Tag: Virginia

There is power in data. Professors Monica Chiarini Tremblay and Rajiv Kohli at William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business detail how Carlos Rivero, the former chief data officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia, created a foundation for data sharing in Virginia powered by multiple AWS solutions.

AWS announced the launch of a new program, and the expansion of a second, to increase access to science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) educational programs and resources across Virginia and beyond. These are the most recent AWS community impact efforts that aim to increase access to tech tools and training while reducing barriers to students who are underrepresented and underserved.

In Virginia, where AWS has an important and growing presence, AWS is investing significantly in supporting skills and education programs to promote a thriving workforce. The AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Certificate Course is one of the programs AWS runs locally to help individuals get the skills necessary to repair and install fiber optic cables. Recently, AWS held a training at the AWS Skills Center in Arlington in collaboration with Northern Virginia Community College. Learn more about how programs like these are supporting the local workforce in Virginia.

The backbone of the internet is crisscrossed with a network of fiber optic cables, carrying internet, TV, and telephone data that most of use every day. Over a two-day period, 33 individuals mostly from Southwest Virginia took part in the AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Certificate Course, a no-cost two-day training providing students with lectures and hands-on practice with fiber optic installation and repair. The course was held November 14-15 at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC), in Appalachia, Virginia, and in collaboration with MECC and the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission.

This week at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit Washington, DC, we announced the findings of a 10-year economic study about AWS’s presence in Virginia. The report shows the impact that can happen when government and industry work together to create growth opportunities for communities. One component of this that is worth re-highlighting is the positive impact that Amazon solar investments are having and will have on the local economy in Virginia.

This week, AWS rolled out our 10-year economic impact study, highlighting how successful the partnership between Virginia and AWS has been for both. Since 2011, AWS has invested $35 billion into the state through our infrastructure investments. As both a Virginian and an Amazonian, I’m most proud of the civic programs and workforce development we’ve created with Virginia to enhance the lives of citizens with our presence. Terry Dickerson, a practice manager at AWS and U.S. Army veteran, is an illustration of the success we’ve realized with Amazon’s Veteran Technical Apprenticeship. Terry shares his story of how our partnership with the higher education system in Virginia has opened the door to his career.

Education Dive announced George Mason University (GMU), Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and AWS Educate earned the Higher Ed “Partnership of the Year” award for collaborating to launch a two and four-year cloud degree pathway. Education Dive, a digital publication for the education industry, gives out the annual Dive Awards to the industry’s top innovators for their efforts to shape the future of education.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) in Virginia has two on-premises data centers. One was built in the 1990s – almost 30 years ago – and the second data center is close to 15 years old. In recent years, LCPS has experienced multiple unit failures, and started to feel the strain of their aging infrastructure.

Leaders from across the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Governor Ralph Northam, announced a new Cloud Degree collaboration between AWS Educate and select K12 school divisions, the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), and leading four-year universities on Friday, September 20, 2019.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate program, today announced a Cloud Computing specialization as part of its Information Systems Technology (IST) Associate of Applied Science degree starting in Fall 2018. The program will be one of the first cloud computing degrees in the nation offered by a community college.