IT-Computer Support Specialist graduate Noah Wiley came to WCTC in his senior year of high school in 2017-18 to get a head start on his education and explore what WCTC had to offer. He signed up for the Dual Enrollment Academy’s IT Systems Specialist program and was able to earn high school and college credits at the same time.
“I thought it was a great way to start college early and gain valuable experience for future jobs,” said Noah, who earned his associate degree in 2019.
Noah’s younger sister, Rachael, decided to follow her brother’s path. She enrolled in and completed the same DEA program—just one year later—and is now also in the IT - Computer Support Specialist program.
“I encouraged Rachael to attend Dual Enrollment Academy because it is a great program, and I thought that she would benefit from the experience,” he said.
Rachael has also found success in the IT field. She is currently working as a support specialist for a software systems company and in spring 2019, she earned a prestigious award from the National Center for Women in Information Technology. She will graduate from WCTC in December 2020.
While both were in school at WCTC at the same time, the Wiley siblings didn’t have any classes together, but they were a great resource for one another, giving each other feedback on projects.
“Being in the same program is also interesting because we have similar interests in the IT field,” Rachael said. “At the same time, we have both had very different work experiences because IT has so many different paths.”