The first Apple Developer Academy hosts first graduation in Detroit

Over a year ago, 100 students from across Detroit signed up for Apple Developer Academy — the first of its type in the country.

On Thursday, they graduated with endless opportunities. Some will be going to college at MSU in the fall, new apps in development, or even taking on jobs at places like General Motors.

Parents and staff all of ages and backgrounds crowded the Apple Developer Academy room in the First National Building to receive their praises and hear from a range of speakers, from the director of the program, Dr. Sarah Gretter, to Lisa Jackson, an Apple vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives to James Feagin of the Rocket Community Fund. 

The Apple Developer Academy was introduced last year in an effort to support the tech giant's $100 million racial equity and justice initiative.

It is the first Apple Developer Academy to open in the U.S. It's a partnership between Apple and MSU, with support and sponsorship by the Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Mortgage Co. 

The free program helps students with gaining experience in tech while also providing them with skills to land jobs in coding, engineering and eventually going to those places like General Motors and Rocket Mortgage.

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Also on hand to congratulate students were Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

"Providing this Apple Developer Academy gives students from a background who may not have had access to the tech in their lives or in their schools, that opportunity to access this kind of tech, and, even more importantly, to develop apps for that tech for jobs later," Stanley said.

Stanley also says that Detroit is on the rise in being a high-tech center.

"It's a great program that really addresses a number of issues that we face as a society and does it in a microcosm of what's happening in Detroit, and a city that's really on the rise, but really believes and wants to be more of a high tech center."

Stanley also congratulated students and pushes for them to use their impact by telling others about the program.

The Academy is a nine-month program where participants are not required to have a coding background but they go through a process of learning in three segments: coding, design and business. The program is 20 hours a week and only from Monday through Friday. 

MSU also offers a separate option, called The Foundation Program, which is a month long program that allows students access to learning about coding and entrepreneurial growth. This program, open to students 18 and up, is 20 hours a week and classes are Monday through Friday.

Applications for the 2022 year are on a rolling basis. Gretter wants people to know that you don't need a background in tech, you just need drive.

"We are really interested in people that are interested in tech and no background necessary, we teach you all the things here," Dr. Sarah Gretter said. "We are interested in students who had that mindset of you know willing to fail, willing to try to collaborate with others and curious in general." 

Chrishawna Jefferson, 20, of Detroit found out about the program from her boss while being a clerical assistant at Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy. She is grateful for the program because it taught her about business, collaboration and designing. 

"You meet new people, you get to see different people's perspective, opinions and ideas." Jefferson said. " And just networking, I think that's the most important thing."

During the graduation, three groups were able to present an app which was one of the projects they created during their time in the program. 

Team Powerhouse created an app called BiteSight, an app that allows consumers to select toxic foods or foods they are allergic to then scan products in store or at home to see if that product contains something they don't want to consume. 

Team Crew created Exposé, an app that involves using past memories to create new ones. It allows consumers to use photos they already by importing them into the app then when they want to find something similar, the app will tell them where it is. For example, if you are in Michigan, you can import a photo of pizza and then pick a select city or state on the map where you want to find pizza. The app will then pin a bunch of choices from which to choose. 

Samoor Mansoor and his team created a app called "BeAware The D/deaf Assistant," an app helps hearing-impaired individuals by converting ambient noise to visuals and haptic alerts.

Next year, the organization will allow 200 students to join the program. Recruitment was mainly virtual last year due to the pandemic but now they are able to recruit people in person.

With more students joining, Gretter is excited for the future but also wants to make sure students get a chance to complete their own personal goals.

"We're also going to make sure that students can really focus on their path they're interested in within the academy, whether it's design coding or business, and really dive deeper into that," she said. 

Duggan congratulated students on their accomplishments.

"Think about the impact you're going to have as we go forward an create more and more opportunities," Duggan said.

Jaleel Longhorn, 30, of Detroit said  the curriculum is what shocked him.

"Most schools and educational institutions that you go to, it almost feels like you've been indoctrinated, " Longhorn said. "Taking classes you don't want to take. ... Here, you get that one on one time with your mentors, and actually tell them what your interests are and they incorporate that into the curriculum. So that's pretty dope."

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Longhorn created two gaming apps that are still in development. He does have some advice for the incoming class.

"Sky's the limit, go for it," Longhorn said. "Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, you're around good people." 

Telayne Keith-Logan is a mentor at the academy and

describes it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

"It's unlike any position or job I've ever had, it doesn't actually feel like a job most days," Keith-Logan said.

She explains that creating bonds with the students, embracing failure and finding solutions is what really makes the experience enriching. 

"It's the epitome of what the city stands for rising from the ashes becoming something that you can pass out into the community and be an advocate for your community within the tech space," Keith-Logan said.

If you have experience in coding and want to help with the program, MSU and Apple is seeking coding and entrepreneurial mentors to assist in the 2022 program.