News

Augusta Tech cyber student chosen by Cisco to attend Super Bowl

Thursday, January 12th 2023, 8:45 PM EST

Updated:

Tuesday, January 17th 2023, 7:04 PM EST

By Ansleigh Edwards

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) - AN AUGUSTA TECHNICAL cOLLEGE STUDENT IS HEADED TO THE nfl SUPER BOWL lvii NEXT MONTH, THANKS TO THE HELP OF HER INSTRUCTOR AND THE CiSCO NETWORKING ACADEMY.

MEREDITH LEHMANN WAS 1 OF 6 CHOSEN THROUGHOUT THE NATION FOR CiSCO’S DREAM TEAM. SHE WILL BE APART OF THE NETWORK OPERATION CENTER TEAM THAT CABLE, STREAM AND SET UP WIRELESS NETWORKS FOR FANS AT THE SUPER BOWL ON FEBRUARY 12.

“IT’S STILL HARD TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND...AND IT’S CRAZY AS THE LEAD UP KEEPS GOING AS PLAYOFFS ARE HAPPENING AND THAT’S ALL HAPPENING IT’S SURREAL TO THINK I’M ACTUALLY GOING TO GLENDALE, ARIZONA,” says NETWORKING specialist degree student, MEREDITH LEHMANN.

LEHMANN ENDURED A RIGOROUS APPLICATION PROCESS, INCLUDING four VIDEO ESSAYS AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. “TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT IMPLEMENTED ON SUCH A MAJOR SCALE AS THE SUPERBOWL, COMPARED TO MY ONE SWITCH AND ROUTER, I WORK ON IN MY LABS FOR CLASS. IT’S GOING TO BE A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND I’M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THEY PULL OFF THESE EVENTS,” she says.

LEHMANN AND HER cybersecurity INSTRUCTOR VIANNE PROWSE ARE THRILLED FOR WHAT THIS OPPORTUNITY MEANS FOR AUGUSTA TECHnical College. they say IT’S THE FIRST TIME A STUDENT HIS APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM. “WE’RE THE FIRST IN THE REGION TO GET NSA CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBER SECURITY INSTRUCTION. SO, THE REGION IS STARTING TO RECOGNIZE WHAT A BIG IMPACT AUGUSTA TECH IS AND THEN NOW THE FACT THAT MEREDITH HAS GOTTEN THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE’RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE SCHOOL FOR SURE,” says PROWSE.

AS A FEMALE IN A MALE DOMINATED FIELD THIS ACHIEVEMENT ALSO MEANS A LOT FOR MEREDITH AND THE WOMEN TO FOLLOW IN THE PROGRAM. “I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM MYSELF AT AUGUSTA TECH AND I HAD THOSE CONCERNS, I’LL BE THE ONLY GIRL AND I’LL BE AN OLDER GIRL, WHEN I GO THROUGH. HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT AS LONG AS YOU WORKED HARD AND DID YOUR JOB, IT DIDN’T MATTER WHAT YOUR GENDER WAS OR WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE. IT WAS JUST CAN YOU DO THE WORK AND OBVIOUSLY MEREDITH CAN DO THE WORK.”