Cisco Networking Academy Program Announces ''3R'' Recognition Award Winners; Students, Instructors and Institutions Lauded for Excellence in Academic Pursuits, Professional Development and Relationship Building.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems(R) (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced the winners of its 3R Award Program, developed by the Cisco Networking Academy(R) to recognize students, instructors and schools that demonstrate excellence in the categories of Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. The Cisco Networking Academy is a global training program that provides students with networking technical skills.

Rigor, Relevance and Relationships are the three Rs that lead to the success of the Cisco Networking Academy program and its participants.

--Rigor recognizes students who take advantage of their Networking Academy program experience in pursuit of postsecondary degrees, instructors who encourage them to do so, and Networking Academy programs that create bridges to support this objective.

--Relevance demonstrates how participants apply what they have learned or taught through the Networking Academy program by participating in career development opportunities such as internship programs and job shadowing events.

--Relationships recognizes participants who have built strategic relationships with businesses and other organizations that extend the reach of the Networking Academy program and create new opportunities for success.

"We are pleased to acknowledge Cisco Networking Academy students, instructors and institutions that exemplify the core values of Rigor, Relevance and Relationships," said Gene Longo, senior manager of the Cisco Networking Academy Program, United States. "Academic rigor and successful models for demonstrating the relevance of Academy program skills form the foundation of student success. The development of strategic relationships extends the reach of the Networking Academy program beyond the traditional academic context. The 3R awards recognize students, instructors and Academy programs that demonstrate excellence in these areas and have helped the program to flourish."

The 2006 National Winners:

Rigor:

Academy programs

--Miami Lakes Educational Center, Hialeah, Fla.

--The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Arlington, Va.

--West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Parkersburg, W.V.

Instructors

--Tammy Bradley, Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, N.C.

--Ken Chesler, Heald College, Portland, Ore.

--Scott Rogers, Carlisle Center for Careers and Technology, Carlisle, Pa.

Students

--Quinn Snyder, Round Valley Academy, Springerville, Ariz.

--Davion Crumel, Miami Dade College, Miami

--Caleb Castleberry, North Forsyth High School, Cumming, Ga.

--John Dwyer, Anderson Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio

--Ryan Kolesar, Euclid High School, Euclid, Ohio

--Anthony Dahle, Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown, S.D.

Relevance:

Academy Programs

--Porterville High School, Porterville, Calif.

--College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

--Queens College CUNY, Flushing, N.Y.

Instructors

--Marlon Vernon, Miami Lakes Educational Center, Miami

--Jeff McDowell, United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck, N.D.

--George Hockenberry, Commonwealth Technical Institute, Johnstown, Pa.

Students

--David Hatton, Ball State University, Muncie, Ind.

--Kyle Brown, Calhoun Area Technology Center, Battle Creek, Mich.

--Johann Padron, Miami Lakes Educational Center, Miami

--Jon Gayda, Polaris Career Center, Cleveland, Ohio

--Mitchell McDaniel, North Lake College, Irving, Texas

--John Paul Shafik, US Army School of Information Technology, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Relationships:

Academies

--Ft. Hays State University, Ft. Hays, Kan.

--Pittsburgh Job Corps, Pittsburgh, Pa.

--ECPI College of Technology, Newport News, Va.

Instructors

--Keith Grumbly, Hungerford Prep High School, Eatonville, Fla.

--John Owens, SCT BOCES, Elmira, N.Y.

--Jerry Mesquita, North Lake College, Irving, Texas

Students

--Hanly De Los Santos and Stacie Gonzalez, Miami Lakes Educational Center, Miami

--Ryan McGuire, Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, Ind.

--Matt Chaney, Capital Area Career Center High School, Springfield, Ill.

--Charles Clarke, Hocking Technical College, Nelsonville, Ohio

--Charles Chen, Thomas A. Edison High School, Elmira Heights, N.Y.

"Programs such as the Cisco Networking Academy are instrumental in preparing students for IT careers," said professor Doug Weaver, Computer & Information Technology program administrator, Cisco Regional Networking Academy West Virginia University at Parkersburg and recipient of a 3R Award in the Academy Rigor category. "Students in our program have had the privilege of designing a network for a U.N. landmine removal project in Africa as well as building the network for the Central Emergency Command Center for post-Hurricane Katrina. This fall we will be taking a team of Cisco Networking Academy students to install a network in a foreign embassy in Washington. These types of activities offer a tremendous opportunity to give back to the community while shaping the future leaders of our industry."

The Cisco Networking Academy 3R award program stems from a broader education initiative addressing the connection between high school rigor, relevance and relationships, and the important role teacher quality has in leading the transformation of high schools from static institutions to dynamic, vibrant learning centers. Nominations were solicited from the Cisco Networking Academy community including, schools, instructors and students. A review committee made up Cisco Learning Institute staff selected winners in each of the three categories.

For more information about the Cisco Networking Academy Program, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/netacad.

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