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Vantage and Turner Construction bring data‑center careers to Johnstown students; district explores scholarships
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Summary
Vantage and Turner Construction described a March 25 'Data Center Day' with hands‑on exhibits for ninth graders and said the industry could provide scholarships and local jobs; three freshmen shared takeaways from the event.
Representatives from Vantage and Turner Construction told the Johnstown‑Monroe board on April 13 that a March 25 'Data Center Day' at the high school introduced ninth graders to data‑center careers and equipment.
Gina Grimaldi, an engineer for Vantage, said the company builds data centers across the U.S., is constructing a three‑building campus in New Albany and is partly driven by rising internet, cloud and AI demand. "Throughout the entire life cycle of a data center, it also increases the demand for a skilled workforce," Grimaldi said. She and Turner Construction's community director, Vanessa Jester, said the program brought local construction partners and tradespeople to demonstrate career options.
Jester emphasized community engagement and workforce pathways: "My job is to make sure these students understand that there is a wealth of opportunities out there," she said. Presenters said the district may be eligible for small scholarships and that organizers hope to scale the event to include surrounding schools.
Three freshmen who attended described hands‑on exposure and new awareness of non‑engineering career paths within the data‑center industry. Jessica Yang said she learned how many different career options exist in the field; another student said the experience prompted her to think more seriously about future careers.
Board members and administrators thanked the presenters and noted that career exposure helps align secondary programs with local employer needs. Administration said possible scholarships and further collaboration are under discussion but not yet finalized.
