PRESS RELEASE
Grandmother-granddaughter and brother-sister pairs among the participants who learned about AI and coding; next cohort starts in August
CLARKSDALE, MS – The first dozen participants from the new Clarksdale campus of the Mississippi Coding Academies graduated last month, including a grandmother who completed the program alongside her granddaughter and a brother who completed the program alongside his sister.
In total, 14 students received certificates and 12 students graduated. The graduates included Angela Strong, a grandmother who completed the program with her granddaughter, Spirit. Strong received an award at graduation for demonstrating perseverance throughout the program, which began in January.
“We’re so proud of the students for signing up for the program, working hard all spring to learn new skills, and earning their graduation,” said Bob Buseck, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Coding Academies. “These students were the first at our Clarksdale campus, but they won’t be the last. The skills they’re learning will serve them well in a wide variety of jobs.”
The graduation took place at the Civic Auditorium. Dozens of the graduates’ family members and friends were in attendance, and guest speakers included Abe Hudson of the Walton Family Foundation, which supports the program so students can participate for free.
In fact, Mississippi Coding Academies’ expansion earlier this year to Clarksdale was made possible with support from the Walton Family Foundation. Mississippi Coding Academies is dedicated to creating a skilled workforce by offering intensive, hands-on coding training to individuals from diverse backgrounds. The Clarksdale campus is the latest addition to MCA’s network, expanding its reach and impact.
This graduation ceremony not only celebrates the hard work and dedication of the students but also symbolizes the beginning of their professional journeys in the tech industry.
The next cohort of students will begin in August at the Clarksdale campus, in coordinate onsite at PeopleShores.The Clarksdale campus is the epicenter of the technical skills training program, providing a work-like environment for the six-month program, including five days a week of on-the-job-style training. The students receive a cutting-edge education in Java programming, SQL database management, Unix operating systems, and Generative AI technologies.
For more information, and to sign up for the next cohort that begins in August, visit Mississippi Coding Academies at mscoding.org.
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Media Contact:
Bob Buseck
Executive Director, Mississippi Coding Academies
Phone: 601-597-8351
Email: Bob.Buseck@mscoding.org
