100+ students earn cyber security certificates

Governor’s office funds cyber security boot camps

MISSION, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 27, 2018 – More than 140 individuals – students, transitioning adults and IT professionals seeking more certifications – have completed cyber security, high-demand job training through a boot camp funded by the Governor’s Texas Workforce Investment Council.

The Mission EDC partnered with CompTIA, the world’s largest IT trade association, and the office of Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Workforce Commission to create a series of cyber security related boot camps at the Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED). The program, called Cyber Mission, was funded through a $500,000 Wagner Peyser grant awarded by the Governor’s office.

This program provided the participants (who met Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) basic eligibility requirements) with a rigorous 12-week cybersecurity boot camp utilizing the partnership with CompTIA. Students enrolled were from around the entire Rio Grande Valley.

Participants completed a series of CompTIA vendor-neutral skills certifications for technology professionals that are widely sought after and recognized by companies all over the United States and the world. A Mission EDC’s Career Services Coordinator provided recruitment, pre-screening, job readiness training and job placement services to participants for this intensive program.

“The Cyber Mission program was exciting and challenging to launch, and we’re very pleased with the number of local students enrolled and by the number of certifications they earned,” said Alex Meade, Mission EDC CEO. “These students are learning 21st Century skills for today’s workplace here in the RGV. We are very grateful for the leadership and focus of Governor Abbot and the Texas Workforce Commission.”

The Cyber Mission program began in January 2018 and consisted of three cohorts of students. Each boot camp lasted 12 weeks. Through this training, many of the participants received the CompTIA series of professional certifications that includes A+, Network+, and Security+ at graduation. All told, 147 students enrolled and 109 earned at least one certificate.

Cyber Mission is the latest effort from the Mission EDC to create cyber skills training opportunities and boot camps. The Mission EDC started cyber security classes in 2016 and has seen scores of IT professionals go through its courses, but recently teamed with CompTIA for certifications. What’s more, the initiative has spurred the creation of the South Texas Information Technology Association – a nonprofit group of IT professionals.

For more information:
Joel Garza at the Mission EDC. Jgarza@missionedc.com. 956.585.0040
CompTIA – https://www.comptia.org
South Texas Information Technology Association – https://stita.org

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