to experience success in the workplace. Our students will be working with the latest in cutting-edge technology and will gain experiences that they can’t receive from a textbook

“The apprenticeship program gives our students practical job skills as they shadow various employees of Endeavor,” Rady added. “Not only will the students learn new technology skills, they will also be able to pass along those skills to other community members.”

Students will meet monthly at the Endeavor Communications Cloverdale headquarters after school and will be mentored by Endeavor’s “Speed Geeks” technicians. The goal is to provide a laid-back, fun learning environment where student input is encouraged.

Endeavor hopes that students will take what they’ve learned and pass on their knowledge to community members who are too often “tortured by technology.” To that end, the students will play an active role in Endeavor’s free monthly “Speed Geeks” Help Desk sessions where the local community is invited to drop by and get expert coaching on how to most effectively use their cell phones, email, navigate the internet and overcome other common technology frustrations.

The Community Help Desk sessions will be held at the Endeavor Communications Cloverdale office location and are free and open to the public.

Help Desk sessions are scheduled from 4-6 p.m. on Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14 this year, and Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8, April 12 and May 10 in 2018.

For more information, persons may contact Tom Dougherty at 1-800-922-6677 or tdougherty@weendeavor.com or Kathy Morgan at kmorgan@weendeavor.com.

Endeavor was founded in 1950 as a telephone provider to small towns and rural areas. Today, Endeavor provides landline phone, wireless service, high-speed internet, television, security systems, medical alert systems and IT services to approximately 9,000 telephone customers, 7,200 internet customers, 3,400 television customers and more than 500 security customers in parts of Putnam, Owen, Hendricks, Morgan, Tipton, Hamilton, Parke and Clay counties.

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