When Amazon Web Services (AWS) began building data centers in Northeast Oregon, the company saw an opportunity to offer the local community training to develop the skills they would need to pursue new careers in the industry — and Blue Mountain Community College was on hand to help.
In 2015, AWS teamed up with Peter Hernberg — who has taught math and computer science at the college in the city of Pendleton for eight years — to create the Data Center Technician Training Program . The one-year program is open to anyone, regardless of their background or skills, and prepares them for employment in data centers and the broader IT sector. In addition, AWS makes a total of $100,000 available in scholarships annually — vastly reducing the cost of participation for students.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 EC6>6?5@FD ?F>36C @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D :? E96 :?5FDECJ C:89E ?@H] x H:D9 >@C6 A6@A=6 <?6H 9@H >F49 @7 2 G:23=6 42C66C A2E9 E9:D :D[ H:E9 D@ >F49 A@E6?E:2= E@ 8C@H 2?5 56G6=@A — ?@ >2EE6C H92E J@FC 65F42E:@? @C 6IA6C:6?46[” D2:5 w6C?36C8]k^Am
kAm%96 :?:E:2E:G6 92D 2DD:DE65 >@C6 E92? `__ :?5:G:5F2=D 7C@> E96 C68:@? E@ D64FC6 ;@3D :? 4=@F5 4@>AFE:?8] (6 DA@<6 E@ E9C66 8C25F2E6D H9@D6 =:G6D 92G6 366? 492?865 3J E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]23@FE2>2K@?]4@>^?6HD^2HD^E62496C\H@C<D\H:E9\2HD\E@\@A6?\FA\E649\42C66CD\:?\CFC2=\4@>>F?:EJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qms2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2? %C2:?:?8 !C@8C2>k^2m 2?5 H9@ 2C6 ?@H 56G6=@A:?8 E649 42C66CD 2E p($]k^Am
k9bm|2?5J %@3:?[ "F2=:EJ pDDFC2?46 t?8:?66C[ p>2K@? s2E2 r6?E6C ~A6C2E:@?D[ ~C68@?k^9bm
kAmp=E9@F89 |2?5J %@3:? =@G65 E649?@=@8J 7C@> 2 J@F?8 286[ D96 ?6G6C 76=E :?4=F565 :? E96 7:6=5 F?E:= D96 6?C@==65 :? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3=F644]65F^24256>:4D^AC@8C2>D^52E2\46?E6C\E649?:4:2?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qms2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2? %C2:?:?8 !C@8C2>k^2m 2E q=F6 |@F?E2:? r@>>F?:EJ r@==686]k^Am
kAm“%96 3:886DE E9:?8 23@FE E96 AC@8C2> 7@C >6 H2D E92E >J 86?56C 5:5 ?@E >2EE6C[” D96 D2:5] “u@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? >J =:76[ :E 76=E ~z E@ =:<6 E9:D DEF77] %92E x 4@F=5 36 2 76>2=6 2?5 H2?E E@ 8@ :?E@ D@>6 <:?5 @7 D4:6?46[ E649?@=@8J[ 6?8:?66C:?8[ 2?5 >2E9 7:6=5[ 2?5 ?@E 36 =@@<65 5@H? @?]”k^Am
kAm%@3:?[ H9@ ?@H H@C<D 2D 2 BF2=:EJ 2DDFC2?46 6?8:?66C 7@C p($[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 6?;@J65 E96 AC24E:42= 2DA64ED @7 E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm“(6 D6E FA 2 C6A2:C D9@A 2E E96 4@==686 H96C6 H6 @776C65 E@ E2<6 3C@<6? 4@>AFE6CD 2?5 7:I E96>[” D96 D2:5] “x H2D 23=6 E@ FD6 E96 <?@H=6586 x 56G6=@A65 E@ D6E FA 2 G:CEF2= E:4<6E:?8 DJDE6>[ D@ H6 4@F=5 C646:G6 C6BF6DED 7C@> A6@A=6 :?D:56 2?5 @FED:56 @7 D49@@= — 7C@> @FC E62496CD[ 76==@H DEF56?ED[ 7C:6?5D[ 2?5 72>:=J] ~FC H9@=6 4=2DD 8@E E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H92E H2D HC@?8 H:E9 A6@A=6’D >249:?6D[ C6A2:C E96>[ 2?5 8:G6 E96> 324< E@ E96 @H?6CD] x 23D@=FE6=J =@G65 36:?8 23=6 E@ =62C? 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 2D 96=A:?8 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am
kAm%96 AC@8C2> EC2?D7@C>65 %@3:?’D 42C66C AC@DA64ED :? 255:E:@? E@ 96C D6=7\:>286 2?5 4@?7:56?46]k^Am
kAm“x H2D G6CJ BF:6E 2?5 D9J :? E96 368:??:?8] x 4@F=5 ?6G6C DA62< :? AF3=:4[” D96 D2:5] “qJ E96 6?5[ x’5 364@>6 D@ 4@?7:56?E E92E x 24EF2==J H2D @?6 @7 E96 AC6D6?E6CD 2E @FC 8C25F2E:@? 46C6>@?J] %96 AC@8C2> :D D@ H6=4@>:?8] x ;FDE 7=@FC:D965]”k^Am
kAm“xV> 2 3:8 25G@42E6 @7 3C:?8:?8 >@C6 H@>6? :?E@ E96 :?5FDECJ[” D96 25565] “%96C6’D DE:== D@>6 DE:8>2 E92E :E’D >@C6 @7 2 >2?VD 82>6[ 2?5 E92E’D D:>A=J ?@E ECF6]”k^Am
k9bmy@?2E92? |24:2D[ x% $FAA@CE t?8:?66C[ s2E2 r6?E6C ~A6C2E:@?D {625[ u@C>6C=J @7 ~C68@?k^9bm
kAmq67@C6 y@?2E92? |24:2D 6?C@==65 :? E96 s2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2?D %C2:?:?8 !C@8C2>[ 96 H2D DEF5J:?8 7@C 2 86?6C2= DEF5:6D 2DD@4:2E6’D 568C66[ 2?5 766=:?8 — 3J 9:D @H? 25>:DD:@? — “G6CJ :?5:776C6?E” 23@FE H92E 96 H2?E65 E@ 5@ H:E9 9:D =:76]k^Am
kAm|24:2D’ 4@==686 25G:D@C[ !6E6C w6C?36C8[ H9@ H2D D6EE:?8 FA E96 AC@8C2> H:E9 2 E62> 7C@> p($ 2E E96 E:>6[ EC:65 E@ A6CDF256 9:> E@ 2AA=J]k^Am
kAm“!6E6C D2:5 E@ >6[ ‘(6 92G6 E9:D G6CJ ?6H AC@8C2>] (6’C6 <:?5 @7 :C@?:?8 @FE E96 <:?<D[ 2?5 x H2D 9@A:?8 J@F H@F=5 ;@:? FD]’ qFE x H2D?’E DFC6 :7 x C62==J H2?E65 E@ 5@ :E[ D@ x C67FD65[” D2:5 |24:2D]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 AC@8C2> DE2CE65 282:? E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C[ w6C?36C8 282:? EC:65 E@ A6CDF256 |24:2D E@ ;@:?] %92E J62C[ :E H@C<65] “x 564:565 E@ A2FD6 >J DEF5:6D 2?5 E2<6 E96 4=2DD6D[” D2:5 |24:2D] “xE H2D AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 36DE 564:D:@?D xVG6 6G6C >256]”k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 |24:2D 925 2 G6CJ 32D:4 324<8C@F?5 :? 4@>AFE6CD[ 2D E96J 8@E :?E@ “E96 >@C6 ?:EEJ\8C:EEJ E649?:42= DEF77[” 96 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 =62C?:?8 2 =@E — 2?5 6?;@J:?8 :E] w6 H2D[ 9@H6G6C[ 4@?46C?65 23@FE 9:D ;@3 AC@DA64ED]k^Am
kAm“x <6AE E9:?<:?8[ E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 :? >J 4=2DD] %96 @55D @7 >6 36:?8 49@D6? 7@C 2? :?E6CG:6H[ @C 6G6? 86EE:?8 2 ;@3 2E p>2K@? D66>65 G6CJ =@H] %96?[ 2D H6 H6?E 7FCE96C :?E@ E96 AC@8C2>[ x 56G6=@A65 4@??64E:@?D H:E9 >J 4=2DD>2E6D 2?5 962C5 7C@> 8F6DE DA62<6CD 2E p($] x DE2CE65 E@ E9:?<[ J@F <?@H[ >2J36 x 5@ 92G6 2 492?46]”k^Am
kAm|24:2D 46CE2:?=J 5:5 92G6 2 492?46] q67@C6 8C25F2E:?8[ 96 7@F?5 2 E9C66\>@?E9 4@?EC24E C@=6 2E p($[ H9:49 =65 E@ 9:> D64FC:?8 2 7F==\E:>6 A@D:E:@? H:E9 E96 4@>A2?J]k^Am
kAm“x =:<6 :E 2 =@E] (@C<:?8 H:E9 ?6H 92C5H2C6 :D 2=H2JD 2 EC62E[ 2?5 x’> =62C?:?8 D@ >F49 H9:=6 96=A:?8 @E96C >6>36CD @7 >J E62>] %96C6 2C6 D@ >2?J @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 9@?6 J@FC D<:==D[” 96 D2:5] “xV> G6CJ DFCAC:D65 2E 9@H BF:4<=J E9:?8D 92G6 >@G65] xE ?6G6C 4C@DD65 >J >:?5 E92E x 4@F=5 86E 2 AC@>@E:@? H:E9:? EH@ J62CD] x 766= =:<6 H6’C6 D9@H:?8 A6@A=6 E92E J@F 5@?’E ?665 E@ 36 2 4@>AFE6C H:K2C5 E@ 5@ E9:D DEF77] p?J@?6 42? 5@ :E]”k^Am
k9bm&AA2 $92<J2[ s2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2?[ p>2K@? s2E2 r6?E6C ~A6C2E:@?D[ ~C68@?k^9bm
kAm&AA2 $92<J2 H2D C2:D:?8 96C EH@ J@F?8 52F89E6CD 2?5 H@C<:?8 A2CE\E:>6 2D 2 46CE:7:65 ?FCD:?8 2DD:DE2?E :? 2 9@DA:E2= H96? D96 962C5 23@FE E96 s2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2? %C2:?:?8 !C@8C2>]k^Am
kAm$92<J2[ H9@ >@G65 E@ ~C68@? H:E9 96C 9FD32?5 7C@> z2E>2?5F[ }6A2=[ ?62C=J `` J62CD 28@[ 7@F?5 E96 AC@8C2>’D A2CE\E:>6 DECF4EFC6 96=A7F=[ 2D :E 2==@H65 96C E@ <66A 96C 52J ;@3 H9:=6 DEF5J:?8]k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ H@C< :? E649?@=@8J[ 3FE x 5:5?’E 92G6 2 324<8C@F?5 :? :E[” D96 D2:5] “%96 7:CDE >@?E9 @7 E96 AC@8C2> H2D 492==6?8:?8 3642FD6 x 5:5?VE 92G6 E96 6IA6C:6?46[ 3FE x ?6G6C 82G6 FA] x ;FDE <6AE E6==:?8 >JD6=7 E92E x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 7:?:D9 :E]”k^Am
kAm$92<J2’D 56E6C>:?2E:@? A2:5 @77] p7E6C 2 76H >@?E9D[ D96 7@F?5 96C 766E[ 2?5 — =:<6 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 DEF56?ED E92E 4@>A=6E6 E96 AC@8C2> — D96 925 2=C625J D64FC65 2 C@=6 :? 2? p($ 52E2 46?E6C 367@C6 8C25F2E:?8]k^Am
kAm“%96 AC@8C2> E2F89E FD E96 32D:4D 23@FE 4@>AFE6CD[ D6CG6CD[ D64FC:EJ[ 2?5 ?6EH@C<:?8[” D96 D2:5] “x’G6 366? 6IA2?5:?8 E92E <?@H=6586 2E H@C< 6G6C D:?46] %96 7:6=5 :D 492?8:?8 D@ 72DE[ J@F 2C6 4@?DE2?E=J =62C?:?8 ?6H E9:?8D] xEVD ?@E =:<6 @E96C ;@3D H96C6 J@F >:89E 5@ E96 D2>6 E2D<D 6G6CJ 52J]”k^Am
kAmu@C $92<J2[ E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E96 AC@8C2> 3C:?8D 2C6 6?5=6DD]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D D@ >F49 D4@A6 E@ DH:E49 42C66CD H:E9:? p($[ D@ >2?J @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 56G6=@A[ 2?5 D@ >2?J 2G2:=23=6 =62C?:?8 C6D@FC46D] $@>6@?6 :D 2=H2JD E96C6 E@ 96=A :7 J@F 92G6 BF6DE:@?D @C CF? :?E@ :DDF6D[” D96 D2:5] “x E6== >J 52F89E6CD 2 =@E @7 DE@C:6D 7C@> H@C<[ 23@FE >J DF446DD6D 2?5 >J 492==6?86D] x H2?E E96> E@ <?@H E92E E96J 42? 36 DEC@?8 2?5 AFCDF6 E96:C 2>3:E:@?D[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E]”k^Am
kAm$92<J2 :D ?@H =625:?8 2 E62> 2?5 >6?E@C:?8 ?6H 9:C6D[ 3FE D96 :D?’E 8@:?8 E@ DE@A E96C6] “x H@F=5 =:<6 E@ >@G6 7FCE96C :?E@ E96 7:6=5 @7 ?6EH@C<:?8[ 2?5 x >:89E 4@?E:?F6 4@FCD6H@C< :? E92E 2C62[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 s2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2? %C2:?:?8 AC@8C2> 2E q=F6 |@F?E2:? r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 3682? 282:? 7@C E96 ?6H 24256>:4 J62C :? $6AE6>36C[ H6=4@>:?8 2 ?6H 8C@FA @7 DEF56?ED 7C@> E96 =@42= 2C62 — 2== 6286C E@ =62C?[ H:E9 DFAA@CE 7C@> w6C?36C8 2?5 p($] {62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3=F644]65F^24256>:4D^AC@8C2>D^52E2\46?E6C\E649?:4:2?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qms2E2 r6?E6C %649?:4:2? %C2:?:?8 !C@8C2>k^2m]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.