Twelve students from LaGuardia Community College/CUNY have completed their nine-month apprenticeships at Mastercard in the fields of cybersecurity, product development, and computer engineering. (Photo contributor: TierneyMJ, Shutterstcok.com)
The students, pursuing their Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Network Administration & Information Security, celebrated their graduation at Mastercard’s NYC Tech Hub and will begin their full-time jobs at Mastercard on June 1.
The LaGuardia-Mastercard Apprenticeship Program was created in collaboration with the New York Jobs CEO Council to train diverse students for jobs in industries with a shortage of workers.
All 12 students were offered full-time positions at Mastercard, a testament to the quality of education they received at LaGuardia and the value they brought to Mastercard’s teams.
LaGuardia Community College has a strong STEM program, with 20% of its graduates earning degrees in STEM fields. The LaGuardia-Mastercard apprenticeship program is a unique credit-bearing apprenticeship that offers community college students the opportunity to bridge education and business, creating career pathways directly into high-demand jobs with family-sustaining wages.
The 12 students selected for the program underwent an intensive boot camp in the summer of 2022, featuring an accelerated curriculum in network administration, security, cyber intelligence, and product development. From September 2022 to May 2023, the apprentices worked 19-21 hours a week at Mastercard while continuing their studies at LaGuardia.
The program has been especially beneficial for students from immigrant families, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. The students have gained valuable experience and skills, including George Guallpa, who discovered his passion for cybersecurity through the program.
Rachel Sinclair plans to use her experience at Mastercard to create innovative products and services that make individuals’ lives easier and more secure. Julio Sambula Green is optimistic about his future with Mastercard, and Dominik Sierra Lino, who dropped out of college to work full-time, found renewed confidence and pushed himself to finish his education.
Kevin Coronel, Ghizlane El haddad, Robert Ferrara, Stanely Mondesir, Juan Paredes, and Ray Rozon are also excited about their future prospects after their apprenticeship experience at Mastercard. They plan to pursue their education, gain experience and certifications, and advance their careers while continuing to work at Mastercard or pursuing further studies.Two current students, Teyshaan Hall and Arnam Anan, are on track to graduate in Spring 2023 and June, respectively. If you’re interested, click here to learn more and apply.
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