Tech Foundry Graduates Spring 2026 Tech Launch Cohort

SPRINGFIELD — On June 23, Tech Foundry, Western Massachusetts’s preeminent IT workforce and digital skills training program, graduated its spring 2026 cohort of Tech Launch students at the Community Music School of Springfield. The graduates dedicated 18 weeks to advancing their technology skills to prepare for entry-level tech roles in helpdesk, systems, and network administration. Students have completed Tech Launch’s rigorous classroom training and month-long internships and earned Google IT Support Certificates.

Dr. M.V. Lee Badgett, chief economist and founding partner of Koppa LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab and professor emeritx of Economics at UMass Amherst, served as keynote speaker, noting that “the most important parts of an economy are the people in it — the skills, creativity, and knowledge that they bring.”

She addressed the graduates directly, saying, “the skills and knowledge you’ve learned at Tech Foundry are making you stronger, and they will make our economy stronger. Your hard work will benefit us all. It’s hard to predict what will come next on your pathway to a career, but it’s all important. You can learn something and contribute something in any job.”

Jean Corbin and Appolonia Saraci were elected by their peers as class representatives. They both remarked on the incredible sense of community that they encountered throughout the program, thanking their instructors, their fellow graduates, and the Tech Foundry staff for their dedication.

“We are constantly in awe of the perseverance and hard work shown by the Tech Launch students,” Tech Foundry CEO Tricia Canavan said. “Today’s graduation ceremony was a testament to their willingness to go above and beyond to advance their careers — uplifting themselves, their families, and the entire community. We couldn’t do this work without the incredible generosity of our donors, employer partners, board, and advisory board, and the commitment of the Tech Foundry team.”