Iron Yard Completes First Session Of Classes

The Iron Yard recently held its Demo Days following the first session of classes. Talk Business & Politics’ Startup reporter Todd Jones asked campus director Mary Dunlap some questions about the first classes following Demo Days.

TB&P: Did The Iron Yard experience meet your expectations during the first sessions?

Mary Dunlap: The Iron Yard exceeded my expectations during our first courses! I am so humbled by the work the students and instructors put in during the 12 week session. Becoming a developer is not an easy task, but they tackled it with humble ambition and I’m grateful I got to witness it.

TB&P: Were there any surprises in the first sessions of TIY?

Dunlap: The biggest surprise for me was actually seeing the amount of grit it takes to finish our courses. These students reprioritized their lives for 3 months so they could change careers, and watching them transform into developers was incredible.

TB&P: What were some successes by students of TIY at Demo Days?

Dunlap: Too many to count! From conquering their first assignments, to finding a work/life balance, to creating and producing a fully functional web application, there were successes all around! There were big successes daily, but seeing each student put forth an incredible finished product at Demo Day was humbling.

TB&P: What kind of feedback did you get from the community at Demo Days?

Dunlap: We were overwhelmed with support not only by those who were there, but those who couldn’t make it! Little Rock’s tech community has embraced The Iron Yard and has been a major part of our success. Many potential employers and community members were impressed by the projects our students demoed, and were very complimentary of the space (Thanks, Clinton Presidential Center!). I am continuously grateful to be a part of Little Rock’s tech community.