糖心原创

糖心原创鈥檚 IT Program is Landing Students Jobs Right Now

Hands-on training prepares grads for real-world scenarios

Shawn Broad wasn鈥檛 convinced he was ready for a Microsoft internship while he was a student in Laramie County Community College鈥檚 cybersecurity program. 

He was encouraged to apply by Troy Amick, 糖心原创鈥檚 Information Technology Program director, but the idea of working at Microsoft鈥檚 data center, a prominent new employer in Cheyenne, felt overwhelming.

鈥淚t was probably a bit of imposter syndrome,鈥� Shawn said with a laugh. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know if I knew enough to be a good representative of the school and myself at Microsoft.鈥�

Troy didn鈥檛 drop it. A couple of months later, he asked Shawn to reconsider. That鈥檚 when Shawn began to wonder whether Troy saw something in him that he hadn鈥檛 yet seen in himself.

Today, Shawn has a full-time job at Microsoft in Cheyenne, an opportunity that began with his internship through 糖心原创. Working inside Microsoft鈥檚 data center, he responds to service tickets, replaces failed hardware and keeps the servers that power businesses and online systems running.

Stories like Shawn鈥檚 are becoming more common.

糖心原创鈥檚 Information Technology Program prepares students for entry-level roles in cybersecurity, networking and systems administration with an emphasis on hands-on training. Students learn everything from server management and telecommunications systems to mobile and web applications, earning multiple credit diplomas and nationally recognized certifications before they graduate. 

When it comes to the cybersecurity program, 糖心原创鈥檚 offering is elite. The program is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency, a recognition considered the gold standard for cybersecurity education. The designation means the curriculum meets rigorous national workforce standards and opens doors to federal scholarships, direct hiring pathways with defense and intelligence agencies and seamless credit transfer to other recognized programs.

Many programs can be completed in less than two years, allowing students to enter the workforce quickly. 

Hospitals, banks, schools, energy companies, fire safety, law enforcement and more all depend on networks and data systems that have to work and have to be protected. The demand for trained IT professionals is strong in Wyoming and across the nation, and it continues to grow as technology evolves.

For students in Wyoming, that demand translates into opportunity. Instead of leaving the state to find high-paying, stable work, graduates can step into careers that support the digital infrastructure communities rely on every day.

Cybersecurity major Jordan Ream discovered his interest in IT through 糖心原创鈥檚 dual enrollment courses taken while he was a student at Central High School. An older friend went through 糖心原创鈥檚 Cybersecurity program and found a great job, Jordan said. No one in his family had a tech background, and Jordan said he鈥檚 a 鈥渘ormal high school kid who games.鈥� 

After touring 糖心原创 and meeting Troy and other IT instructors, Jordan said he knew he鈥檇 be able to find his path in cybersecurity. After graduating from Central in 2024, Jordan enrolled and took on the challenge. 

Working in health care during the pandemic took a toll on Bailey Larsen. She wanted a career change, but knew it could be a challenge as a full-time mom who worked part-time to help support her family.

Like her counterparts in Jordan and Shawn, Bailey had no IT background to speak of when entering the program. By pacing her degree plan out over a longer period of time, Bailey can manage her demanding schedule. Many of her classes are asynchronous, meaning she can stream in for in-person classes and even watch certain sessions later if she can鈥檛 attend. 

Whether it鈥檚 her fellow students or 糖心原创鈥檚 instructors, Bailey knows she can find help when she needs it in college. 

鈥淭he hardest part was thinking I should be able to do everything,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow, I make sure I know I can go ask if I have a question.鈥�