OUR STORY
NPower is a national nonprofit that leverages an evidence-based model to foster economic empowerment through digital skill enhancement and industry recognized credentials for military-connected individuals, young adults, and women from under-resourced communities. Our strength is seeing students of nontraditional backgrounds through pivotal life transitions. Our unique approach combines rigorous, free training and trauma-informed support services, career readiness skills and job placement assistance.
We have offered foundational and advanced career training opportunities to over 10,000 graduates, with the goal of scaling to serve 15,000 annually by 2030—all while maintaining strong placement outcomes. Led by a committed team, we seek to create a tech workforce that mirrors the world around us and empower students to drive change in their own lives and communities.
Over the past decade, NPower has expanded its program reach and developed a robust network of Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized enterprises, government agencies, staffing firms, and a network of nonprofit partners that host its interns and hire its graduates full-time. NPower is a vital solution towards bridging the national talent gap that exists in the high-growth technology industry.
To learn more about NPower, visit npower.org.
ORDER OF CEREMONY
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Samantha Coleman
Site Director, NPower San Antonio, Texas
PRESENTER
Kelli Rhodes
Host Agency
PRESENTER
Carl Bell, USAA Representative
INTRO TO ALUMNI SPEAKER
Samantha Coleman
ALUMNI SPEAKER
Millicent Anao
CLASS SPEAKER
Nan Greenwood
INTRO TO CLASS HONORS PRESENTATION
Samantha Coleman
PRESENTATION OF CLASS HONORS
Kira Braswell
CLASS HONORS
Anthony Franklin
Charlie Wright
Ashley Ferguson
INTRO TO COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Samantha Coleman
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Senator José Menéndez
PRESENTATION OF GRADUATION CERTIFICATES
CLOSING REMARKS
Samantha Coleman
RECEPTION
SPEAKERS
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Senator José Menéndez
The son of immigrants, José Menéndez grew up working at his family’s small business located in San Antonio’s West Side. During his term in office, Menéndez passed over 200 bills that benefited children, seniors, veterans, and San Antonio families. One of the bills, David’s Law, empowers students, parents, schools, and law enforcement to combat and prevent cyberbullying. Senator Menéndez is also a strong advocate for job growth, community and business development. Along with his successful legislation, Senator Menéndez has secured millions of dollars for advancements in education, healthcare, parks, and additional funding developments, including $17 million for the Alamo Colleges.
Senator Menéndez began his public service career in 1997 when he was elected to the San Antonio City Council District 6 office, representing the city’s West Side. He was then elected to serve as State Representative for House District 124 in 2000. He was later entrusted with an appointment to the powerful Appropriations Committee where he secured millions of dollars for various crucial San Antonio initiatives.
In his final session serving in the House, Menéndez was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Defense and Veterans’ Affairs where he secured one of the state’s largest mental health programs for Veterans.
Senator Menéndez has distinguished himself as a commonsense problem solver, able to work with colleagues on all sides to serve the needs of Texas families. He has continued to remain committed to improving the state’s public education system, utilities and energy infrastructure, as well as housing and economic development.
THANK YOU to Our Supporting Partners
FUNDERS
80|20 Foundation
Alamo AFCEA Education Foundation
City of San Antonio Ready to Work
Deloitte
H-E-B
NBA Foundation
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Texas Veterans Commission
Texas Workforce Commission
USAA
EMPLOYERS
Accenture Federal Services
Boeing
Breakpoint Labs
Continental USA
Goodwill San Antonio
GSA
GXO
Humana
TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Doug Barnes Vice President of Operations NETSCOUT
Barbie Barta Chief Exectuive Officer Business Centric Technology
Jacqueline Bragg
NPOWER ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE Information Security Analyst Citi
Dana Branchz
Senior Vice President, AI Bank of America
Tresia Eaves Entrepeneur SDVOSB
Blake Helm Cloud Infastructure Finance Oracle
Jason Hess Executive Director JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Informa Market
Legado Management Company
Microsoft
PAR Technology
Pro-Vigil
Restore Education and Bexar County
San Antonio Hope Center
Satorius
Task US
Texas Veteran’s Commission
UbreakIFix
ZT Systems
VOLUNTEERS
Accenture Federal Services
Alamo Area Council of Governments
AVANCE
Bank of America
Beldon Roofing
Broadway Bank
City of San Antonio - Workforce Development
Marc Interial Process Technical Services
Timothy Jackson Diamond Offshore
Rashimi Jain CIO
Careington International
Christopher Karp Director of Customer Service Chewy
Bobbie Long CO-CHAIR
SVP Digital Automation & Infrastructure Citi
Ashley Neumeier Account Executive Optomi
Raymond Pitts Senior Vice President - Data Ceter Migration Portfolio Manager Citigroup
City Year
Communities in Schools
DOCUmation
Endeavors
Family Service Center
JP Morgan Chase
Lumen Technologies
National Association of Black
Military Women
Port of San Antonio
Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council
SSFCU
TDJ Consulting
The Center for Health Care Services
THRU Project
Tribu LLC
TX A&M - San Antonio
University of Texas San Antonio
USAA
Victory Capital
Workforce Solutions Alamo
Emir Putra WWT
Kian Sanders VP Mr. Cooper
Drew Simmons Chief Information Security Officer Juniper Networks
Renee Stewart Yang Ming Corp
Hermen Wegayehu
CHAIR
SVP, Senior Information Security Officer Bank of America
Charles Woodin CEO, Geekdom
Valencia Woodward AVP, Talent Managment Mr. Cooper
