30 Years / 30 Students
Making a Difference for Thirty Years
Jason Espino
Senior consultant at Netsync (San Antonio, TX)

If you want to be competitive, and on top of your game within this industry, you have to continuously learn. In this field, the studying never stops.

Went to school at:
Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, San Antonio, TX
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA
Jason Espino
Jason Espino
Senior consultant at Netsync (San Antonio, TX)
Jason Pucilowski
Security Analyst II at Fishtech Group (Kansas City, MO)

At the end of my freshman year, I built my own computer with the knowledge I had gained in the IT courses I took at school.

Went to school at:
Further studies at University of Missouri-Kansas City
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, PC Pro, Network Pro, and Security Pro
Jason Pucilowski
Jason Pucilowski
Security Analyst II at Fishtech Group (Kansas City, MO)
Alex Lageer
Electronic Test Technician at L3Harris Technologies (Mount Vernon, NY)

(About winning a robotics competition) “That pretty much sealed the deal. I told everyone, ‘I want to stick with technology. That’s what I want to do with my life.’

Went to school at:
Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology, Manhattan, NY
Current whereabouts:
IC3, PC Pro
Alex Lageer
Alex Lageer
Electronic Test Technician at L3Harris Technologies (Mount Vernon, NY)
Kasey Sanchez
Junior Tech at Commend Inc. (Paterson, NJ)

A couple of times I’ve had to get a couple of things from hard drives that have crashed. I’ve had to figure out a few things with Windows. I really enjoy it when I can fix somebody’s computer. It’s always a really great achievement.

Went to school at:
Passaic County Technical Institute
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, PC Pro, and Network Pro
Kasey Sanchez
Kasey Sanchez
Junior Tech at Commend Inc. (Paterson, NJ)
Kendra Cole
Freelance photographer (Mississippi)

I had no idea what a computer looked like on the inside. The only thing I knew how to do was get on the internet and watch YouTube videos.

Went to school at:
Jackson County Technology Center, Vancleave, MS
Current whereabouts:
IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+, MS MTA Networking Fundamentals
Kendra Cole
Kendra Cole
Freelance photographer (Mississippi)
Nii Bruce-Vanderpuije
IT Support Engineer at Amazon (New York City)

There’s no ‘limit-per-person’ on certifications. I’ll probably get 20 more certs.

Went to school at:
Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, San Antonio, TX
Current whereabouts:
A+, Security+, MCTS, CCENT, CCNA, and PC Pro
Nii Bruce-Vanderpuije
Nii Bruce-Vanderpuije
IT Support Engineer at Amazon (New York City)
Brett Rose
Help Desk Analyst at Fidelity Investments

Being deployed underwater for three months is not for the weak minded or faint of heart. It takes a disciplined person to keep your wits about you.

Went to school at:
Brown Mackie College, Albuquerque, NM
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro, Network Pro, Security Pro
Brett Rose
Brett Rose
Help Desk Analyst at Fidelity Investments
Angel Rosario
Desktop Support Technician at Perspecta (San Antonio, TX)

Motivation and determination are great, but you also need hands-on materials.

Went to school at:
Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, San Antonio, Texas
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro, Network Pro, Linux Pro, Security Pro, Client Pro, Server Pro, Routing/Switching Pro
Angel Rosario
Angel Rosario
Desktop Support Technician at Perspecta (San Antonio, TX)
Monica Martinez

When I first arrived in this country I did not have a job or health insurance, and I did not speak any English at all. My first job was in the kitchen, preparing food at a deli. I worked 10 hours every day, five days a week and made $150.00 a week.

Went to school at:
Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, Washington, DC
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+
Monica Martinez
Monica Martinez
Went to school at: Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, Washington, DC
Erik Fernandez
IT Business Manager, Community IT Innovators (Washington, DC)

By earning certifications you learn new stuff, validate what you already know and prepare yourself for better employment opportunities.

Went to school at:
Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, Security+, PC Pro
Erik Fernandez
Erik Fernandez
IT Business Manager, Community IT Innovators (Washington, DC)
Alex Ehret
Owner/Operator of All In 1 PC Solutions (Atoka, TN)

I get gratification when the light bulb goes on with a customer, when I give them the tools to make a more knowledgeable choice.

Went to school at:
Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Covington, TN
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, Security+, PC Pro, Network Pro, Security Pro
Alex Ehret
Alex Ehret
Owner/Operator of All In 1 PC Solutions (Atoka, TN)
Ike Bowie Britton

I love to watch, play and live sports. I love all sports especially basketball and soccer. Now I play with my sons and nephew every weekend.

Went to school at:
Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN), Bogota, Colombia
Current whereabouts:
Computer Maintenance, Linux OS Command and Utilities
Ike Bowie Britton
Ike Bowie Britton
Went to school at: Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN), Bogota, Colombia
Carolina Guzman

I love my (motorcycle) and enjoy the power and freedom I feel when riding it.

Went to school at:
Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN), Bogota, Colombia
Current whereabouts:
Network Pro, Routing and Switching Pro
Carolina Guzman
Carolina Guzman
Went to school at: Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN), Bogota, Colombia
Dominic Eldridge
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst at Verizon (Washington, D.C.)

I ran into this hacker who claimed he could hack my account with ease. I thought no way! I didn’t really understand hacking and figured my password was complex. So I dared him.

Went to school at:
ECPI University (ECPI), Richmond, VA
Current whereabouts:
CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, MCTS, A+, Linux+, SUSE Linux Administrator, LPIC-1, and CISSP
Dominic Eldridge
Dominic Eldridge
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst at Verizon (Washington, D.C.)
Alif Anchieta

Since I was a little-kid I’ve always been interested in computers. I grew up teaching myself about computers and how to fix them.

Went to school at:
Ensign College, Salt Lake City, UT
Current whereabouts:
IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+, Windows Server Pro, Linux Pro, and Network Pro
Alif Anchieta
Alif Anchieta
Went to school at: Ensign College, Salt Lake City, UT
Austin Mikesell

I started out by repairing a friend’s laptop, and buying replacement parts. That’s when I realized how much computer shops were making in profit. So, I decided to do it myself. I would buy a broken computer for $50, and after repairing it I could resell it for $200.

Went to school at:
Southwestern High School, Hanover, IN
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro
Austin Mikesell
Austin Mikesell
Went to school at: Southwestern High School, Hanover, IN
Jacob Manley

My main goal is to be content. I want to be content in my career. I’d like to work as either a software developer or programmer, and just help others out.

Went to school at:
Muscle Shoals Career Academy
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro, MS Info Technology Fundamentals, MS Software Development Fundamentals
Jacob Manley
Jacob Manley
Went to school at: Muscle Shoals Career Academy
Mike Wolf

I enjoy working in IT security. There are so many aspects to security, and every company and set-up is unique. It’s a new challenge every time.

Went to school at:
Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+
Mike Wolf
Mike Wolf
Went to school at: Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Amanda Deebrah
Computer Technology Teacher at NYC Department of Education

Never stop trying! Even if you fail an exam once, it doesn’t mean you’ll never pass it. Take the time to go back and review everything that you have learned.

Went to school at:
New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network +, Security+
Amanda Deebrah
Amanda Deebrah
Computer Technology Teacher at NYC Department of Education
Jasmine Robinson
Graduation anticipated 2023

I always want to do better than I did yesterday, whether it’s my job, my career, or even just doing things around the community. I want to be a person that makes a positive difference.

Went to school at:
Center Point High School, Center Point, AL
Current whereabouts:
IT Fundamentals, A+, PC Pro, Network Pro
Jasmine Robinson
Jasmine Robinson
Graduation anticipated 2023
Colin Hagarty

Octopi are a lot stronger than you think. She just reached out, grabbed my arms with her tentacles and tried to pull me into the water. I had to struggle to get her tentacles off me.

Went to school at:
Lincoln Technical Institute
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro, Network Pro, Client Pro, Server Pro, Routing and Switching Pro
Colin Hagarty
Colin Hagarty
Went to school at: Lincoln Technical Institute
Georgiannah Landers
Junior Cybersecurity Analyst at Central Hudson (Poughkeepsie, NY)

I believe I have an obligation to help others and that I can use my tech skills to do so.

Went to school at:
Ulster BOCES, Ulster, NY
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro, Network Pro
Georgiannah Landers
Georgiannah Landers
Junior Cybersecurity Analyst at Central Hudson (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Kelvin Tran

I mostly just ‘run and gun’ it with books and other practice materials including videos, notes and lots of practice questions. Whatever feels right at the time.

Went to school at:
Enrolled at Elsik High School
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, Security+
Kelvin Tran
Kelvin Tran
Enrolled at Elsik High School
Kori Harris

Keeping a dedicated schedule caused conflicts with other responsibilities. My social life suffered. While friends would go out to eat and see movies, I went to practice. I constantly had to prioritize all my extracurricular activities.

Went to school at:
Center Point High School, Center Point, AL
Current whereabouts:
IT Fundamentals, A+, PC Pro, Network Pro, Routing and Switching Pro
Kori Harris
Kori Harris
Went to school at: Center Point High School, Center Point, AL
Juan Alexander II

I crashed my mother’s car when I was four years old. She ran inside to get my sister from babysitting. I had seen other people drive and figured, ‘Why not?’

Went to school at:
Chesakpeake Career Center, Chesapeake, VA
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, Security+
Juan Alexander II
Juan Alexander II
Went to school at: Chesakpeake Career Center, Chesapeake, VA
Ibrahim Sackey
Tech Support Specialist at Positive Education Program (Cleveland, OH)

(About fixing his own car) “The price for repairs made me angry, so I decided to fix it myself.

Went to school at:
Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH
Current whereabouts:
A+, Security+, CCNA, MCSA
Ibrahim Sackey
Ibrahim Sackey
Tech Support Specialist at Positive Education Program (Cleveland, OH)
Greg Mitchell

I like having something to work toward. I like to feel I’m accomplishing something, even if it’s not immediate; (I can press on) as long as I’m working towards some worthwhile end.

Went to school at:
Middleton High School, Tampa, FL
Current whereabouts:
A+, Network+, Security+, MS Networking Fundamentals
Greg Mitchell
Greg Mitchell
Went to school at: Middleton High School, Tampa, FL
Tanner Ogden
Assistance Center Manager, Hargray Communications (Beaufort, SC)

We all knew the server we played completely and would talk about how cool it would be to have a server with custom mods. I thought, ‘How hard can it be to create one with my own plug-ins and custom mods?’

Went to school at:
Beaufort High School, Beaufort, SC
Current whereabouts:
Network Pro, Network+, Security+
Tanner Ogden
Tanner Ogden
Assistance Center Manager, Hargray Communications (Beaufort, SC)
Alex Mitov

(About competing in a national cybersecurity event) “I was honestly hoping to lose at state so that I wouldn’t have to go on. I really just wanted to continue completing my other certifications.

Went to school at:
Penta Career Center, Perrysburg, OH
Current whereabouts:
PC Pro, Network Pro, Security Pro, Server Pro
Alex Mitov
Alex Mitov
Went to school at: Penta Career Center, Perrysburg, OH
Connor House

When you have an abundance of opportunities you get to choose where you want to go. When you have a lack of opportunities, they choose where you will go.

Went to school at:
Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH
Current whereabouts:
A+, PC Pro, Server Pro
Connor House
Connor House
Went to school at: Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH
Wall
Wall

Went to school at:
Current whereabouts:
Wall
Wall
Making a Difference
For Thirty Years