St. Louis, MO, Friday, February 27, 2026 — Since launching in 2022, the Per Scholas St. Louis campus has trained over 400 learners, equipping them with critical tech skills such as Cybersecurity, Data Center Technician, and IT Support. Our alumni have earned jobs at employers including Boeing, BJCHealthcare, TEKSystems, UKG, and more.

Today, alongside community and employer partners, colleagues, alumni, and friends, Per Scholas St. Louis celebrated the incredible milestone of 400 learners trained. From a gallery showcasing learner journeys, to powerful reflections from alumni, employer partners, and advisors, the celebration centered on what matters most: transformation, access, and workforce opportunity that changes lives and strengthens the St. Louis region. 

“Four hundred learners trained isn’t just a number. It represents 400 individuals who chose courage, growth, and a new path forward. At Per Scholas St. Louis, we’re not just training technologists; we’re advancing economic mobility and strengthening our regional workforce. And this is only the beginning” said Keisha Mabry Haymore, Managing Director of Per Scholas St. Louis.

The program featured remarks from Sam Fiorello, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cortex; Cindy Heermann, Human Resources Director, HomeWAV; Ashley Pyle, Chief Experience Officer, GadellNet; and esteemed alumni Misti Schwaller and Brianna Young. Cindy Heermann remarked “HomeWAV is excited to be working with Per Scholas; its current 13-week training has been an excellent source of candidates for several of our roles, and the professionalism and job-readiness of your students have been truly outstanding.” She continued, “We value this partnership and look forward to continuing to build a strong, long-term relationship that creates meaningful opportunities for your graduates and supports our growing team.”

Per Scholas St. Louis thanks Cortex Innovation Community for being a partner since our founding year; without their commitment, the successes of our St. Louis campus would not have been possible. “Per Scholas’ milestone of graduating 400 learners represents real economic mobility for St. Louis families and the power of the partnership between Per Scholas and Cortex to build a more inclusive innovation economy. This is what sustainable change looks like in action,” said Sam Fiorello, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cortex. 

Per Scholas St. Louis also acknowledges the generous support of the Bellwether Foundation, the William T. Kemper Foundation, Bank of America, the Hermann Family Foundation, Upward Momentum, St. Louis Port Authority, and the Light A Single Candle Foundation.

With a proven tech training model including both in-person and remote learning hubs, Per Scholas continues to unlock opportunities for individuals, strengthen communities, and drive business success across the greater St. Louis area. Notably, every dollar invested in Per Scholas yields an $8 net economic return. Per Scholas St. Louis is transforming lives by equipping Per Scholas Technologists with in-demand tech skills at no cost. This summer, Per Scholas St. Louis will begin training learners in Healthcare IT.

To learn more about Per Scholas St. Louis and upcoming training, follow them on LinkedIn or Per Scholas St. Louis. 

About Per Scholas
As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward—aiming to train and upskill 25,000 technologists annually by 2030, expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $35 billion in increased personal earnings. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 25 campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

New Board Members to Guide Growth as Local Campus Responds to Urgent Workforce Needs

St. Louis, MO — September 4, 2025 – Per Scholas St. Louis is announcing the launch of its inaugural Advisory Board on September 24, 2025, comprised of leading business and community executives dedicated to advancing tech talent and economic mobility across the region. At the same time, the campus is introducing new training tracks in Healthcare IT and Data Center to meet rising employer demand and provide more pathways into high-growth technology careers.

Advisory Board members include:

• Matt Modica, Vice President & CISO, BJC HealthCare
• Ashley Pyle, Chief Experience Officer, GadellNet
• Marc Ashworth, CISO, First Bank
• Branyea Jones, Training & Development, DEI, Clayco Corp
• April Lopinot, Chief People Officer, Keeley Companies
• Kendall Norris, Chief Winning In Life Officer, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

“Per Scholas is honored to welcome such an accomplished group of leaders to our St. Louis Advisory Board,” said Kiesha Mabry Haymore, Managing Director of Per Scholas St. Louis. “Their expertise and commitment will ensure that our campus not only equips learners with the in-demand skills needed to succeed in tech, but also strengthens pathways for local residents to thrive in industries vital to the region’s future, from healthcare to data infrastructure.”

The announcement comes at a critical moment for the region’s workforce. With recent headlines highlighting the closure of the St. Louis Job Corps Center and the resulting disruption for students, Per Scholas St. Louis offers a no-cost, proven alternative for residents seeking tech career training.

“Our work goes beyond the classroom—it’s about connecting talent to opportunity. By launching this Advisory Board and linking learners with top employers, we’re building stronger bridges to economic mobility,” stated Steve Martak, Per Scholas St. Louis’ Director of Talent Solutions.

Since opening in 2022, Per Scholas St. Louis has enrolled 368 learners in IT Support, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering, preparing them for thriving careers with top regional employers. The new Healthcare IT and Data Center tracks will expand opportunities for learners while strengthening talent pipelines for local companies in critical industries.

About Per Scholas

As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward—aiming to train and upskill 25,000 technologists annually by 2030, expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $2 billion in increased personal earnings. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.