College of Charleston Students Gain Valuable Experience with Google's Data Center Program

Four students from the College of Charleston's computer science program spent six weeks this summer as part of Google's Data Center Student Immersion Program. The cohort, which included Cameron Johnson, Meena Shanmugam, Snovi Patel, and Vicktorya Queiroz, worked at a data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

During the program, they completed onboarding and safety training, participated in technical workshops and site tours, attended daily team meetings, and worked closely with mentors. They also had the opportunity to shadow professionals in various areas of data center operations, gaining firsthand insight into the teams responsible for maintaining and supporting critical infrastructure.

The experience was transformative for Johnson, who learned about the program at a College of Charleston Career Center fair. After working with Google's Global Server Operations team, he gained a deeper understanding of his role and felt well-prepared for future tech jobs.

Queiroz, an honors college student, appreciated the collaborative culture of Google's workplace and realized where she fit into the data center picture. Patel, who spent her childhood in Doha, Qatar, before moving to South Carolina, gained a new appreciation for the engineering that powers technology used daily by millions.