The first class in Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) “Uncommon Coders” program graduated today in Woodbridge.
“NOVA’s Uncommon Coders is an intensive in person 12-week coding boot camp designed to accelerate learning for motivated participants, while providing a clear pathway into the workforce,” and is designed for veterans and their spouses, according to NOVA’s website.
Coders in the program worked in teams to create projects that were presented at the ceremony, like an interactive scorecard.
“At the end of every single [entry] interview, we’d ask the question ‘What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done’? And the majority of them said, ‘boot camp’ regardless of what military affiliation, they all said ‘boot camp’,” said Uncommon Coders Program Manager Trung Ngo.
During the ceremony, NOVA Regional Center for Workforce Education and Training Vice President Steve Partridge spoke about the value of helping veterans and their spouses get jobs in the area of coding and information technology.
“We started thinking about who would be most successful, and it came to mind over and over, and the need for the businesses [who] told us over and over, ‘It’s veterans. And veterans spouses. Because really those groups understand sacrifice,” said Partridge.
Ten individuals graduated this cycle. They are:
| Kevin Allen |
Alvaro Balboa |
| Pete Bruner |
Octavio Cisneros |
| Will Criss |
Olympew Jordan |
| D’Angelo Joyce |
Eric Nicholas Ober |
| Ross Clayton Small |
Alvin Williams |
