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Thomas Olson 412-320-7854
Business Writer
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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Coraopolis-based Victory Media Inc. is opening a technical school aimed at equipping veterans and others with hard-science skills needed to land jobs.

The company's Victory Tech, an “advanced technical institute,” is a 15-month program focusing on “STEM” learning — science, technology, engineering and math. It costs $18,000, which covers a laptop computer, scientific instruments and other supplies.

“It's open to everybody but it's ideal for transitioning veterans,” said Victory Tech President Daniel Nichols. “We recruit, test and train individuals.”

An invitation-only opening is scheduled on Monday and classes start in January. Victory Media spent about $600,000 to establish the institute, said Nichols, of Cranberry. A former Navy chaplain, he established workforce development programs at the Department of Labor and in the private sector.

Nichols said Western Pennsylvania is producing jobs in advanced manufacturing and energy but employers cannot find people with sufficient technical skills.

Victory Tech students will train for positions such as field technicians, equipment operators, advanced machinists, data administrators, first-line supervisors, network analysts and business analysts.

Thomas Olson is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7854 or tolson@tribweb.com.

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