First WIMTECH Cohort Graduates
“Tech takes you to places you’d never thought that you would go,” Marlin Williams told our very first Women in Manufacturing and Technology (WIMTECH) class at their graduation ceremony on Friday, December 15th. Ms. Williams, the founder of Sisters Code, encouraged every graduate to continue their education and career in the manufacturing/technology fields by sharing all of the professional advancement opportunities technology has brought her.
Throughout her journey in technology, Ms. Williams said she would always ask herself, “How do I show up for myself every day?”, and she challenged our students to ask themselves that same question as they take the next step into their education and career.
WIMTECH, which is sponsored by General Motors, is a first of its kind program that prepares women to begin a career in manufacturing and technology. The students met every day, Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM for 13 weeks where they earned up to four certificates at the end of the cohort. Upon graduation the students were certified in Customer Service, OSHA, NIMS and Microsoft Excel.
The class valedictorians of this inaugural program were Heather Sova and Nikki Tucker, who tied for top of their class right down to the decimal. Nikki Tucker was the class speaker and she spoke to the hard work that she and her fellow classmates had put into the program, and how proud she was that they were graduating.
“Today I am proud to say that I started and finished to better myself,” Nikki Tucker said during her speech.
During the weeks of class, Ms. Edwina Oldham said she enjoyed the daily affirmations that the instructors read to her class to encourage everyone to keep moving forward. “I am proud that everyone persevered and made it through with the program. That is a testament to everyone here,” said Ms. Oldham.
Ms. Oldham is the second person in her family to graduate from a program at Focus: HOPE. Her son, Darnell Oldham, went through the IT program and graduated in the spring of 2017. He is continuing to further his education by pursuing a degree in IT.
“Focus: HOPE is a very worthwhile organization. They have provided many people the opportunity for personal growth,” said Ms. Oldham, “WIMTECH provided me that personal growth and I learned computer skills that are invaluable.”
Our next WIMTECH cohort begins February 19, 2018. Testing for this program is available on every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 AM at 1200 Oakman Blvd., Detroit, MI, 48238. Click here to register.