Madison Reporter

Two Madison College IT students, Zach Reynolds and Haley Shreve, participated in the Cisco Dream Team internship during the U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship held from May 20 to June 1 at Erin Hills Golf Course near Hartford, Wisconsin. The event is considered one of the most prominent sporting events of the spring.

Reynolds and Shreve were nominated by Brent Sieling, an IT Networking Instructor at Madison College. Sieling cited their practical experience with networking equipment as a key factor in his decision to recommend them for the opportunity.

During the event, both students worked alongside Cisco networking engineers to set up wireless coverage across the golf course. Their responsibilities included installing and testing CAT5e cabling, deploying access points and switches, and ensuring network performance throughout the championship.

Haley Shreve described her experience as valuable for developing technical skills under pressure. "The most enjoyable part was seeing the event run smoothly, knowing that our team's hard work and expertise made it possible," she said. “I also appreciated the opportunity to work alongside everyone, learning from them and gaining valuable insight.”

Shreve recently graduated after completing programs in Network Specialist and Cybersecurity at Madison College. She plans to pursue a CCNA certification. Reflecting on her participation in this major event, she said: "This experience will significantly enhance my resume, showcasing my ability to work on large-scale network projects and collaborate with experienced engineers," Haley says. "Given that this is one of the few IT-related experiences on my resume, it demonstrates my capabilities and potential."

Both students credited their classroom training at Madison College for preparing them for this real-world application.