DOBSON, N.C. — Surry Community College has partnered with SouthData, Inc. of Mount Airy, N.C., to offer high school graduates an opportunity to earn an Associate Degree in Computer Information Technology while gaining on-the-job experience through a scholarship program called SDI Scholars.

SDI Scholars is a brand new program funded by SouthData that provides a scholarship for students to attend Surry Community College for two years. While they are attending school full-time, the SDI Scholars will work part-time at SouthData.

"Finding candidates with the right computer training is always a challenge," said SouthData President John Springthorpe, III.

 

"We saw a partnership with Surry Community College through the SDI Scholars program as a way to increase the pool of qualified applicants and to help area youth find fulfilling career paths."

Applicants for the SDI Scholars program must be accepted into Surry Community College, as well as be approved by an interview panel for employment at SouthData.

"Our goal is to create a rigorous academic program that is enhanced by their work experience," Springthorpe added.

Successful graduates of the program will have the opportunity to compete for computer technology positions at SouthData as programmers, data specialists, sales engineers or applications specialists.

"SDI Scholars unites the objectives of the North Carolina Community College System with the demands of an ever-changing corporate world. This public-private partnership creates a seamless way for students to become educated, trained and ready to enter the workforce the day after graduation," said Marion Venable, Director of the Surry Community College Foundation.

For more information, contact Andrea Simpson, SCC Financial Aid Director at 386-3263 or simpsoaj@surry.edu, or Elizabeth B. Spires, SouthData Human Resources Director at 719-5000 or ebspires@southdata.com.