AWS and Holmes Community College Ridgeland data center training gives former inmate a future in tech
Holmes Community College in Ridgeland, Mississippi, partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host a four-week training program for data center builders and operators. Eighteen individuals completed the course, including a former inmate, Devin Hawkins, who is now pursuing a career in tech. The initiative aims to fill an estimated 10,000 data center jobs across the state as AWS expands its operations.
Holmes Community College in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently celebrated the graduation of 18 individuals from a four-week training program. This initiative prepares participants to become data center builders and operators, addressing a projected need for 10,000 workers in data center construction and operations across the state.
Among the graduates was Devin Hawkins, who shared his journey of overcoming a 16-year prison sentence to pursue a career in technology. Hawkins, who obtained Fiber 1-2-3 install technician certifications, expressed eagerness for an interview with AWS and highlighted the possibilities of setting one's mind to a goal. Immediately following the graduation, a job fair was held, connecting the newly certified trainees with companies supporting AWS, offering employment opportunities.
Brandon Mitcham, AWS Data Center Operations Manager, emphasized the company's commitment to investing in local communities by training Mississippians from various regions like Jackson, Greenville, and Greenwood. AWS, noted as the largest cloud hosting provider internationally, plans to hire thousands of workers as it continues to construct data centers throughout Mississippi, underscoring the significant growth opportunities in the state.