LOUISVILLE, KY – 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.
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.
