UC celebrates first CTAP graduates
Newly credentialed graduate, Ronald Lewis, offered co-op opportunity
The University of Cincinnati's first cohort for the Cincinnati Talent Acceleration Program graduated in December in an uplifting ceremony in the Nippert Stadium West Pavillion.
Graduates received their certificates of completion after fifteen immersive weeks of training in IT combined with career education and academic skills training necessary for college and entrance to the workforce.
The program, which goes by CTAP, is providing nontraditional students with training in tech and a path to higher education. CTAP is a 15-week adult education and training program that’s tailored for unemployed and underemployed workers who want to continue their education while also learning practical tech skills.
Student Ronald Lewis was the first to receive his certification in CompTIA A+ and was hired by assistant professor adjunct Tonkia Bridges to support the continuing CTAP program.
Lewis described the accelerated program as one in which even the challenges are a blessing in disguise because they reveal new opportunities for careers in tech.
“There’s so many variations — you can go into working for a help desk, you can go into security management, you can go on to an array of different things. There’s a big umbrella of fields,” he said.
The next CTAP cohort is now in full swing at UC's 1819 Innovation Hub and a virtual spring session begins soon. For more information on the program, please visit the website Cincinnati Talent Acceleration Program.
Featured photo at top: UC student Ronald Lewis was among UC's first CTAP graduates. Photo/Provided
Related Stories
Engineering students shine at annual CEAS EXPO
April 8, 2026
Every spring, the College of Engineering and Applied Science hosts a large-scale capstone showcase for graduating seniors to show off their final projects as a culmination of their five years at the University of Cincinnati. The 2026 EXPO, presented by DRT Holdings, marks the largest event yet featuring more than 250 student projects, ranging from student-built vehicles to innovative robotic devices, to building renovation plans, and interdisciplinary research.
'Born to Bowl' docu-series from CCM alum Brian Lazarte airs on HBO
April 7, 2026
The HBO Original five-part documentary series "Born to Bowl," directed by CCM Media Production alumnus Brian Lazarte and James Lee Hernandez, from A24 and executive produced by Ben Stiller, and narrated by Liev Schreiber, airs its final episode on Monday, April 13. It will be available to watch on HBO as well as stream on HBO Max.
Alex Apyan: Get to know the UC Bearcat turned Orion program team member
April 7, 2026
For UC grad Alex Apyan, his time as a student-athlete on the Bearcats’ football team has only been a precursor to a successful career that currently has him as an integral part of the Mission Planning and Analysis team with the Orion Program. A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., and graduate of UC's aerospace engineering program, Apyan was a long snapper for the Bearcats from 2007-11. Now, he has an important role in the multi-purpose crew vehicle used in NASA’s Artemis program, helping the first crewed flight launch last week.