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TECHNOLOGY >>
Inside the
IT Academy
STCCCreates TheITAcademyatSpringfieldTechnical Community College (STCC) is a “life chang-
“This opportunity came up, and
I jumped on
it. This is a life changer. This is going to change everything.”
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Career Opportunities for Non- traditional Students
er” for Juan Burgos.
Echoing comments from other students
enrolled in the IT Academy at STCC, Bur- gos said he’s excited to be working toward certifications that are tickets to good-paying jobs in the cybersecurity industry. Students in the first cohort, held this spring, are enrolled for free, supported by a grant.
“This opportunity came up, and I jumped on it,” Burgos said one Wednesday afternoon at STCC, where he was seated in a classroom with the other stu- dents. “This is a life changer. This is going to change everything.”
Launched on March 12, the IT Academy’s Pathway to Cybersecurity program at STCC supports non-tra- ditional students who are new to information technol- ogy (IT) and computer technology. They are learning skills that set them up for entry-level IT careers. Stu- dents also have the option of moving into the two-year Cybersecurity program, which can lead to an associate degree.
April Bellafiore teaches the
IT Academy’s Pathway to Cybersecurity program at STCC.
