Five LaGuardia Students Hired by Wells Fargo After Year-Long Apprenticeship
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (June 13, 2025) — Five LaGuardia Community College /CUNY students have received full-time job offers from Wells Fargo after completing year-long apprenticeships with the company. The students—Gerasimina (Mina) Krani, Jinyu Liu, Kathely Moura Baia, Jamille Nicolle Pelaez, and Christiane Villaroel—worked 20 hours per week as part of Wells Fargo software development teams from September 2024 through May 2025. All five are graduating with Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Programming and Software Development as members of LaGuardia’s Class of 2025.
The students were selected from a competitive Summer 2024 bootcamp at LaGuardia, which provided an accelerated curriculum to prepare them for success in a professional tech environment.
Gerasimina (Mina) Krani, originally from Greece, is graduating with a 3.9 GPA. “This opportunity means a lot to me—not only as recognition of the work I’ve done during my apprenticeship, but also as a strong next step in my career,” she said. Mina aspires to become a software engineer with a focus on cloud architecture. She plans to take the fall semester off to focus on her new role at Wells Fargo, then transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in information systems.
Jinyu Liu, from China, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity. “Being selected means a lot to me, and I truly appreciate the chance to gain real-world experience and grow professionally,” he said. Jinyu, graduating with a 3.9 GPA, plans to continue his education at Baruch College, with the goal of becoming a skilled technical developer. “I am passionate about solving real-world problems through technology and continuously improving my programming and software engineering abilities to contribute to innovative projects,” he says.
Kathely Moura Baia, from Brazil, is the first in her family to attend college. “What excites me most is how dynamic this field is—there’s always something new to learn,” she said. Kathely plans to transfer to a four-year college this fall to complete her bachelor’s degree in information systems. Her long-term goal is to contribute to projects that prioritize accessibility, user experience, and community impact.
Jamille Nicolle Pelaez will continue her education at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS). Her goal is to become a software engineer specializing in data engineering. “I’m sincerely honored and grateful to have been selected for this opportunity with Wells Fargo,” she said.
Christiane Villaroel, who grew up in Flushing, Queens in a Mexican-El Salvadoran family, said the apprenticeship expanded his career goals. “I originally wanted to become a full stack developer, but now I’m excited to explore cloud architecture,” he said. Christiane, graduating with a 3.8 GPA, plans to take classes part-time at CUNY SPS while working at Wells Fargo.
LaGuardia–Wells Fargo Apprenticeship Program: Connecting Education with Career Pathways
The LaGuardia–Wells Fargo Apprenticeship Program was established in 2023 in collaboration with the New York Jobs CEO Council. At LaGuardia, the program is led by Dr. Alaa Darabseh, professor and director of the Programming and Software Development Program. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by preparing diverse New Yorkers for high-demand tech careers.
To date, seven LaGuardia students have received full-time job offers through the program.
Wells Fargo shared the following statement about the partnership: “At Wells Fargo, we believe that great talent is demonstrated through actions taken when opportunities arise. We partnered with the NYC CEO Jobs Council and LaGuardia Community College to establish an apprenticeship program that provides a structured, career-focused education coupled with hands-on experiences alongside our engineering teams. What has been most rewarding is seeing the growth of our apprentices as they build skills and contribute in meaningful ways. This initiative embodies one of our core values at Wells Fargo: Learn and Grow. Our partnership with LaGuardia Community College shows the tangible impact that is possible when potential is met with opportunity.”
Looking Ahead: Summer 2025 Expansion
Building on the program’s success, Wells Fargo has committed $25,000 to support a new Summer 2025 bootcamp at LaGuardia. The bootcamp will train 15 students in advanced programming and software development. From this cohort, five students will be selected for paid, part-time apprenticeships with Wells Fargo, gaining hands-on experience and personalized mentorship from industry professionals.
This continued investment underscores Wells Fargo’s commitment to workforce development and LaGuardia’s role in cultivating the next generation of tech talent.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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