Stanly Community College's (SCC) Cisco Academy Support Center/Instructor Training Center (ASC/ITC) is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious Premier+ Award by Cisco Systems, Inc. The award, presented by the global technology leader Cisco, recognizes SCC's outstanding commitment to training and supporting instructors within the Cisco Networking Academy. This accolade marks the seventh time in eight years that SCC's ASC/ITC has achieved this recognition, except in 2021 when Cisco suspended giving the award due to the global pandemic. However, in that year, SCC's Instructor Training Academy received Cisco's Golden Bridge award for its work supporting other colleges and schools as they navigated the pandemic.

Cisco Systems, headquartered in San Jose, CA, has been at the forefront of technology since 1984, playing a pivotal role in making the Internet work globally. In describing the Premier+ awards, Cisco states:

Every year, Cisco Networking Academy recognizes partners from around the globe for the prestigious Premier+ and Premier Partner awards. These accolades are a testament to the outstanding commitment and passion our partners have shown in supporting the success of our student and instructor community. Partners are awarded based on demonstrated excellence for their impact on the program, satisfaction in serving their instructor and student communities, and engagement in growing their reach. Each Premier Partner award winner has excelled in two or more categories: Impact, Satisfaction, and Engagement, demonstrating their unwavering dedication to making a difference. In addition to excelling in two or more categories, each Premier+ Partner award winner has also achieved remarkable growth, ranking within the top 5% among participating partners – truly a distinguished achievement.

Kelly Caudle, ASC/ITC and IT Academy Program Head at SCC, expressed his gratitude. He said, "On behalf of the ITC team, I would like to thank the Cisco representatives for continuing to represent the excellence of the ASC/ITC team at Stanly. Our team supports 244 Cisco Academies in 22 different states. The team provides amazing support and training for all the schools associated with us."

Stanly Community College's Cisco Academy Support Center/Instructor Training Center provides Cisco Network Academy instructor training in various formats, including online, blended and distance learning. The training classes utilize Zoom for interactive instruction and Netlabs for hands-on labs, ensuring instructors receive a comprehensive and practical education.

In addition to instructor training, SCC offers Fast Track testing and classes for those pursuing Cisco certifications, including the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

For more information about SCC's Instructor Training Center and the Cisco Networking Academy Support Center, visit https://www.stanly.edu/ascitc.