Youth apprenticeship leads to exciting career in IT for Soaring Recent Alumni Award winner
ALUMNI STORIES
Shumaker named Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
NWTC was hugely influential in pushing me to achieve and realize my academic potential .
Savanah Saldaña- Shumaker , M . S .
NWTC is proud to name Savanah Saldaña-Shumaker , M . S . – scientist , entrepreneur , and STEM advocate – as the 2023 recipient of our Distinguished Alumni Award .
When she graduated from NWTC in 2011 , Shumaker was just starting her journey . Now , she ’ s an analytical chemist at the National Institutes of Health , a successful start-up founder twice over , and an advocate for women in STEM . Her two startups – SCS Laboratory Solutions , Inc . and Nazte Beauty , LLC – revolve around her love of science and desire to make safe , sustainable products .
“ While a laboratory device and a makeup line might seem like a random pair of interests , the common thread between SCS Laboratory Solutions and Nazte Beauty is , fundamentally , chemical safety ,” said Schumaker .
The two companies leverage her extensive background in chemistry , product development , and building strong personal relationships , which were first fostered as a student of NWTC over a decade ago .
“ NWTC was hugely influential in pushing me to achieve and realize my academic potential ,” said Schumaker .
Youth apprenticeship leads to exciting career in IT for Soaring Recent Alumni Award winner
Jared Maurina started taking classes at NWTC when he was a junior in high school as part of the Youth Apprenticeship program .
“ I knew early on that I liked school , but I didn ’ t think a bachelor ’ s was for me ,” said Maurina . “ I wanted to get experience and find a job – the network specialist apprenticeship was a perfect opportunity to do that .”
Flexible scheduling and small class sizes were especially appealing to Maurina , who spent the first two years at NWTC balancing multiple commitments .
“ Having the flexibility to balance a job , high school , and extracurricular activities was a must ,” said Maurina . “ You ’ re not just a number ; instructors keep in touch and recognize you as equals .”
I didn ’ t think a bachelor ’ s was for me . I wanted to get experience and find a job .
Jared Maurina
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