Photo by Ed Waters, Jr. Patriot Technologies donated $20,000 worth of computer equipment to the Frederick County Career and Technology Center. Students will train on the equipment and may eventually be involved in internships in information technology at Patriot Technologies and other local firms. From left are Jim Dorsch, IT teacher; Greg Solberg, principal; and Steve Keefe, president, contract manufacturing division, Patriot Technologies. Purchase this photo

Patriot Technologies, a Frederick -based information technology security firm, donated 11 server appliances worth $20,000.

"It is very important for us to get this equipment," said Jim Dorsch, who teaches IT at the center.

Dorsch said he wants to establish more relationships with local companies. "I hope to set up internships, so students get real-world experience."

Dorsch has been teaching at the center for nine years.

"One of my goals is to let people know we are here. And we are not the old 'vocational' school where students learn masonry or carpentry," Dorsch said.

The center offers training in fields such as construction, cosmetology, automotive repair and computers.

"A student who completes the full program here gets credits for Frederick Community College," located across the campus, he said.

"Students can actually go to FCC and get an associate degree before they graduate from high school," Dorsch said.

Steve Keefe, president of the contract manufacturing division of Patriot Technologies, said his firm would be donating more items to the center. Keefe was also interested in helping to set up internships at Patriot Technologies.