KVCC

The student chapter of KVCC’s Association of Information Technology Professionals Web Development team received third place during the 16th Annual National Collegiate Conference held in San Antonio, Texas March 28 - April 1. Kalamazoo Valley Advisors Dawn Pantaleo and Jason Kovacs accompanied 12 students to the annual event.

The yearlong project involved designing and developing a website for AACORN Farm, a newly formed non-profit organization in Kalamazoo County whose goal is to provide a self-sustaining farm and residential community for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The site can be viewed at http://www.aacornfarm.org.

The students met every Friday for two semesters to complete the web site and participate in this yearlong contest. Throughout the year, they submitted five deliverable phases of the website development to the contest judges. While some schools offer the contest participation as a course, most of Kalamazoo Valley’s students participated voluntarily.

“I’m very proud of our students who brought home a third place trophy competing against colleges and universities nationwide,” said Pantaleo. “Many of our students are already excited about next year’s competition.”

The conference also includes a job fair; breakout sessions ranging from Programming to Job Skills to Security using the “Cloud”; certification preparation and testing sessions; and Programming, Network Design, Microsoft Office and Graphic Design competitions.

“Most importantly, students gain experience with networking with professionals in the field,” Pantaleo said. “By attending a professional conference with formal luncheons, speakers, job fairs, and breakout sessions, they gain actual experience as a professional.”