You'd never know that the seven students graduating from Lockheed Martin's apprenticeship program the evening of Wednesday, February 6, 2008, were once considered "at risk." These bright young men and women were chosen three years ago to participate in the aerospace giant's IT apprenticeship program in partnership with Estrella Mountain Community College and they've achieved their goals with flying colors.
The Native-American students were honored at the graduation ceremony held at the Heard Museum not only for completing the program and earning their associate's degree in computer applications, but also for their hire at Lockheed Martin. All seven students were hired on as full-time employees to work in the IT department, answering the demand for qualified, workforce-ready employees to fill the vacancies left behind by retiring Baby Boomers.
Lockheed Martin and Estrella Mountain worked hard to provide a structured curriculum and training to supply these teens (now in their twenties) with a strong foundation in computer sciences. Their education was paid for by Lockheed Martin.Future partnerships with Lockheed Martin are being explored to fulfill the need for women in the high-tech industry.