Vantage students help with VW project

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Courthouse needed computer network cabling. Vantage Career Center students needed networking experience. Both of those needs are being met in a collaborative project that was completed this week.

After receiving complaints from county elected officials and employees about slow Internet speeds and Internet access problems in the 137-year-old Courthouse building, the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners accepted an offer from Kim Brandt, county 9-1-1 coordinator, to look into the problem.

What Brandt found was old cabling that was likely at least a portion of the problem with Internet service in the Courthouse. The commissioners then hired Delphos computer networking specialist Mel Nomina to run new cabling throughout the building.

But the story didn’t end there. Brandt, who also is a member of the Vantage Board of Education, thought the project would also be a good opportunity for Vantage students to get some hands-on experience in installing cabling in a building as large as the Courthouse.

She then called Larry Regedanz, instructor for Vantage’s Computer Networking program, to see what he thought and he agreed that the project would be a great opportunity for his students.

Over the past two months, Vantage students have been working during their regular class time with Nomina and Regedanz and Courthouse custodian Dusty Figley to install cabling in the Courthouse. On Wednesday, the students made the final connection to Courthouse computers.

Nomina had nothing but good things to say about the Vantage students and their assistance on the project.

“I enjoyed working with the Vantage students; they were a great help,” Nomina said.

Regedanz was also grateful to the commissioners and Nomina for allowing his students to work on the project.

“I really appreciate you letting us have this opportunity,” Regedanz noted. “It was a great learning experience, not only from the computer networking side, but also for general work skills as well.”

As part of the project, Brandt requested that a drawing be made of the work done to keep as a record for future reference. She also noted that Vantage students collaborated very well with Nomina and Figley on the project.

“We would like to recognize Mr. Regedanz and his students for the work they have done to make this a successful project – a project that benefits everyone in the Courthouse, and the people they serve, with better Internet communications.”