ICC Launches Kimah’s IT Career with Life-Changing Apprenticeship

Kimah’s love for language led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and spend years teaching English overseas. But despite her dedication, she felt deeply unfulfilled.

While living in Japan, a tech podcast sparked her curiosity, and a UX design course ignited a new passion: programming.

Determined to change careers, Kimah moved to Peoria to be closer to her mother and discovered ICC. Enrolling in the Secure Software and Database program, she began exploring her interest in technology. Soon her journey took a major leap forward with an apprenticeship with Caterpillar, where she gained valuable hands-on experience alongside her classroom learning.

Her apprenticeship has been transformative, covering her ICC tuition and books, while offering her a well-paid, real-world role in secure software development. For Kimah, her ICC coursework is more than grades—it’s the foundation for real-world problem-solving and making an impact in her role.

ICC was that stepping stone, putting me on the path to something I never thought I could do. Now I feel more confident in my abilities to take risks and apply myself to something new.

Kimah, ICC Student

Kimah’s ICC instructors have been instrumental in making her job feel more natural and achievable. Math professor John Armon was a lifeline during a demanding semester, offering kindness, flexibility, and extra support on challenging concepts. Counselor Katelyn Murphy provided a sense of belonging and connection, reinforcing that ICC was there to support her every step of the way.

Now, Kimah envisions an ambitious future. Her goal is to translate neuroscience into quantum computing—a field she’d never considered before ICC. She attributes her bold aspirations to the confidence and skills she’s gained through the College and her apprenticeship.

ICC empowered Kimah to embrace the unexpected, discover her potential, and take her career in an exciting new direction.