APC by Schneider Electric announces 2018 IT make-over contest for K-12 schools

CINCINNATI - Feb. 13, 2018 - PRLog -- Does your school desperately need an IT make-over? If so, plan to enter the 2018 K-12 IT Makeover Contest sponsored by APC by Schneider Electric's IT Solutions for Education for a chance to win $10,000 in improvements. The contest is open until June 30, 2018, and details are at apc.com/education.

"The proliferation of devices in schools is driving the need for increased bandwidth, forcing schools to upgrade their wireless infrastructure," explains Chris Musick, District Sales Manager, APC by Schneider Electric. "We had hundreds of entries into our 2017 contest that showed great need in their schools. We were happy to award the $10,000 prize to Turpin High School of Cincinnati, Ohio, for its 'outdated server room'."

"We are so grateful to Forward Edge, the district's technology consultant, for nominating us for this award—they truly are a partner in education," says Steve Meece, Director of Technology for the Forest Hills School District (FHSD). "The money will assist our District in upgrading our equipment to improve internet connectivity and reliability. Our high school and middle school students use tablets, laptops and Chromebooks each day to individualize learning. Through technology, students are not only learning their daily lessons but also how to communicate, collaborate and create. This award money helps support the large usage of devices in schools."

Ben Carson, Account Manager of APC Partner's Forward Edge, submitted the contest entry on behalf of Turpin High School. "The school's server room showed the greatest opportunity for improvement in terms of housing, securing and properly setting up an IT environment," Carson explained. "APC felt compelled to help them create a safer environment with more updated equipment as well."

Turpin High School, located in Anderson Township, was built/renovated in 1974. FHSD is currently undergoing massive renovations on buildings as well as building new schools.

"Our philosophy is 'Customer First, Always.'," says Carson.  "We keep the best interest of the school at the forefront of everything we do in order to create the long-lasting partnerships we have with school districts like Forest Hills."

"From the solutions we select to the manufacturers with whom we partner and the people we hire, they all have to have a significant investment in education," explains John Waltz, owner of Forward Edge. "Getting it right in each of those areas has led us to the point we are at now and will help us grow moving forward."

"What a great opportunity to support our partner Forward Edge and customer, the Forest Hills School District," says Musick. "We work together in this industry to provide a solution, not just a product. This is a fun way to work."

About APC

For nearly four decades, APC has been the industry-standard for reliable power and physical IT infrastructure. For general information, visit www.apc.com or www.apcpartnercentral.com for channel program information.

APC Partner Forward Edge is the largest K-12-focused technology provider in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. For more information, visit www.forward-edge.net.