Cert Saturdays! - Beacon College

Cert Saturdays! - Beacon College
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Cert Saturdays!
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Cert Saturdays!
More Beacon Students Build Career Credentials Through ‘Cert Saturdays!’
By Richard Burnett
Beacon College is reaching a growing number of students with new opportunities to build professional credentials for the workplace — from math and public speaking to first aid and computer certifications.
Through a new initiative called
Cert Saturdays!
, the Juan and Lisa Jones
Center for Career Preparation
has created a welcoming, supportive space where neurodivergent students can boost their job prospects by earning industry‑recognized certifications. The program provides guidance and access to more than 70 credentials, many of which are open to students in any major.
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Students have used the Cert Lab to explore or complete credentials such as the Hospitality and Tourism Specialist Credential from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, CompTIA PC Pro, and PCAP – Certified Associate Python Programmer. One student, Eyan Greenberg, used the lab to research certifications connected to his computer information systems major and later earned his Competency in Networking certification as part of his Networking and Communication course. His experience reflects how Beacon faculty and staff intentionally connect coursework with real‑world industry expectations — helping neurodivergent students build confidence, practical skills, and meaningful career pathways.
From left, Rina Levitt, Tevia McNeil and James Maxwell display their mental health first aid certifications.
Held on the first and third Saturdays! of each month, Cert Saturdays! take place in the center’s Cert Lab and are designed to complement academic coursework. By offering the sessions outside the traditional school week, the program protects students’ learning time and reduces competing demands. The predictable, low‑pressure environment allows students to work at their own pace while receiving encouragement, structure, and clear expectations — elements especially important for neurodivergent learners.
Cert Saturdays! also help students build “stackable” credentials — short, focused certifications that can be earned over time and that clearly signal skills to employers.
“These credentials support confidence, independence, and career readiness, while reinforcing the habits of continuous learning that neurodiverse students can carry with them beyond Beacon College,” said Melissa Bradley, director of the center.
The launch of Cert Saturdays! expands Beacon’s career preparation services and reflects a national trend among small colleges to offer professional certifications and micro‑credentials.
It’s critical for all students to engage in continuous learning, both as undergraduates and more so once they graduate, get a job, and begin their career. These efforts will make a difference with employers who want to see emerging talent demonstrate their commitment to learning and validate that level of learning through a credential or certification.”
—Melissa Bradley, director of the Center for Career Preparation
Program assistant Brianna Rivera helps students research certifications, prepare for exams, and navigate testing requirements. She also leads outreach through the Handshake career management platform and other channels.
“Dorm rooms don’t always provide a strong testing environment, and cell phones or tablets are not ideal for such important assessments,” Rivera said. “That’s why we’ve opened our career center doors for Cert Saturdays!, where students can use our spacious private computer lab to pursue this important milestone in their academic and professional lives.”
For Beacon senior Rina Levitt, Cert Saturdays! opened the door to skills she expects to use in her future career. A
psychology
major, Levitt plans to pursue a master’s degree and work in addiction rehabilitation counseling. She is scheduled to begin graduate studies at Harvard University next summer, becoming the first Beacon student admitted to an Ivy League institution.
Levitt attended a Cert Saturday session in September and earned certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid. The training covered strategies for recognizing and responding to mental health crises among young people, including panic attacks, substance misuse, suicidal ideation, and common anxieties experienced by college students.
“We learned about really listening to young people, validating their feelings, and helping them resolve conflicts,” said Levitt, who also serves as a peer mentor in Beacon’s
Cohort Collective
program. “We covered a lot of information that I use to this day.”
Dr. AJ Marsden, associate professor and chair of the psychology department, said Cert Saturdays! give students a chance to earn multiple certifications that can strengthen their employment prospects.
“Since 2020, I’ve noticed a huge uptick in the number of organizations giving preference to applicants who have various certifications,” she said. “By bringing Cert Saturdays! to Beacon, we can give our students a huge advantage in the hiring game.”
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