{"id":2531,"date":"2016-10-12T09:46:17","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T14:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=2531"},"modified":"2018-12-18T14:15:09","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T20:15:09","slug":"maryville-partnership-launchcode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/maryville-partnership-launchcode\/","title":{"rendered":"Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPPartnership: It\u2019s Code for Career Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 3 minutes<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Michele Lain, \u201911, and her mother, Kathy Butler, \u201999, are a giant step closer to their dream of starting their own business after taking a coding class this summer. The course was made available through a Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPpartnership with LaunchCode.<\/p>\n

St. Louis-based <\/span>LaunchCode<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0a nonprofit organization that provides education and creates technology career advancement opportunities. The partnership included access to LaunchCode\u2019s apprenticeship program upon successful completion of the 16-week course.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Michele<\/a>
Michele Lain, ’11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis was just an amazing opportunity, and added a skill set to my list of assets and experience,\u201d Lain says. \u201cIt was a great opportunity for my mother and I to take together. We have been talking about starting a business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their business will involve retailing handmade children\u2019s clothing and accessories, Lain says. The mother-daughter team hopes to develop their own website, and also create a mobile app.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to keep the work in-house instead of having to pay a third party to do it for us,\u201d Lain says. \u201cWith us in total control of changes, updates and responding to customer needs, it will help us be the best company.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kathy<\/a>
Kathy Butler, 99<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along with developing a personal business, Butler, who works in an IT area focused on warehousing management, says she learned more about front-end coding to create advancement opportunity with her current employer. \u201cI wanted more up-to-date skills because my company is laying off in certain IT areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Wilder, \u201911, and Alex Lam, \u201911, also plan to establish their own company\u2014possibly as partners. \u201cWe have similar goals,\u201d says Lam. \u201cWe want to be our own bosses.<\/p>\n

\"Jason<\/a>
Jason Wilder, \u201911, and Alex Lam, \u201911<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We might do web development, or maybe develop back-end programs for businesses. We\u2019re working on a final project together and who knows? Maybe we\u2019ll be able to sell it. But right now we\u2019re focused on mastering new languages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tim Lueders, a graduate student in the cyber security program at Maryville, says the LaunchCode program was challenging, but as a finance executive, he sees a growing need for IT professionals in his industry.<\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>
Tim Lueders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was intense,\u201d Lueders says. \u201cIt ranged from learning about binary code and how computers interpret human language to developing a mock e-trade style\u00a0website.\u201d<\/p>\n

But LaunchCode students were given \u201ca wealth of resources,\u201d Lueders says, and independent study groups formed so students could help each other complete assignments successfully.<\/p>\n

Both partners anticipate the program will be offered again in Summer 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were impressed with the caliber of students that enrolled in LaunchCode’s class through our partnership with Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP,\u201d says Mark Bauer, LaunchCode executive director. \u201cWe look forward to continuing to build on our partnership in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This story also featured\u00a0in the Fall\u00a02016 edition of<\/em> Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPMagazine.<\/p>\n

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