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.

Student Spotlight: Heather Brenon-DiBenedetto

Career Goal: To have a job where I can provide for my children.

Why did you join the program? To provide a better life for my three beautiful children.


What has been your favorite part of the experience? The people have been the best part. They are all very kind and willing to help when they can.

What are your hopes for the future? To buy a home and to be able to have my family there for the holidays.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? This program is amazing. It really has helped me not only with my career but also with my personal life.

Student Spotlight: Moriya L. Ariff

Career Goal: To be able to obtain and maintain a career not just a job.

Why did you join the program? To be able to learn a trade in  addition to the degree I currently hold in Culinary Arts.

What was the hardest part of the class? Learning to put aside time to study and complete homework.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Learning the operation of a variety of tools that I've never used before. I have always enjoyed making something simple/ugly into something beautiful and hand-crafted.

What are your hopes for the future? Financial freedom - providing a life for myself and my children that we have never been able to have.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Exactly this - this program is not only informative but also hands-on. The instructors and staff provide anything they can to assist you. It's an opportunity too make a difference in the field and community.

Student Spotlight: Marisol Quintana

Career Goal: Welding, carpentry, landscaping, firefighter, police officer, nurse - a little bit of everything!

Why did you join the program? To seek a high-paying job that allows me to grow as an individual and financially.

What was the hardest part of the class? Not allowing self-doubt to get the best of me.


What has been your favorite part of the experience? The people, the community and the opportunity.

What are your hopes for the future? Self-growth, furthering my education, financial freedom and stability for retirement.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Do it, do your best, push through and believe in yourself. You're worth it!

Student Spotlight: Sydney Rabun

Career Goal: To be in the Air Force and a psychiatrist in the long run.

Why did you join the program? I needed financial security and a career to take care of my two kids. 

What was the hardest part of the class? The math.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Working with all the women in my class and learning new information.

What are your hopes for the future? To be stable in the military so that I can give my kids the life they want and deserve.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? I would give them all the facts and tell them how eye-opening it is, helpful and fun it is to work here. 

Student Spotlight: Brittany Burgett

Career Goal: Have a career where I can go to work and honestly say I know what I'm doing, and to love it.

Why did you join the program? To make a better life for me and my family. To better myself in knowledge. To have a career.

What was the hardest part of the class? The hardest part was learning the specifics of all the tools, and the physical demands.


What has been your favorite part of the experience? My favorite part was having this huge group of women to help me correct my errors and to strive as a team to reach a goal.


What are your hopes for the future? My hopes are to be an electrician and to eventually be able to teach others the things I've learned in my trade.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Do it! Work hard and always listen. You're on a team - help others and let them help you. When you leave, you'll know that you're ready to go into your trade and give your all.

Student Spotlight: Kirsten Scannell

Career Goal: To have opportunities for a rewarding career that earns a better wage than my previous positions.

Why did you join the program? I joined the program to expand my skills and challenge my limits. 

What was the hardest part of the class? Honestly the hardest things were sitting in the classroom instead of hands on.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? I really loved the hands-on experience. It was empowering.

What are your hopes for the future? I hope that I can provide a stable environment for my family.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? I would highly encourage all women to attend this program. The knowledge was invaluable, and my self-confidence has improved.

Student Spotlight: Akimi Warren

Career Goal: I aim to learn about different areas of trade work, so I can plan a career path to become a successful model for my family.

Why did you join the program? To get a great start on my path to success.

What was the hardest part of the class? There was no hard part for me. I truly enjoyed this experience.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? Creating friendship with my peers, getting certified, and learning new skills.

What are your hopes for the future? To become a strong example for my children and other women.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? This program is worth your time.

Student Spotlight: Stella Sigambris

Career Goal: I would like to obtain a position in the trades or an apprenticeship where I would be able to expand my skills and be of value to a company.

Why did you join the program? I learned about the program after reading about it in a brochure. I found it very pertinent to my interest in joining the trades, and it is geared towards helping women to gain some basic training and expose them to do trades.

What was the hardest part of the class? As I expected, there is a manual work involved and skills that I never used before that I have learned from the program.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? To complete a project is the most satisfying part to see. I have learned about building materials, construction tools and how to properly work with them, and it's very gratifying.

What are your hopes for the future?To be able to obtain an apprenticeship or entry-level position in the trades, where I will be able to further learn and fine-tune my skills, and be more valuable to the company I am with.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? I would highly recommend the program to anyone interest in the trades. It will give them an excellent introduction to the trades and allow them to have hands-on experience.

Student Spotlight: Caitlyn David

Career Goal: I would like to start my own company one day. I'm mainly interested in the real estate industry, so this class definitely gives me more confidence and increases the level of independence I could achieve in that industry.

Why did you join the program? Around the time I found this program, I was just finding myself thrown into the world on my own and this time with a one-year-old little boy. When I found the advertisement for this class, it listed that it was free, and they offered child care and transportation assistance. I was amazed how all my current setbacks were relieved by this one program.

What was the hardest part of the class? The hardest part of the class was keeping up with the fast pace learning that the short class offers.

What has been your favorite part of the experience? My favorite part of the class was being able to work with my hands and create something from nothing.

What are your hopes for the future? I hope to be an inspiration to other women stuck in dead-end jobs to step out of their comfort zone and realize their full potential. 

What would you tell someone who is considering joining the program? Don't doubt yourself. The class is available to you free of charge, and if it doesn't already meet all of your needs, they will be more than accommodating.