NATCHITOCHES – Brandon Jordan, a computer information systems major at Northwestern State University, won two national championships and was a national runner-up at the U.S. Information Technology Collegiate Conference held in Shreveport.  

Jordan, a junior from Many, won first in PC Troubleshooting and Security and second in Network Design. Northwestern State students have won 19 national championships in various information technology competitions since 2000.  

The USITCC is produced by the Foundation for IT Education as part of its ongoing efforts to fulfill its mission of promoting information technology research and education and to encourage and support individuals entering and considering entering the information technology profession. The Foundation offers scholarships to students enrolled in undergraduate collegiate information technology-related programs across America. 

“It was a good environment to connect and chat with people and I did happen to make some valuable connections,” said Jordan. “The competitions were a great opportunity to test my knowledge, especially the network design competition. I got a chance to see where my strengths and weaknesses lie.”  

Jordan said he did not formally prepare for the competition, but applied the knowledge he has learned while learning and working in the informational technology field. He said he learns in his CIS classes, by watching YouTube videos and from his own experience.  

“I spend much of my time working hands-on with computer equipment, both software and hardware,” Jordan said. “For example, I have my own rack server that I use to host and test different servers and operating systems, which to me is not only fun, but serves as another important vessel to learn. Coursework is obviously also very useful; for example, I have happened to not know a lot in-depth about computer networking prior to some time ago, but the CompTIA Network+ class here has helped me learn a lot more on that subject.”  

Jordan credited the computer information systems faculty including his advisor Associate Professor Dr. Sarah Wright and Associate Professor Dr. Eddie Horton for helping him as he has gone through the CIS program at NSU.  

“The professors at the College of Business and Technology that have helped to guide me and push me towards expanding my horizons,” Jordan said. “Dr. Wright has helped me countless times, and Dr. Horton continues to provide me with useful resources and activities. The coursework makes you adapt to and think beyond what the average technologically inclined person may be used to. If you can use the instruction at NSU as a backboard to propel additional studies, the results are going to be fantastic.”  

For more information on Northwestern State’s computer information systems program, go to nsula.edu/cis.