Every year, nearly 200,000 men and women transition from U.S. military service to civilian life. Only 1 in 4 has a job lined up when they return — creating the daunting task of translating their military skills into civilian employment opportunities. Per Scholas, in partnership with TEKsystems, is leading the way in supporting the military community by providing tuition-free, full-time immersive training for in-demand technical skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials. This innovative approach empowers military service members, veterans and spouses to build successful careers in the tech industry by not only providing technical training but also fostering business professional skills, providing learner support and direct connections to employers, and creating a clear path to career advancement in tech.

Demand-Driven Training for Military Service Members, Veterans and Spouses

Per Scholas’ no-cost training program is designed to equip participants with in-demand technical skills and is centered around industry-recognized credentials, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to meet the specific needs of the job market. TEKsystems, a global provider of business, technology and talent solutions, is committed to creating diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces in the tech industry. Our partnership with TEKsystems addresses the lack of diversity, including the underrepresentation of veterans, in the industry and the demand for technical talent by combining resources, leaning into strengths, and partnering to widen our reach and deepen our impact for individuals, businesses, and communities. This demand-driven approach ensures that military service members, veterans and spouses are not simply trained but trained for success in real-world tech roles. 

Business Professional Skills for the Win with a Holistic Approach

Recognizing that technical proficiency is just one piece of the puzzle, Per Scholas dedicates 20% of classroom time to career coaching and the development of business professional skills. Beyond funding and training, TEKsystems supports our learners – through networking with our learners and alumni, career coaching, and participating in various campus events. We want to build upon the skills learned in their military experience and help them thrive and adapt in any workplace. With our work to support military service members, veterans and spouses, individuals in the military community can gain technical knowledge and soft skills, coupled with their incredible military experience, to position them for continued career success.

Transitioning to a new career can be challenging, and Per Scholas and TEKsystems acknowledge the need for comprehensive support. Per Scholas provides learner support services that include benefit navigation, financial coaching, and wellness support, ensuring that learners can persist through the training program. This holistic approach addresses not only the technical aspects but also the personal and financial challenges military service members, veterans and spouses may face during their career transition. 

Connecting Directly with Employers

One of the most distinctive features of Per Scholas’ training is our direct connection to employers. In the past year alone, over 850 companies hired Per Scholas graduates, with more than 1,000 hires through TEKsystems, demonstrating the high demand for the skills and credentials these military service members, veterans and spouses bring to the job market. This direct link to employers helps ensure that learners have a clear path to employment upon graduation. “I am honored to work with partners including TEKsystems that put hiring from the military community at the forefront in efforts to diversify the tech industry,” stated Per Scholas Director of Veteran Recruitment & Partnerships George Darby. “TEKsystems understands that hiring military service members, veterans and spouses is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also a great business decision. Partners that understand the unique skills and value this talent pool brings are ahead of the competition.”

TEKsystems: Committed to Creating Opportunities for Veterans

TEKsystems is a valuable partner in this endeavor. Having helped more than 20,000 military service members, veterans and spouses since 2013, they understand the distinctive skills within the military community and continue to make a real impact. As a Department of Defense-authorized SkillBridge employer, a program for service members to transition to a civilian career, TEKsystems leads the way for veterans looking to transition out of the military. Their partnership with Per Scholas demonstrates a shared commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry, recognizing the immense potential and unique qualities of veterans and their spouses.

As military service members, veterans and spouses transition to civilian life, there’s no doubt they face challenges in finding their next opportunity and meaningful employment. However, Per Scholas and TEKsystems, through their collaborative efforts, are paving the way for military service members, veterans and spouses to thrive in the tech industry. Their commitment to inclusivity and empowerment reflects a changing landscape in the tech industry that celebrates the unparalleled value the military community can bring. With a blend of purpose, partnership, and perseverance, the path to success in the tech industry for our military heroes and their spouses is clearer than ever before.

Per Scholas, in collaboration with the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, Amazon, and local officials, has officially launched our satellite campus at the Gerard Carter Center in Stapleton, Staten Island. The first class on-site, an IT Support course, kicked off on October 23rd, and a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on November 2nd. 

Read about the launch here!

Per Scholas was featured on the website of our partner, Stand Together Foundation, a philanthropic community that partners with community-based organizations, nationwide, to help tackle some of our country’s biggest issues.

The article described Per Scholas’ commitment and innovative approach to our mission: empowering thousands of individuals, who are often under-represented in the tech job market, to pursue fulfilling careers through a tuition-free training model, and to ensure that those learners secure meaningful and well-paying jobs after they complete our program.

Read the full article here.

On August 10, the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Philadelphia hosted a Connecting Communities webinar, where Per Scholas Philadelphia alumni and Teaching Fellow David Byard participated in a panel discussion. Panelists shared insights from the Worker Voices 2023 report, how many workers are reshaping the workforce, recent expectations of job quality, and how they use skill development and self-investment to change their economic opportunities.

Federal Reserve Presidents Raphael Bostic from the Atlanta Fed and Patrick T. Harker from the Philadelphia Fed shared their perspectives, and David Byard was joined by speakers Rebecca Hanson, Executive Director at SEIU-UHW Joint Employer Education Fund; Sarah Miller, Principal Advisor at Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Ashley Putnam, Director, Economic Growth & Mobility Project at Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and moderator Whitney Felder, Marketing Communications Specialist at Fed Communities.

Watch the full Shifting Perspectives and Expectations on Employment webinar here!

In addition to the webinar and considering the takeaways from the discussions, Per Scholas Senior Managing Director Nikki Pumphrey provided her perspective on how Worker Voices are Essential. “During the pandemic, and perhaps even more so recently, we have seen greater adoption of skills-based hiring,” Pumphrey states. “The World Economic Forum predicted that 45% of companies had focused efforts on hiring based on competencies by 2022. This trend is likely to continue as new labor market dynamics emerge and talent shortages continue. Employers are making more informed choices about how they attract talent, but also about how to develop effective skill-building strategies for incumbent workers.”

Read Nikki Pumphrey’s Per Scholas Perspective here.  

Per Scholas was featured in Forbes magazine, highlighting our organization’s long-standing partnership with Barclays, and the ways in which this partnership serves to help our learners develop key skills and unlock employment opportunities, including in roles at Barclays.

Charles Koch Foundation’s Executive Director Ryan Stowers interviewed Mark Thain, Americas Head of Citizenship at Barclays, regarding Barclays’ partnership with Per Scholas and the large-scale impact it has created.

Read the full article here!

Per Scholas partnered with the Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)  and other nonprofit organizations, including All Star Code, Black in Gaming Foundation, and Black Product Managers, to host a Talent Mixer for NYC Community-Builders at ping pong club SPIN New York as part of NY Tech Week 2023. More than 250 incredible, diverse technologists came out on a Friday evening despite the rainy weather, to make connections that will no doubt resonate in the weeks and months to come.

The evening featured a curated pre-mixer for learners and alumni from Per Scholas and other nonprofit partners to connect directly with founders and CEOs, talent heads, and tech and engineering executives from across a16z’s portfolio. The event also highlighted a panel of luminaries who shared stories of their journeys in tech, how leaders are prioritizing hiring and retaining diverse talent in a challenging climate, and what individuals and companies can do to enact change. Per Scholas is grateful to our esteemed panelists: Kyle Bailey, Vice President and Head of Engineering at dYdX; Jimmy Chen, Founder & CEO of Propel; Trinidad Hermida Black, Executive Director, Black in Gaming; and Per Scholas alumna and Per Scholas New York Advisory Board Chair Fabianna Rodriguez-Mercado, Chief of Staff, Cyber Security at Citi and Co-Leader of Latinas in Tech. After the panel, guests enjoyed food, drink, and plentiful games of ping pong to round out the night!

Click here to check out all the open roles across a16z’s portfolio companies!

We’re thrilled to announce Per Scholas has been awarded a grant from Okta as part of their cybersecurity workforce development initiative, which coincides with Cybersecurity Awareness Month! We are one of ten grantees of a $1.6 million award for organizations focused on inclusive pathways into technology. This new philanthropic and educational grant aims to advance inclusive pathways into tech and cyber industries.

Cybersecurity is a growing sector of the tech industry that is critical for many businesses. Click here to learn more about our Cybersecurity courses.

Read Okta’s full press release here.

This week, Per Scholas was featured on the FUTRtv Podcast, a podcast that seeks to promote “innovative ideas, cool startups and great culture as [they] explore the business of emerging technology.” Host Chris Brandt spoke with Per Scholas Chicago Manager of Recruitment and Admissions Grace Yao, and Per Scholas Chicago Manager of Career Advancement Daniel Ponciano.

Grace and Daniel discussed Per Scholas’s history, and the ways in which Per Scholas equips each of our students with a well-rounded, cost-free education, encompassing hard technical skills, as well as soft skills like networking, interviewing, and professional development. Per Scholas also offers support beyond course training as needed, including aid with internet access and financial coaching, providing laptops, computers, and other equipment for learners who need them, and more.

Watch the full podcast here!

We’re thrilled to announce that Per Scholas Chicago, led by Senior Managing Director Andi Drileck, has been selected as a finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards! 

As a Top 100 Finalist, Per Scholas Chicago is also a candidate for the People’s Choice Award! Voting is open until October 17, 2023. The People’s Choice Award winner will be celebrated alongside the other 20 winners at the 22nd annual Chicago Innovation Awards on November 16th at the UIC Forum.

To select Per Scholas Chicago for the People’s Choice Award, click the link below and scroll to the 7th page of nominees. 

Click here to vote for Per Scholas Chicago!

On September 8th, Per Scholas Newark celebrated the recent graduation of four cohorts – two in IT Support and two in Cybersecurity. The event also included a commencement ceremony for the latest graduating Cybersecurity cohort. 

This event was hosted by Per Scholas Newark’s Managing Director, Jessica Zorola, who congratulated the new alumni on their hard work and success. Jessica also expressed her gratitude to the Per Scholas Newark staff and national team, who work hard each day to create a supportive, educational environment that prepares learners for success in the tech field on multiple levels. “[Our staff] have been the heart and soul of Per Scholas Newark since our founding in 2019,” Jessica told attendees. “They provide the skills and training one needs to succeed from day one on the job. My fellow colleagues have created a space of curiosity and excellence – to ensure that our learners not only build their own successful pathways within tech but lift their fellow peers to greatness as a community.”

Sandip Amin, Per Scholas’ Northeast Regional Senior Vice President, delivered celebratory remarks, highlighting Per Scholas’ long-standing commitment to unlocking potential through technology and career development training. Jose Rodriguez, Per Scholas Newark’s Campus Director, then spoke to the strengths of our Newark campus’ multiple training programs and its commitment to excellence in IT Support, Cybersecurity, Professional Development, and job-ready skills before introducing representative speakers from each of the four graduating cohorts to celebrate their respective cohorts’ accomplishments.

Next, Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala shared reflections on the power of tech training in Newark, emphasizing Per Scholas’ origin story and its role in addressing the need for skilled technology talent. He extended his well wishes to the graduates, highlighting their promising futures. Dave Francisco, a 2022 graduate of Per Scholas Newark’s Cybersecurity course and current member of the Per Scholas Newark Advisory Board, then took the stage to share his journey, emphasizing the transformative power of a career in tech. Dave, who now works as an Engineer at Kinesys Automation, offered valuable insights and wisdom to the newest Per Scholas Newark alumni, underscoring the importance of continued growth and development.

The ceremony continued with an address by Cybersecurity cohort valedictorian Asma Daif Allah, who delivered inspirational remarks and congratulated her classmates on their success. Core Value Recipients were also recognized, acknowledging graduates for their continued commitment to the values of Ambition, Integrity, Professionalism, Resourcefulness, Perseverance, and Commitment to Service.

Michele Alcazar, Head of Human Resources at Per Scholas partner Prudential, then extended her congratulatory remarks to the graduates, emphasizing the significance of their accomplishments and the opportunities that lay ahead. The program reached its culmination with recognition of each graduating learner; graduates walked across the stage to receive their graduation certificates and official Per Scholas padfolios. 

Learn more about upcoming training opportunities at Per Scholas Newark and apply by visiting PerScholas.org/Newark.