New college graduates get full-time jobs, rotational assignment at world’s premiere research center
Ridgeland, Miss. (August 16, 2018) – Two C Spire employees will be leaving later this month for a three-month rotational assignment at Nokia Bell Labs, the world-renowned research organization in information technology and communications, as part of a joint fellowship program between the companies and two of Mississippi’s leading universities.
The C Spire-Nokia Bell Labs Fellowship Program, now in its second year, offers college students majoring in computer science and electrical engineering the opportunity to conduct relevant industry research alongside some of the world’s leading scientists, engineers and technologists.
Ole Miss senior Rodrick Rogers - and Mississippi State seniors Cassie Myers and Grant Parker - were the three student winners chosen from among a plethora of finalists that participated in the inaugural 2017-2018 program. Rogers and Myers were hired by C Spire following their graduation in May.
Rogers and Myers, both RF design engineers, plan to focus on wireless access topics during their upcoming stint at Nokia Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey. They will be the second pair of C Spire employees to get a chance to work side-by-side with some the world’s leading researchers. Last year, Jason Ball and Richard Hill were selected for the introductory assignment from among many employee applicants.
“These team members are some of our best and brightest and represent future leaders in our industry,” said C Spire President Stephen Bye. “This experience allows them to hone their professional skills by working on real projects that will make a difference and have an impact on the way in which we serve and support our customers.”
The Mississippi-based diversified telecommunications and technology services company has long supported academic excellence in colleges and universities, but in recent years has focused more on working with educators, schools and community-based training programs to help students and learners transition into the workforce and turn their education and training into a professional career.
C Spire reinforced its commitment to innovation last fall by launching the C Spire Tech Movement initiative designed to leverage the company’s technology leadership and investments to help transform its service areas. A key element is the massive expansion of ultra-fast broadband and fixed wireless internet access with the goal of reaching thousands more consumers and businesses.
Other elements of the initiative include leading the ceation of a high-tech workforce through education initiatives and related efforts, expanding tech innovation and education in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and the Internet of Things and development of a state-of-the-art digital customer care platform.
Bye and Nokia Bell Labs President Marcus Weldon share a passion for technology innovation and agreed last year to develop a fellowship program that is tailored to the specific needs of the future workforce in the southeastern U.S. “Nokia Bell Labs is creating new technologies that connect the world. Our partnership with C Spire is another way we’re innovating to attract brilliant minds with great ideas to help us change the world,” Weldon said.
C Spire will begin accepting applications for the next round of college fellowships in September from computer science and computer or electrical engineering majors at Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Fellowship recipients receive a $5,000 academic stipend, mentoring from C Spire and Bell Labs professionals, internships and full-time employment opportunities.
“It’s a great way to get exposed to the future of technology, work with some of the most innovative technologists in the world and use these advanced technologies to better serve our customer’s needs,” Bye said, adding that the prestigious fellowship program is seeking rising junior or senior-year students with at least a 3.0 grade point average and a demonstrated interest in the fields of communications and information technology.
About C Spire
C Spire provides a full suite of world-class, customer-inspired wireless, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access and related home services for consumers and dedicated Internet, IP Voice, data, managed IT services, cloud services, value added resale and mobile communications for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. To learn more about the Tech Movement initiative, visit cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at twitter.com/cspire.
About Nokia Bell Labs
Nokia Bell Labs is the world-renowned industrial research arm of Nokia. Over its 92-year history, Bell Labs has invented many of the foundational technologies that underpin information and communications networks and all digital devices and systems. This research has resulted in 8 Nobel Prizes, three Turing Awards, three Japan Prizes, a plethora of National Medals of Science and Engineering, as well as an Oscar, two Grammy awards and an Emmy award for technical innovation. For more information, visit www.bell-labs.com.
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