ANDRE Tulloch was placed 11th of 2,700 Caribbean and Latin American students to enter this year’s Cisco NetRiders IT Skills Challenge Championship — a feat he is both proud of and inspired by.

“I feel ecstatic, honoured, overwhelmed and humbled at the same time for my placement in the finals,” the 21-year-old told Career & Education in a recent interview.

Organised Cisco — a leader in networking for the Internet — the competition tests students’ networking/IT skills through a series of online exams and simulation activities using Cisco Packet Tracer that cover CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) material, such as router basics and frame relay.

All in all, the competition — which ran from September 6 to November 5 this year — provides students with the opportunity to show off their IT/networking skills and gain visibility among talent recruiters in the growing ICT and networking field.

“I understood that networking is the hub of Cisco, and my passion is anything that is associated with networking,” noted Tulloch, who is completing his degree in information and communication technology from the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI) of the HEART Trust/NTA.

The competition was undertaken in three phases. The first phase saw students engaged in registration and taking a 10-minute practice test online and a 60 minute online exam on Packer Tracer.

Phase two included a 60-minute online exam and a 90-minute practical, also on Packer Tracer. It was at this stage that the other two Jamaicans in the competition — Oche Magbegor and Kurt Thompson, also from VTDI and who are completing the same course as Tulloch — were eliminated.

Students from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad & Tobago also entered and advanced to phase two where they were eliminated. Tulloch ended up being the only Caribbean representative to advance to the final stage of the competition.

Phase three saw the remaining 12 students from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Jamaica, and Venezuela completing a NetLab assessment activity and network design presentation.

In the end, Tulloch placed 11th behind students from Brazil and Chile — an achievement for which he credits not only the Almighty, but also his family and many coaches, including Mark Anthony Green and Steve Anderson of VTDI.

“They gave me the attention and motivation I needed. They were always there telling me that I could do it,” he said.

For his performance, Tulloch received a Linksys E2000 Advanced Wireless N Router and a Networking Academy branded Flip Camera. He also received a certificate of participation.

He noted, in the interim, that he was ready to enter the competition again next year.

“This is the first time a Jamaican has passed the first round. I am ready to enter again with the intent of being placed higher,” a smiling Tulloch, who is from Richmond District in Manchester, told Career & Education.

“I would really love to gain experience working in the information technology department of Jamaica’s major communication service provider. That’s my ultimate dream for next year,” he added.

Until then, the youth is content to hone his IT skills in the workplace as information technology officer at GSB Co-operative Credit Union.