See Our Graduates
Congratulations to Workforce Training Academy Graduates!
Workforce Training Academy Spring 2025 Graduation!
What an unforgettable evening filled with pride, achievement, and inspiration!
This spring, DMACC’s Workforce Training Academy (WTA) proudly enrolled 159 students, with an outstanding 82% completion rate! Our graduates earned industry-recognized certificates in Nurse Aide & Nurse Aide Refresher, Phlebotomy, Direct Support Professional, Sterile Processing, MIG Welding, Dog Grooming, and CDL.
We were thrilled to welcome a full house—59 students and over 240 supportive family members and friends—as we celebrated their accomplishments. Our student speakers moved the crowd with powerful stories of perseverance and the transformative impact of earning a DMACC credential on their journey toward meaningful careers. Thank you to Pamela Mason, who earned both her Basic and Advanced Nurse Aide certificates, and to Eva Lewis, who completed the Office Specialist Plus+ certificate.
Congratulations, graduates! Your dedication and determination have led you to this milestone—and the future is full of promise and opportunity. We are so proud of you!
Celebrating Success at the Workforce Training Academy Fall 2024 Graduation!
What an incredible evening filled with accomplishments and pride! This fall, 149 students enrolled, and an impressive 124 successfully completed their training programs—a remarkable 83% completion rate! Graduates represented a variety of certificate programs, including Nurse Aide & Nurse Aide Refresher, Phlebotomy, Direct Support Professional, Sterile Processing, MIG Welding, Dog Grooming, and CDL. With 52 graduates and over 290 family and friends attending, the energy in the room was unforgettable — our biggest crowd yet! A special shoutout to our inspiring student speaker, Fatima Ndour, a proud graduate of the Jumpstart Nurse Aide program.
Congratulations, graduates! Your hard work and determination have paid off, and exciting opportunities await.
DMACC's Workforce Training Academy (WTA) 2024 Summer graduation at the Southridge Center.
We had lots to celebrate at our summer graduation. WTA enrolled a total of 73 students and 69 successfully completed their training programs-that is a 95% completion rate!!!
The classes that Summer students were enrolled in includes Administrative Support Professional, Dog Grooming, Nurse Aide, Direct Support Professional, Nurse Aide Refresher, MIG Production Welding and CDL.
Just 18 of our 69 graduates were able to attend graduation but we had a full house with 90 family & friends joining in the celebration! The highlight was our student speaker, Gladis Navarro Villalobos. Thank you Gladis for sharing your story!
CONGRATULATIONS and best wishes to each of you. Exciting opportunities await!
Congratulations to the Spring 2024 graduates of the DMACC Workforce Training Academy!
With 21 graduates participating and around 80 attendees, we celebrated a remarkable event filled with notable achievements. Our diverse programs spanned Healthcare (including CNA and Advanced CNA, Phlebotomy, and Sterile Processing), Transportation (CDL), and Business/IT (IT Helpdesk and Dog Grooming).
This term marked our highest completion rate yet, with 88 enrollees and 79 earning their certificates - a 90% success rate!
DMACC's Workforce Training Academy (WTA) hosted their 2023 Fall graduation last night at the Southridge Center.
It is always a special event and last night was no different.
WTA enrolled 142 students this Fall and 113 had already completed their training program.
Our student speaker Brittnie Thompson, said it best when explaining her experience with WTA “Sometimes you’ll never know the value of something until it becomes a memory (quote from) -Dr. Suess”. We had 29 students attend graduation along with 96 family & friends to support them. DMACC continues to make a difference in our community on so many levels!!
Pictured (Front L to R): Zarah Rezaei, Victoria Alonzo, Brandy Weber, Crystal Campbell. (Back L to R): Raimundo DeBerry, Jacey Dakovich, Zoey Hannan, Diamond Redwood, Kassandra Molloy, Karen Leon Symons, Madeline Lundy.
DMACC's Workforce Training Academy (WTA) hosted their 2023 Summer graduation last night at the Urban Campus.
It is always a special event and last night was no different.
WTA enrolled 64 students this summer with a 90% completion rate!
Our student speakers were Diamond Redwood who graduated from the Nurse Aide program and Zarah Rezaei who graduated from the Administrative Support Professional program. Such inspiring stories and this is only the beginning for them!!! We had 11 students attend graduation along with 63 family & friends to support them. DMACC continues to make a difference in our community on so many levels!!
On June 8th, 13 students graduated from their 6-month long Industrial Electrical Maintenance program at Pella. WTA was able to partner with local employers to assist in training their employees.
DMACC's Workforce Training Academy and Young Adult Program welcomed Spring graduates and their families and friends with a record breaking 160 in attendance! Congratulations to the over 90 students who completed their certificates this term.
A Fall graduation was held December 15 at DMACC Urban Campus. 15 graduates were in attendance. (front row, left to right) Brenda, Hoyos Hernandez, Stephanie Tonkinson, Brianna Miller, Stephanie Martindale, Deja Crain, Madisen Moss. (back row, left to right) Perla Zargoza, Andrew Kafeero, Yen Yen Wong, Vakaideya Nagbo, September Standing, Em Pesce, Joel Siffuentes, Kyle Talley, Angel Garcia Espinoza.
Congratulations to our Summer graduates.
A Summer graduation was held for the DMACC Workforce Training Academy (WTA) and Young Adult Program (YAP) graduates at the DMACC Urban Campus. 12 students were able to attend the graduation ceremony, including (front row, left to right) Sabreen Al-Hameed, Haziel Miranda, Patience Saplah, Manissa Joe, Prisha Rayburn, Zaid Tewelde; (back row) Katie Saravia, NeChelle Moore, Brian Mendoza, Isabella Guzman, Abu Bakarr Kabba Conteh, Zariah White.
WTA Graduates Attend Spring Graduation at the Southridge Center
A spring graduation was held for the DMACC Workforce Training Academy (WTA) graduates at the DMACC Southridge Center. Eighteen students attended the WTA graduation ceremony, including (front row, left to right) Christina Carter of Ames, Petrita Perez Flores of Altoona, Tracy Frey of Des Moines, Galen Hawke of Ames and Heather Mohler of Polk City; (second row) Jesica Powell of Des Moines, Maria Figueroa Garcia of West Des Moines, Jatziri Jaquez pf Des Moines, Markaya Clark of Des Moines, Debra Kusel of Des Moines and Nancy Ruiz of Des Moines; (back row) Lizania Galdamez of Perry, Abigail Eisbrenner of Urbandale, Antonia Cameron of Des Moines, Mahagony Hodges of Des Moines, David Saah of Waukee, Joseph Santucci of West Des Moines and TreDeVonte Bekish of Des Moines.
WTA is a state-funded program offering training in the career areas of Business, Health Care, Skilled Trades and Transportation.
Spring WTA and YAP Graduation
Congratulations to the Spring 2022 WTA and YAP Graduates. Thank you to Deb Kusel for being our student speaker. Listen to her inspirational words.
May 2022
Congratulations to our Ames Welding graduates who completed training in May 2022!
(L to R) instructor Jeff Pratt, Lane Henkle, James Stewart, Chris Boeset, Trey Sinn and Joe Pimlott.
Congratulations to our Ames CNA graduates who completed training in May 2022!
Sarah Ball
Vanessa Ellsbury
Christine Stammer
Rebekah Stammer
Zul Torres
Ames CNA students celebrate their graduation. Back L to R: Zul Torres, Sarah Ball, Hannah Lohafer, Rebekah Stammer.
Front L to R: Vanessa Ellsbury, Christine Stammer
PIC
February 2022
Congratulations to our CNA graduates who completed training at DMACC's Boone campus February 2022!
Front Row (L to R) Dana Kokhjohn and David Penissi
Back Row (L to R) Vonda Junck (program navigator) , Rebekka Reuter, Ben Hurd, Royce Blackledge, Hayley Shimanek
We were able to celebrate our Fall graduates in person for the first time in two years on December 16, 2021!
Congratulations to all who earned certificates in Business, Healthcare, Skilled Trades and Transportation. You worked hard and it paid off.
Remember that we are here to support you in your journey, whether to assist as you search for employment and/or want to explore more educational opportunities at DMACC!
Fall 2021 Graduates: (Front Row - left to right) Emma Reinke, Jayden Wade, Corina
Frey, Tay Mei, Janalle Ward, Aliyah Grimes (Back Row - left to right) Natalie Sweeney,
James Hmohmo. Gerard Spencer, Taylor Jeffcott, Danielle Daniel, Tiffany Gist, Kassi
Ransom, Derrick Troncoso,Marissa Catalan.
Ames Fall Graduates
Ames CNA Graduation and Employer Meet & Greet November 11, 2021
Congratulations to the following students who earned their Nurse Aide Certificate (CNA) at DMACC’s Boone Campus Fall 2021.
L to R--Jing Bai, Emily Severson, Chasity Moody, Mary Warner, Angelita Ewing, Alek Goll
After successfully completing their education, students attended a WTA Career Readiness Class in preparation for the Employer Meet & Greet. What a great opportunity to promote their newly obtained skills to employers in their community! Students were asked to share the best thing about their experiences with WTA:
- Everyone was so kind and helpful. WTA allowed me to gain so much knowledge that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to.
- The best thing was the free tuition, along with detailed information and communication when I needed it.
- The funding and the Employer Meet & Greet!
- The Meet & Greet educated me on a lot of options I didn't know were available. Vonda was super helpful too!
- How helpful and kind everyone was. They really eased my mind! And the training helped me improve my skills. I really appreciate all the support!
- It helped me a lot! Very supportive in helping start my career!
- Everything!!! Thanks to WTA, and to everything Vonda did to help, I have so much confidence and HOPE now!
Several students plan to further their education in nursing! Thanks to Vonda Junck, WTA Navigator and Nikki Fischer, Ames Chamber of Commerce for all you do to support our students!
Congratulations to our Summer 2021 Graduates
Although we are celebrating your success virtually, we hope that you are able to take time to celebrate ‘safely’ with your family and friends.
You have accomplished so much this semester! Not only are our classes very fast-paced and demanding but most, if not all of you took classes online for the first time. This was not easy! You have overcome many challenges and accomplished great goals.
Enjoy your virtual graduation. We are proud of you!
Remember that WTA is here to support you in your journey, whether you are starting your career and/or you want to explore more educational opportunities at DMACC! Stay in touch with us! We want to hear about your successes and accomplishments AND we want to hear if you need assistance taking that next step!
CONGRATULATIONS WTA GRADUATES!!!
Congratulations to our Spring 2021 graduates!
Although we are celebrating your success virtually, we hope that you are able to take time to celebrate ‘safely’ with your family and friends.
You have accomplished so much this semester! Not only are our classes very fast-paced and demanding but most, if not all of you took classes online for the first time. This was not easy! You have overcome many challenges and accomplished great goals.
Enjoy your virtual graduation. We are proud of you!
Remember that WTA is here to support you in your journey, whether you are starting your career and/or you want to explore more educational opportunities at DMACC! Stay in touch with us! We want to hear about your successes and accomplishments AND we want to hear if you need assistance taking that next step!
CONGRATULATIONS WTA GRADUATES!!!
Congratulations to our Fall 2020 graduates!
Although we are celebrating your success virtually, we hope that you are able to take time to celebrate ‘safely’ with your family and friends.
You have accomplished so much this semester! Not only are our classes very fast-paced and demanding but most, if not all of you took classes online for the first time. This was not easy! You have overcome many challenges and accomplished great goals.
Enjoy your virtual graduation. We are all proud of you!
Remember that WTA is here to support you in your journey, whether to assist as you start your career or if you want to explore more educational opportunities at DMACC! Please remember to let us know about your successes and accomplishments as you start your new careers.
CONGRATULATIONS WTA GRADUATES!!!
DMACC’s Workforce Training Academy had to cancel our Spring graduation but COVID-19 could not stop our 92 graduates!
The pandemic required DMACC to postpone Spring semester with most students completing classes online this summer. We also know that there were many life disruptions outside of the classroom but you persevered!!
This alone demonstrates the commitment you have to the life changes you are creating
for yourselves and your families!
Enjoy your virtual graduation and share with your family and friends! We are all proud
of you!
Remember that WTA is here to support you in your journey, whether to assist as you search for jobs and/or want to explore more educational opportunities at DMACC!
CONGRATULATIONS WTA GRADUATES!!!