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Competition can bring out the best in people. According to Brad Saffer, Director of the Oracle Academy, competition is a big part of the Oracle Academy's strategy to build skills and challenge students to show what they know. Appropriately, Oracle Academy recently hosted a competition that showcased the talent of four senior high school students from Warwick High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who took first place in the Oracle Academy Global Java Competition.
"The competitions allow students to apply what they've learned and test what they've built," says Saffer. "In these events, the students work in groups and have the chance to put the quality of their work to the test in a global arena."
Saffer is quick to point out that kids who succeed in Oracle Academy competition can thank good teachers, such as Nancy Reddig. Reddig not only teaches students but also trains other teachers entering the Oracle Academy.
Reddig has been an Oracle Academy instructor for seven years, and she is also an adjunct instructor who leads a nine-week virtual training seminar at UCLA that precedes the in-class training. "Nancy is one of the best teachers around," says Saffer. "It's no wonder those kids did well. As an adjunct, we're putting other teachers in her hands, as well."
The Oracle Academy currently has more than 1,000 teachers and 10,000 students, classrooms in most U.S. states, and a global presence in more than 15 countries. "We are poised for rapid expansion," says Saffer. "We have agreements with the ministry of education in Hong Kong and Romania to implement design courses in their curriculum."
Just one year ago, the Academy had 600 programs. That number has since doubled. The Academy helps Oracle give back to the community by giving students a great starting point to learn about computer science, as well as acquire skills in project management and teamwork. Reddig sees a bright future ahead for the Academy and hopes the program will continue to grow.
"The Academy has grown from one annual summer institute to multiple institutes around the globe," says Reddig. "To see the Academy experience be an available to every high school student would be my vision. The Academy has changed my life and the lives of my students. All students should have this opportunity."
Teachers are trained in data modeling, SQL, and database programming to help students gain skills that will make them leaders in the Information Age. "I have been given top-notch training typically only available to technology leaders in the field of IT," says Reddig. "The Academy has provided me with answers to the many questions students ask as they tackle real-world business problems in the high school classroom."
Saffer and Reddig both agree that the Academy gives students a leg up in exploring their dreams. Seeing students succeed is what the Academy is ultimately all about. "The moment a student finally gets a very difficult concept their eyes light up," says Reddig. "This is the reason I get up every day and head to school. Knowledge is the greatest gift you can give a person because they get to keep it for life."
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