Time flies — not only when you’re having fun, but also for the students at the Detroit Apple Developer Academy.

What seems like it was just a jumpstart for those interested in the future of tech has now become a life accomplishment as the Detroit Apple Developer Academy celebrates its first-ever graduates of the program.

“Ten months ago, we opened the doors to the developer academy with a shared vision for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and building leaders, developers, and entrepreneurs who could make an impact on their local communities,” said MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. in a statement shared with AfroTech. “Today, we celebrate nearly 100 graduates and their remarkable accomplishments that will undoubtedly make a positive impact on the city of Detroit and our state for many years to come.”

As reported by AfroTech, the academy — located in Detroit, MI — is a first-of-its-kind program that falls within Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. Offered at no cost to students, this program provides participants with an opportunity, to not only learn to develop apps of their own through the world’s leading technology company but is paving the way for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Introducing The Graduates

“As the first graduates of our Detroit Developer Academy, these students have demonstrated remarkable creativity, service to their communities, and resilience through the pandemic,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We’re so excited to see how this class will use their coding and app development skills and the power of technology to build a better world.”

Over the last 10 months, students have received intensive app development and entrepreneurial training courtesy of Apple. The program also equipped them with the resources and skills needed for iOS development, ultimately helping them to create applications that will soon be available for downloading across the App Store.

Next Steps

Following graduation, which took place on Thursday (June 30), students will do everything from starting positions with major brands like GM, Ford, Rocket Mortgage, and more, to heading into the next leg of the program which includes an internship. Others have announced plans to continue their education.

“I literally feel like I can do anything I wanted,” said Alesha Duncan, who has been hired as a design mentor for the academy next year. “The Apple Developer Academy has given me a different kind of confidence in my skill set, in who I am, in my ability to go out and impact the world.”

Applications for the next Apple Developer Academy cohort are now open.