Ollie Hale, a 2023 graduate of Elliott County Schools, has earned a nationally recognized certification in Information Technology as part of a U.S. Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship. Funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), this 2-year program is an initiative led by Louisville-based Dataseam who earned $1,500,000 from the ARC to expand technology workforce opportunities for high school juniors and seniors in the eastern Kentucky region.
Hale was recently recognized at the Elliott County Board of Education for completion of the program by Dataseam and district officials.
The U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship provides vital skills as part of coursework, on-job training, and mentorship in a competency-based program. Overseen by the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, schools serve as employer-partners in conjunction with Dataseam. As part of the opportunity, participating schools earn technology addressing advanced curriculum needs providing sustainability to Registered Apprenticeship and other knowledge-based workforce efforts.
Dataseam, an education and workforce development organization currently in 50 Kentucky public K-12 schools districts statewide, competed for this 2020 ARC award amongst 176 entries from 13 states. It was one of six awards totaling just over $4,000,000 addressing workforce revitalization and diversification in Kentucky’s coal-impacted communities.
Michael Wagner (School District Technology Director and Apprenticeship Mentor) stated, “As one of the largest employers in our county, we have the same diverse technology demands as any area bank, hospital, or courthouse. This Registered Apprenticeship program through our long-standing Dataseam partnership gives us another way to not only meet district needs but fulfill our mission in preparing students for future success.”
“I’m excited about my heading to college in a few weeks and my next steps in life,” Ollie Hale related. “Having this training better prepares me for my college studies and also helps me get a good job in my new home.” Hale will be attending the University of Louisville to pursue a degree in computer science at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. Hale also earned a 4-year Dataseam Scholars award funded through the university.
Elliott County expects to continue the Registered Apprenticeship for students in the upcoming academic year, with the application process beginning soon. Participants receive paid employment during the training while mastering competencies as part of Information Technology Specialist certification through United States Department of Labor.
Dataseam is funded through the Kentucky General Assembly, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. The organization has a nearly 20-year record of providing opportunity to rural and underrepresented populations in its mission of advancing education and workforce initiatives supporting Kentucky-based innovation and commercialization.
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About Dataseam
Dataseam provides education and workforce development opportunities to 50 participating Kentucky K-12 public school districts as part of research computing infrastructure advancing Kentucky-based innovation and commercialization. More information at www.dataseam.org