by Team NexGenT | NexGenT Updates, Success Stories
On the evening of December 15th, we gathered for our virtual graduation ceremony to celebrate the recent success of our Full Stack Network Engineer 6-19-2020 cohort. This was truly an exciting moment for everyone as the cohort members completed the Full Stack Network Engineer (FSNE) program having put in their passion and hard work over 22 weeks to achieve success. The cohort began on June 19th, 2020, and completed with 66 graduates.
Through the program, students learned exactly what it takes to be an effective and successful Network Engineer in today’s workforce. Having most students starting out with no prior experience, their knowledge was built from ground zero where they learned the fundamentals of networking and progressed all the way to planning, designing, and deploying their own multi-site, enterprise-grade networks by the end of the program. The students from this cohort are now in the job hunting phase. Some of which have already landed new IT jobs or landed promotions within their companies.

What’s the program like?
The FSNE program prepares students for the real-world by rigorously vetting their skills and knowledge over 22 weeks and across multiple checkpoints and milestones which include multiple certifications. The first certification that students must achieve is the Full Stack Network Associate (FSNA) certification from NexGenT. To achieve this students must pass a written exam and also deploy a real network on their own which supports routing, switching, wireless networking, voice over IP, and network security. After achieving the FSNA, students then work on obtaining their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification from Cisco Systems. The goal is for the students to knock out this certification by the 90-day mark before moving into the advanced training aspect of the program. Upon entering advanced training, students immediately begin learning project management skills and working to design and build their first project. Their first project is a very robust 3-site network deployment with a headquarters and two remote offices. Two more projects are then deployed where a Cisco ASA with remote access SSL VPN solution is deployed, followed by a Colo Data Center deployment for redundancy and additional network services.

After planning, designing, implementing, supporting, and finally closing all three of these projects, the student must pass their final skills qualification and troubleshooting check, in order to achieve their Full Stack Network Professional (FSNP) certification from NexGenT. Throughout the program students also receive career help and have many career-related milestones to accomplish relating to their career plan, resume, and personal branding. After completing all program milestones and capstone projects, the students then move to the job hunting phase where they focus strictly on landing their new job or promotion.
There are currently three other cohorts running who will soon be graduating and celebrating similar success, and our next FSNE cohort launches in February 2021, only a few days from now! To learn more about getting on the path to become a network or systems engineer with robust training, project-based learning, career planning, and real-world skills certification with zero upfront costs, then click here.

Additionally, six special recognition awards we handed out to recognize top performers, most improved, and first to get certified.
Winners of the six Recognition Awards:
- Master of the Network: Md Rahman
- Most Improved: Marcus Snelling
- Commendation Medal: Chris Sassone
- CCNA 1st To Certify: Oluwatosin Bamidele Desalu
- FSNP Low Latency: Jason Hoang
- FSNP Ace Award: Amadou Diop, Andres Espinal, Audrey Garcia, Brandon Spain, Chen Bayba, Christopher Sassone, Donte Dillard, Jason Deoraj, Jea Sheng Chen Ruan, Jordan Derington, Jose Castillo, Jason Hoang, Liam Lyne, Md Rahman, Noah Davis, Phillip Rozul, Raghda Hussein, Ralph Vetter, Sadaris Coulter, Tekia Coryell, Victor Roberts
Join us in congratulating all of the graduates of the 6-19 cohort!
- Aleshia Wingate, FSNA-0199, FSNP-0098
- Alex Bass, FSNA-0134
- Amadou Diop, FSNA-0186, FSNP-0072
- Andres Espinal, FSNA-0180, FSNP-0067
- Audrey Garcia, FSNA-0179, FSNP-0096
- Bernard Adeniran, FSNA-0119
- Brandon Spain, FSNA-0190, FSNP-0097
- Chen Bayba, FSNA-0171, FSNP-0070
- Chinedu Okonkwo, FSNA-0224, FSNP-0114
- Christian Evboumwan, FSNP-0105
- Christopher Bell, FSNA-0105, FSNP-0087
- Christopher Bettis, FSNA-0192
- Christopher Robinson, FSNA-0185
- Christopher Sassone, FSNA-0169, FSNP-0071
- Cory Bethune, FSNA-0191
- Costes Kimes, FSNA-0160, FSNP-0113
- Curtis Thomas, FSNA-0182
- Daniel Aguirre, FSNA-0153, FSNP-0091
- Donte Dillard, FSNA-0221, FSNP-0068
- Donte Wilkins, FSNA-0097, CCNA
- Dren LaPhayne, FSNA-0159, FSNP-0099
- Edward Arroyo, FSNA-0203, FSNP-0094
- Einar Galilea, FSNA-0181, CCNA
- Felice Marin, FSNA-0177, FSNP-0073
- Giovanni Ledesma, FSNA-0227
- Jared Dickerson, FSNA-0178, FSNP-0092
- Jaron Smith, FSNA-0197, FSNP-0076
- Jason Deoraj, FSNA-0150, FSNP-0081
- Jason Hoang, FSNP-0086
- Jea Sheng Chen Ruan, FSNA-0194, FSNP-0069
- Joe Edwards, FSNA-0213, FSNP-0107
- Johnny Rosario, FSNA-0149, FSNP-0074
- Jordan Derington, FSNA-0187, FSNP-0075
- Jose Castillo, FSNA-0163, FSNP-0100
- Justin Sanin, FSNA-0161, FSNP-0090
- Kay Atre, FSNA-0216
- Kyoshi Fish, FSNA-0091, CCNA
- Liam Lyne, FSNA-0168, FSNP-0085
- Loren Dukes, FSNA-0212, FSNP-0088
- Marcus Snelling, FSNA-0196, FSNP-0111
- Md Rahman, FSNA-0147, FSNP-0077, CCNA
- Michael King, FSNA-0218
- Michael Wright, FSNA-0198, FSNP-0093
- Minh Truong, FSNA-0155, FSNP-0078, CCNA
- Monalisa Ngono, FSNA-0225
- Nichole Atkins, FSNA-0217, FSNP-0110
- Noah Davis, FSNA-0184, FSNP-0103
- Oluwatosin Bamidele Desalu, FSNA-0170, FSNP-0080, CCNA
- Phillip Rozul, FSNA-0154, FSNP-0095
- Raghda Hussein, FSNA-0166, FSNP-0082
- Rakiya Smith, FSNA-0106, CCNA
- Ralph Vetter, FSNA-0193, FSNP-0079
- Roberto Buenrostro, FSNA-0301, FSNP-0089
- Roderick Mitchell, FSNA-0201
- Ronald Boughner, FSNA-0172, FSNP-0109
- Sadaris Coulter, FSNA-0183, FSNP-0083
- Samantha Horne, FSNA-0219
- Sarah Mattson, FSNA-0107
- Sergio Maldonado, FSNA-0164, FSNP-0084
- Tekia Coryell, FSNA-0157, FSNP-0104
- Tim Byland, FSNA-0173, FSNP-0101
- Techeramie Finney, FSNA-0117, FSNP-0106
- Victor Boyd, FSNA-0214
- Victor Roberts, FSNA-0152, FSNP-0102
- Xhayni De Mur, FSNA-0174, FSNP-0112
- Zari Haraway, FSNA-0211, FSNP-0108

by Team NexGenT | NexGenT Updates

Nicole Evans is a Career Success Coach who has an astounding passion for meeting people where they are to get them to where they want to be! Having pursued a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, she is more equipped with assessing individuals’ current state to help achieve the goal at hand. Nicole is also a Certified Life Coach. She can actively listen to individuals’ cues to reshape their solutions for success, especially career success.
Nicole has previous experience as a Director of Staff and Program Development, Family Academic Support Advisor, and an Educational Manager. Nicole is adept in leadership skills, academic advising, career services, training skills, engagement skills, and professional learning/planning skills. As a well-rounded professional who has years of experience developing and supporting students and organizations’ educational needs, she strives for continued excellence and is eager to help!
Why NexGenT? Nicole believes in NexGenT’s mission and values. Nicole is fueled by helping individuals with their career goals and achieving their desired goals and outcomes.
When Nicole is not shifting gears for individuals and their career goals with intentional coaching, she’s painting, cooking, playing inside corn hole, or pinning on boards for travel, style, and DIY projects. She also loves a great book or finding the next best movie!
About NexGenT Career Service
Our NexGenT Career Service team works with you to develop your job attainment skills. We do this by first analyzing your individual strengths and weaknesses to build a custom career development plan. Your job success is so important that we dedicate a Career Success Coach to meet with you 1:1 to ensure you’re on track to reach your personal goals. Your Career Success Coach works with you to master each career milestone of a professional resume, cover letter, IT or cybersecurity interview preparation, a professional LinkedIn profile, and ultimately, a job and career success plan.
We look forward to helping you level up and achieve your career goals!
If you aren’t already a student, apply for NexGenT’s Full Stack Network Engineer program here or NexGenT’s Cyber Security Specialist program here!
by Team NexGenT | NexGenT Updates

Dr. Christian Ryan is a Career Success Coach obsessed with student success. She joins NexGenT with more than 15 years of experience in educational programming and student advising. Her expertise lies in areas of sustainability, environmental science, public problem solving, and social justice. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership. Christian served as the Sustainability Coordinator at Western Kentucky University where she developed a nationally recognized sustainability program. More recently, she coordinated a Corporate Sustainability Roundtable of 34 Nashville businesses, working with them to develop sustainability practices and policies and coaching employee “green teams.”
Christian believes that education should be accessible to every person who seeks to learn and gain the skills and knowledge not just to live, but to thrive. Her mission is to make sure that all types of learners are empowered with the tools, resources, and support that they need to succeed. She wants to make sure that every student’s educational experience leads them to grow and flourish, personally and professionally.
Some of her favorite things include running, hiking, yoga, food, farmers, music, and dogs. She calls both North Carolina and New Orleans home because she cannot choose, and spends time in both places.
About NexGenT Career Service
Our NexGenT Career Service team works with you to develop your job attainment skills. We do this by first analyzing your individual strengths and weaknesses to build a custom career development plan. Your job success is so important that we dedicate a Career Success Coach to meet with you 1:1 to ensure you’re on track to reach your personal goals. Your Career Success Coach works with you to master each career milestone of a professional resume, cover letter, IT or cybersecurity interview preparation, a professional LinkedIn profile, and ultimately, a job and career success plan.
We look forward to helping you level up and achieve your career goals!
If you aren’t already a student, apply for NexGenT’s Full Stack Network Engineer program here or NexGenT’s Cyber Security Specialist program here!
by Team NexGenT | NexGenT Updates

Rob Coble loves creating and facilitating community and helping students manage their careers.
Rob has been working within Career Coaching since 2004. Working in higher education in the fields of video games and technology he has had the pleasure to work with thousands of students and many recruiters and hiring managers responsible for hiring them. Working as a conduit between them has given him the opportunity to make introductions that benefit both. Rob remains active in the Central Florida Tech community and continues to host presentations on what it takes to manage your career.
Prior to his work in Education, Rob spent 20 years in the Music Industry. After many years in music retail, he went on to work with the I.R.S. Record Label as a Regional Marketing Manager, Valley Media as a Senior Product Manager, and finally five years with the Universal Music Group as Regional Director for Florida and then Los Angeles. He worked closely with the many label groups they served and artists as diverse as U2, Eminem, Reba McEntire, and Andrea Bocelli amongst many others. There, he had the opportunity to lead a fantastic staff that was recognized for their incredible marketing efforts while spearheading many corporate partnerships including the Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers, Shell Oil, Walgreens, and Seagram Americas.
Rob loves what he does – connecting people. Nothing makes him happier than watching people conquer their fears and realize their dreams. He loves meeting people because meeting people presents opportunities. He strongly believes that networking is not something that should be feared. You don’t have to be an extrovert. You can stay true to who you are and still successfully network, communicate, and find opportunities with other professionals who share your same passions forging the path you choose to lead.
Rob lives by the philosophy to ‘Dream Big – Have A Plan – Work Hard – Make Friends – Bring The Passion’!
After hours you will most likely find Rob hanging with his wife Brenda doing one of the following – Listening to music (all genres, go ahead, challenge me) smoking a cigar, sitting fireside in his backyard, enjoying spending time with family, and friend. Usually, these things are accomplished simultaneously. Oh, and travel, lots of travel whenever possible!
About NexGenT Career Service
Our NexGenT Career Service team works with you to develop your job attainment skills. We do this by first analyzing your individual strengths and weaknesses to build a custom career development plan. Your job success is so important that we dedicate a Career Success Coach to meet with you 1:1 to ensure you’re on track to reach your personal goals. Your Career Success Coach works with you to master each career milestone of a professional resume, cover letter, IT or cybersecurity interview preparation, a professional LinkedIn profile, and ultimately, a job and career success plan.
We look forward to helping you level up and achieve your career goals!
If you aren’t already a student, apply for NexGenT’s Full Stack Network Engineer program here or NexGenT’s Cyber Security Specialist program here!
by Team NexGenT | NexGenT Updates

Kassy Scarcia is passionate about helping others believe in their potential and never settle for less than an amazing life. During her time at UNC-Chapel Hill as an undergrad, she fell in love with helping young adults chart their path for life and be successful in moving their goals forward. She went on to complete her Master’s in College Student Advising online, while working full-time and spent the last 8+ years working in different higher education settings as an academic advisor, career counselor, and success coach. Kassy has supported students at top universities such as Harvard, Boston University, and the University of Maryland.
In addition to her time in education, Kassy is also a professionally certified life coach with 3 certifications in life and leadership coaching and 5+ years running her own life coaching business. Having worked with students for many years, she realized that choosing a plan for your future is about more than just your strengths or what you think you should do. She became passionate about helping people, of all ages, discover the path they truly want to take in life and develop the confidence and mindset fortitude to bring that dream to reality. This passion led Kassy to create her own life coaching business so that she could help adults make life and career transitions, even after college. She is on a mission to create a generation never looking back on life with regret or wondering what if.
When Kassy isn’t coaching or mentoring (which she truly finds fun), she is usually spending as much time as she can with her niece and nephew (very proud auntie!) or planning her next travel adventure. She has two furbabies (cats) who she enjoys spoiling as well.
About NexGenT Career Service
Our NexGenT Career Service team works with you to develop your job attainment skills. We do this by first analyzing your individual strengths and weaknesses to build a custom career development plan. Your job success is so important that we dedicate a Career Success Coach to meet with you 1:1 to ensure you’re on track to reach your personal goals. Your Career Success Coach works with you to master each career milestone of a professional resume, cover letter, IT or cybersecurity interview preparation, a professional LinkedIn profile, and ultimately, a job and career success plan.
We look forward to helping you level up and achieve your career goals!
If you aren’t already a student, apply for NexGenT’s Full Stack Network Engineer program here or NexGenT’s Cyber Security Specialist program here!