Student Makes the Dream Team!

Northampton Community College (NCC) information security student, Travis Schuch, was selected to participate on the Cisco NetAcad Super Bowl LVII Dream Team this February. Nominated by his professor, Kevin Manna, Schuch was only one of six qualified Cisco Networking Academy students in the United States to be selected to participate.  

NCC has been a part of the Cisco Networking Academy for 23 years. Schuch has completed classes in the Networking Academy and achieved his goal of completing his CCNA, an information technology certification from Cisco Systems, before heading to this Superbowl experience. 

Schuch in front of an equipment rack

“Travis is an excellent student and will represent NCC well. He has exceptional knowledge and experience in network design, configuring routing protocols (EIGRP, OSPF), switching protocols, and more,” says Manna, noting that his motivation has taken him far to date. 

During the Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, Schuch will assist NFL IT staff onsite with projects for game day, such as setting up various networks, troubleshooting, continuous monitoring of the event’s network user experience, and testing speeds on mobile devices to support fan experience.  

Last April, Schuch attended the DeSales University 5th annual Cyber Security & Digital Forensics Conference. There he interacted with law enforcement detectives and other high-tech crime specialists covering topics such as Cyber Concerns in Education, Open-Source iOS Mobile Forensics, and Digital Footprints. To say he’s passionate about IT is an understatement.  

Being a part of the Dream Team is a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge as they shadow and learn from NFL IT professionals who make exceptional events in the country possible. 

Dr. Farah Bennani, dean of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at NCC says, “On behalf of the STEM school, I am delighted and thrilled to have one of our students selected for this national event. It is a reflection of the quality and rigor of our program. I am confident the education and mentorship Schuch received from Professor Manna have equipped him with the skills needed to not only assist the NFL IT team but also for his professional endeavor.”