Before joining Year Up United in 2021, Celia Soriano was working part-time jobs as a server and a COVID-19 tester. She was also a first-year community college student studying public health. As a COVID tester, she saw how healthcare facilities used technology and analytics to track outbreaks of the virus, and how working with technology could truly make a positive impact on people’s lives. Although this sparked her passion for tech, she was unsure how to break into the industry. Her path became clear when she met a Year Up United graduate who spoke highly of the program’s hands-on approach and strong support system, exactly what she needed.

How Year Up United’s Tuition-Free Job Training Program Helped Lupe Launch Her Career at Stanford

Introducing Jordana Walker: a Year Up United graduate from Greater Atlanta whose decision to change up her career resulted in a full-time role at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, a Year Up United partner since 2007. In this Q&A, we learn more about Jordana’s journey and the support she found along the way.

Kristyne Cardenas-Sanchez, a Year Up United graduate from the Bay Area, overcame her fear of change by following her own path while staying true to her core values.

Ignacio Valdez, a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), knew he wanted to advance his career, but he also recognized that achieving his professional goals would require more than ambition alone—it would take preparation and access to the right opportunities.

Aileen Oliva is a Year Up United graduate from the Greater Boston Area who found confidence, career skills, and a path forward with Year Up United—and now paves the way for new interns at Harvard Business School.