Student Spotlight: Jada Hudson

Career Goal: Master Welder. Own a LLC Company. Develop and Build Others.

Why did you join the program? To gain more knowledge and develop skills in the construction and labor trade.

What was the hardest part of the class? The different personalities, and remaining focused despite hardship.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? The Habitat for Humanity project and the wellness days.

What are your hopes for the future? To work and build a great career and life for myself.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Take advantage of all opportunities they offer and take heed to all instruction. 

Student Spotlight: Virginia Stowe

Career Goal: To be in a job I could be passionate about. That I could learn a trade and apply hard work and skill.

Why did you join the program? I was exploring areas I would like to make a career in, and I was searching for something to support myself and my children.

What was the hardest part of the class? Sitting all day during the classroom portions of the program.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Hands-on volunteering and touring Ingalls.

What are your hopes for the future? To be in a career I love and can be excited to wake up, and to build a secure future for my family and me. 

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Stick through it. Remember why you started. Don't get discouraged. Most importantly, take it seriously.

Student Spotlight: Stephanie Mayes

Career Goal: To become an entrepreneur or a supervisor, and to learn more skills.

Why did you join the program? I joined the program to gain certifications in the industry.


What has been your favorite part of the experience? Building was my favorite part; working around different personalities and staying focused.

What are your hopes for the future? Having my own company one day and learning many skills as well. 

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program?If you don't know where to start at, it begins here. It's a good program to learn many skills.

Student Spotlight: Tiffany Johnson

Career Goal: To find a stable job that I love with good benefits and hopefully retire there.

Why did you join the program? I wanted to try something  different, and I needed a new start.

What was the hardest part of the class? Having to study and be ready for tests in a short matter of time.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? The on-site and building projects, including finishing the office space at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore and building the picnic tables.

What are your hopes for the future? Making good money providing for my family and being debt-free.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? It's a great training program with hands-on experience. You have to be ready, and no matter what, don't quit.

Student Spotlight: Michelle Stork

Career Goal: Good paying job. Feeling of accomplishment.

Why did you join the program? I was sick of living paycheck to paycheck.

What was the hardest part of the class? Nothing - I love learning new things. 

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Learning to be confident with power tools.

What are your hopes for the future? Financial stability.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Follow ALL the rules.

Student Spotlight: Diamond Virgin

Career Goal: To have a successful career for my family and I to live comfortably and enjoy it. Not just work to pay bills and to be tired.

Why did you join the program? I felt like this was something that was going to help better myself. I needed a different approach on life.

What was the hardest part of the class? The hardest part is staying grounded and focused. Life hits you from every direction to where sometimes it will make you lose focus and want to quite. "No Matter What, Don't Quit."

What has been your favorite part of the experience? The build project and when the speakers came to talk more about our personal issues. I really needed to hear some of the things that were shared.

What are your hopes for the future? My hopes are to keep striving for greatness and make something out of the program, and get a successful job.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? I will recommend the course because it is a great program and a great place to start over in life. This is a great stepping stone towards something greater.

Student Spotlight: Shelly Helmle

Career Goal: To get trained in different trades to get a better job to support my two boys and myself.

Why did you join the program? To earn credentials and skills to get a living-wage job, to give my boys the life they deserve.


What was the hardest part of the class? Sitting in class for hours at a time listening to speakers. 

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Being part of a strong and supportive group of women who all want to better their lives for their kids and themselves.

What are your hopes for the future? To land a living wage job and put my skills to work.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? It's an awesome program. Don't take it as a joke because you will not make it if you do. It's well worth it.

Student Spotlight: Tiedda Brown

Career Goal: My career goal is to successfully start a new career in the industrial field that is financially suitable for my family size.

Why did you join the program? I joined the Women in Construction Program to learn new skills to start a new career successfully.

What was the hardest part of the class? The hardest part of the program for me was taking in all the new information on hand and power tools.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? My favorite part of the experience was learning new skills that will help me with my new career choice. 

What are your hopes for the future? My hope for the future is to obtain a career that has opportunity for advancement, so I can continue to grow in my career field. 

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? I would tell them about the program and the great benefits the program offers. I would also tell them about the skills that are learned while enrolled in the program.

Student Spotlight: Lyndea Anderson

Career Goal: Getting a good-paying job to provide for my family.

Why did you join the program? To better my career and job.

What was the hardest part of the class? Getting here on time every day.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Using the tools and building things. 

What are your hopes for the future? To watch my kids grow and to build a house from the ground up, and to have the money to do so. 

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? This is a great program for women. Be prepared to work hard and learn every day.

Student Spotlight: Ingrid Johnson

Career Goal: To become a journeyman electrician.

Why did you join the program? To gain experience in trade work. Gaining certifications and child care was also an added bonus!! Also, to network to learn about different types of trades in Mississippi. 

What was the hardest part of the class? Learning and having a complete understanding of all the different certifications I earned.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? The actual hands-on experience (the build project). It was very rewarding seeing a finished product that I was a part of. 

What are your hopes for the future? My immediate hope is to gain some type of employment within a month of graduating this program, making at least $13/hour or more.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? This is a great experience and worth your time if you are serious about working in the trades. The program also helps with child care if necessary. The program offers several different certificates that may help you gain employment. 

Student Spotlight: Nathalie Jorge

Career Goal: Go to work at Ingalls.

Why did you join the program? My mom was part of Class 36. She was always talking about WinC programs, and I decided to join it.


What was the hardest part of the class? Studying for all the tests, but it was worth it. 

What has been your favorite part of the experience? The work place and being able to learn different things.

What are your hopes for the future? Being an example for more women who don't know about the program, to show them that we can do it too.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? You are definitely going to love it. Enjoy every part of it, because the time will fly.