Graduate Profile: Sydney Atencio
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
Sydney Atencio is a graduate of ActivateWork's IT Support & Security Fundamentals bootcamp.
Sydney Atencio’s career journey is defined by determination, sacrifice, and transformation. At the young age of 19, she became a mother and entered Warren Village, a transitional housing program offering childcare and life-skills classes, while she worked and studied for her degree.
With this support, Sydney finished her bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Colorado and launched a career in marketing and design. For seven years, she thrived at a small automotive business until the COVID pandemic upended her stability.
Forced to Pivot by COVID-19
Losing her job and, soon after, her apartment, Sydney, her husband, and their daughter moved into a family member’s basement. To get by, she began freelancing in graphic design, but the work was inconsistent and increasingly demanded web-based skills outside her expertise.
Remembering the career resources she had heard about at Warren Village, Sydney thought back to ActivateWork’s tuition-free workforce training programs. With an influx of freelance projects requiring a different skill set, she decided to enroll in ActivateWorks’ IT Support & Security Fundamentals bootcamp.
“So many of the projects were getting increasingly complex and outside my scope,” she said.
“I needed a way to build my skills without a huge financial or time commitment, as I didn’t want to spend that much time away from my family.”
The program was rigorous, requiring personal and family sacrifices, but Sydney was determined to show her daughter the value of hard work and resilience.
“Going through the ActivateWork program was extremely hard, especially because I was in the bootcamp during the holidays,” she said.
“I had to say no to a lot of things. This taught me and my daughter that sacrifice comes with hard work, but it’s 100 percent worth it.”
A New Beginning Thanks to ActivateWork
Upon graduation, Sydney landed an IT Support role with Sage Hospitality, an ActivateWork employer partner, applying her new skills to support hotel systems nationwide. With her new income, she and her family were finally able to buy their first home after years of living in a family member’s basement.
But ActivateWork’s impact extended beyond Sydney’s career. It also opened new doors for her daughter through Bring Your Kid to Work Day tours in downtown Denver, a new computer gifted by Sage leadership, and even opportunities to travel out of state for summer camp.
“My daughter has been with me through every up and down,” she said.
“She watched me graduate from college, lose my job, excel from intern to full-time designer, start freelancing, get married, and even helped me study for ActivateWork exams. Now she’s watching all that work pay off as we move into our own home after four years of living in a basement and struggling to get on our feet.”
Living by Example for Her Daughter
Today, Sydney continues to advance her career and upskill both through ActivateWork and directly through her employer, where she is currently obtaining her CompTIA Security+ certification.
Though she once dreamed of blending graphic design and tech through software development, she has found passion, opportunity, and stability in IT. Sydney credits ActivateWork for giving her a pathway to stability, growth, and renewed family dynamics, proving to both her and her daughter the power of perseverance.
“I wanted to prove to my daughter that we can do hard things,” she said. ”We can do it scared, and we can do it with a lot of ambition. ActivateWork helped me show her the way.”
Graduate Profile: Juan Marquez
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
Juan Marquez is a 2022 graduate of ActivateWork's AWS Cloud Fundamentals bootcamp.
Juan Marquez’s path to career success is one of resilience, perseverance, and transformation. Diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of six and unfairly labeled a “slow learner,” he faced many challenges in school, pushing through countless obstacles and earning recognition for strong grades and perfect attendance.
But at 14, the loss of his father sent him into a downward spiral of missed school and lost focus. Later that year, Juan met his future wife and, as he began his junior year of high school, he learned he was going to become a father.
“I realized then that my dad would have wanted me to do better, so I turned things around and graduated high school, with my son in attendance.”
After graduation, Juan enrolled at Arapahoe Community College. Shortly after, his son became seriously ill, forcing him to leave school and work multiple jobs to cover a mountain of medical bills. To cope, he turned to drinking and partying, which strained his marriage and separated him from his family.
Juan’s Turning Point
Hitting rock bottom, Juan reached a turning point in 2018. With the support of his wife and mother-in-law, he got sober, rebuilt his life, and found steady work in IT at Aspen Systems, where he first got his foot in the door to learn hardware IT.
A couple of years later, when the COVID pandemic cost him that job, Juan poured his efforts into earning entry-level certifications through Linux in hopes of finding a job. Still struggling to find employment, he stumbled across an Indeed ad for ActivateWork’s tuition-free 15-week AWS Cloud Fundamentals bootcamp. Skeptical, but desperate, he took a chance.
“The ad said I could become an entry-level cloud specialist without spending a dime and earn a salary that I couldn’t believe,” he said. “It seemed too good to be true, but what did I have to lose?”
How ActivateWork Opened Doors to Opportunity for Juan
Juan attended ActivateWork’s AWS Cloud Fundamentals bootcamp with people across the U.S., many of whom had also been laid off from tech companies due to the pandemic. The one-off virtual program, due to the pandemic, gave him both technical training and career development tools, building his confidence to overcome the imposter syndrome he had grappled with his whole life.
“Collaborating with my peers took my learning even further as they showed me tips and tricks I never would have learned on my own,” he said.
In addition, Juan valued Career Development Fridays, where the class learned vital business skills, such as how to approach looking for a job, resume-building, and other soft skills that could apply to any job.
“This bootcamp was more than just the course and certification to me. I learned so many other business skills that I know can help me excel throughout my career.”
Juan’s Apprenticeship with Ping Identity
Graduating from the program in January 2022, Juan landed a DevOps apprenticeship with Ping Identity through ActivateWork’s network of employer partners. That apprenticeship quickly turned into a full-time role, propelling him from an entry-level income to a competitive salary as a DevOps professional.
“This apprenticeship took me to a whole new level. I had the opportunity to make more money than my family or generations before me have ever seen. It has completely changed the trajectory of our lives.”
A Bright New Future for Juan and His Family
Today, Juan continues to advance his skills in cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence through ActivateWork’s technical training partner, Per Scholas, while providing a stable, thriving home for his family. His perseverance has allowed his family to buy their first home and create a future that once seemed out of reach.
Juan’s story reflects the power of persistence, community support, and lifelong learning. He hopes his story can inspire others in the hearing loss and minority communities to never give up and keep pushing forward.
“It’s not always easy,” he said. “In fact, it can be very hard, but don’t ever give up.”
Graduate Profile: Ulises Aguilar Maturin
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
Uli Maturin is a graduate of ActivateWork's IT Support & Security Fundamentals course.
Before joining ActivateWork, Ulises (Uli) Aguilar Maturin was working in construction and HVAC—reliable work, but far from his passion.
A lifelong gamer with a natural curiosity for how technology works, Uli began self-studying for IT certifications and applying for jobs in tech. But without experience or industry connections, breaking in felt impossible. That changed when he found ActivateWork.
Through ActivateWork’s IT Support & Security Fundamentals bootcamp, Uli built a solid foundation in IT fundamentals and earned his CompTIA A+ certification—credentials he now puts to work as an IT Service Specialist at Janus Henderson.
Just as importantly, our career development training and personalized coaching supports helped him develop the essential professional skills that helped him stand out.
“My instructor emphasized the power of communication, even when you’re nervous,” he says. Mock interviews and constructive feedback prepared him to confidently land his role and opened the door to a fulfilling tech career.
Uli’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when potential meets opportunity. As he puts it:
“I couldn’t have gone to a better bootcamp than ActivateWork.”
Graduate Profile: Isaac Horton
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
When Isaac Horton was laid off from his job due to the COVID19 pandemic, he seized an opportunity to pursue his dream career in IT.
“Even before I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to work in the IT field,” says Horton. But, without a clear entry point, he accepted a job at a Subaru dealership in the finance department after graduation. While it was a good job, it wasn’t something he was passionate about, and there were no opportunities for future growth. So, he began searching for entry-level careers in IT on Indeed, where he came upon a posting for IT Support training with ActivateWork powered by Per Scholas.
When Isaac read of the opportunity to earn industry recognized certifications along with hands-on learning, career development, and job placement opportunities at no cost he thought it was too good to be true. But he soon learned that it was not only real, but it was an opportunity to launch him into a new career.
While enrolled in the program, Isaac worked evenings and weekends as an Amazon delivery driver. This proved to be challenging during the full-time program, but with the support of his instructors and coaches, he was able to balance his time effectively and complete the course. He attributes much of his success to that community, saying, “They were super passionate and helped me stay caught up.”
Upon graduating from the Network Support course, Isaac has not only been prepared to pass key certification exams, but he has also been equipped for his new career in IT with career development and coaching from the ActivateWork team.
“The career development in this program is irreplaceable,” he says, “to be able to learn to sell yourself and get a great job in and of itself is a huge benefit.”
After completing the course, ActivateWork was able to place him with employer partner, FirstBank, where Isaac has now started as a tech support representative. He is thrilled to be able to start his career with such a reputable company where he sees a path for continued growth and upward mobility. His goal is to continue to add additional certifications each year with the tuition assistance program that FirstBank offers and hopes to advance into a software engineering role in the future.
Since starting his new career, Isaac has been matched with his ActivateWork post-placement coach who provides ongoing support and assistance as he navigates this new role. He has already seen tremendous value in this resource and sees his coach as a professional mentor. This coaching will continue for a minimum of 6 months as he launches in the field, helping him acclimate to the role.
Isaac is now further ahead in his career journey and earning more income than he was before being laid off. He is poised for an even better future and he couldn’t be happier to have his foot in the door into an IT career. For his investment of 3 months of time and hard work, he says,
“It was absolutely worth it. I would recommend ActivateWork to anyone ready to get started in the IT field. No scholarship can even compare.”
Graduate Profile: Randy Cordova
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
Randy Cordova graduated this spring from ActivateWork powered by Per Scholas with his IT Support certification.
Randy had been interested in tech all his life but only became involved in the field in recent years. He had previously worked a variety of jobs, including construction, plumbing, and customer service.
While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, Randy realized that his education was not actually providing him with the experience he needed to secure a job. All of the jobs Randy looked at also required specific certifications he wanted to earn, but he found it difficult to find the motivation to pursue them alone. Randy joined ActivateWork’s IT Support cohort and found it to be exactly what he needed. Randy credits the structure and discipline provided by a classroom setting and the support from his colleagues and the team at ActivateWork for helping him complete the course.
He enjoyed the diversity of his cohort and was overwhelmed by the support that the program provided for him.
“The whole program – the professional development, the mock-interviews — it gave me the confidence that I needed,” Randy recalled. “It changed the way that I think. Instead of being intimidated, I had confidence, and I had a whole team of people helping me with what I needed. Doing [ActivateWork] was probably one of the best choices I ever made.”
Since graduating, Randy has begun working full-time as an IT service desk analyst at Centura Health. He is interested in potentially pursuing Networking, Cloud Support, and Cybersecurity certifications and is currently taking an alumni NET+ course through ActivateWork.
“I feel like my path is on the right track for everything I need to do, so I’m very excited,” Randy reflected. “My confidence is up! This was a great opportunity. My whole cohort was so intelligent, and the teachers were great. I think this really changed my life.”
Graduate Profile: Mamadou Diallo
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
Mamadou Diallo, an ActivateWork graduate of 2021, is a dedicated student of personal and academic growth. He spends much of his free time studying subjects of philosophy, computer science, and general well-being.
Before immigrating to the US from Senegal, Mamadou had completed his bachelor’s in biology. He worked as a mental health counselor and health technician for a while after graduation. While it was honest work, he felt that IT was where he wanted to be in the long run.
Mamadou’s interest in IT grew when he worked as a customer service rep troubleshooting iPads and desktops. When Mamadou moved to join his cousin in the US, he knew he would want to enroll in school and began studying computer networking at the Community College of Aurora.
He felt that doing so would give him a leg up in the job market and make him eligible for more diverse job opportunities.
However, the transition was difficult; despite his interest and passion, he found that the school’s affordability was taking its toll. He had begun applying for entry-level tech jobs to no avail. At the time, Mamadou didn’t have a strong resume, nor did he have the tech certificates to back up his skillset. He thought that all his years of IT work experience should have qualified, if not over-qualified, him for all the positions he was applying for.
“I just needed someone who could allow me to start from the bottom.”
One day, he had brought this sentiment to his friends at a barbecue his brother hosted, and someone from the BBQ told him about ActivateWork.
“He said they helped you with everything; school, resume, and getting a job, so I applied. I thought it was too good to be true,” he said.
The next day, he applied. When he came to ActivateWork, Mamadou had already stopped applying for jobs. He was discouraged by the requirements employers were asking for in entry-level positions.
At ActivateWork, he was given a team of support. Before long, Mamadou was flying through his coursework. He worked with Dulcy Booth, Director of Career Development, to spruce up his resume. With the help of Ace VanWanseele, Manager of Business Solutions, he applied for jobs until he landed a position as Advance Video Engineer I at Spectrum/Charter.
“I am so happy. This is real.” Mamadou had been self-studying IT material for years. He took courses online through sites like Udemy and read textbooks, but ActivateWork helped him fill the gaps where self-teaching fell short. “I am so grateful for what ActivateWork does.”
Aside from studying, Mamadou enjoys spending time with his friends. You can catch him playing soccer in our local parks or enjoying a meal at Noodles & Company. His longer-term goals include upskilling in areas including Python, Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes. Ultimately, he hopes to work in Cloud systems where he can expand his diverse skillset.
Graduate Profile: Geraldine Alden
Adult Learners & First Jobs in Tech
Originally from Peru, Geraldine moved to the United States in 2016 with a strong desire to secure a career in Cybersecurity or the IT field.
Technology has always been a hobby of Geraldine’s, something she enjoyed experimenting with for fun. But it wasn’t until she moved to the United States that she realized the significance of this field and the paths it offers.
When Geraldine moved to the United States, her transition to the professional world was not seamless, even though she had a university degree in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity. As a military spouse, frequent relocations added additional challenges to her job search. “Finding a job proved tough.
Companies were hesitant about my international work experience and the gap in my resume due to my family’s relocation.“ Frustrated but not deterred, Geraldine joined ActivateWork. Through the program, she gained practical experience, connected with professionals in the field, obtained her first CompTIA A+ certification, and participated in work-based learning programs at The Cybersecurity Center of the Metropolitan State University of Denver. These experiences led to an apprenticeship as a Security Analyst at Cyber Sainik.
“Reaching this point hasn’t been easy, but it’s just the beginning,” said Geraldine. “Every day presents new challenges and opportunities for growth in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Looking back, I’m grateful for the chance ActivateWork gave me to gain valuable experience and connections.”
Sam V. Kumar, CEO of CyberSainik: “Geraldine has been an invaluable asset to our team since joining CyberSainik as an apprentice. From day one, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to grasp concepts quickly and apply them effectively to real-world scenarios. Geraldine’s growth throughout her apprenticeship journey has been truly impressive, and she’s proven herself to be an exceptional talent.”
Geraldine embodies the core principles of successful apprenticeships: offering individuals opportunities to excel while delivering substantial value to their teams and organizations.