Tech Foundry Holds Graduation Ceremony for Inaugural Class

SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry presented a graduation ceremony last night for its inaugural class of 24 future IT leaders.

Founded by Paragus IT CEO Delcie Bean, Tech Foundry is a nonprofit education and job-placement program for high-school students looking to work in the world of information technology. Tech Foundry educates ambitious local students in order to create a homegrown workforce for the many area businesses looking for tech professionals. Upon completing the program and graduating high school, the goal is to place students in an entry-level IT job in the $30,000-$40,000 range.

The graduation ceremony was highlighted by the unveiling of an entire wall dedicated to the signatures of Tech Foundry students as well as a video highlighting the successes and vision of Tech Foundry. Speakers included Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council President Rick Sullivan, and Assistant Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Katie Stebbins.

“This group of students is testimony to the success of Tech Foundry in training workers to immediately fill IT jobs in the region,” Bean said. “We are creating the IT hub of Western New England right here in Springfield, and this graduating class is just a hint of the caliber of the IT workforce that this region will showcase in the years ahead.”