IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing Graduates Gear Up to Build Bold and Bright Futures

As the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, LIFT is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of seven graduating high school seniors who have successfully completed the IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing® program at our Detroit Learning Lab.

These students—from Detroit Public Safety Academy and Hope of Detroit Academy—are now preparing to take their next steps into the workforce or post-secondary education, and thanks to the IGNITE program, they do so with confidence, armed with the foundational skills and knowledge essential to thrive in today’s rapidly advancing manufacturing landscape.

IGNITE: Mastering Manufacturing® is a three-year, competency-based curriculum designed to introduce students to a range of high-demand career pathways in advanced manufacturing. By blending career exploration with hands-on technical training, the program covers disciplines such as Robotics and Automation, Industrial Design, IT/Network Security, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. Students also build essential soft skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

Christian Diaz, a graduating senior from Hope of Detroit Academy, completed all three years of the IGNITE program. He plans to join the Army Reserve and pursue additional certifications in welding and CNC machining to support his future civilian career. “The IGNITE program taught us more than just technical skills—we learned real-life skills that we can use in the future, like being patient and working as a team,” Diaz shared.

Offered through schools nationwide and at LIFT’s Detroit headquarters, IGNITE provides high school and career and technical education students with the opportunity to earn industry-recognized, stackable credentials. The program also exposes students to new fields and potential career paths they might not have otherwise considered.

“I would tell new students to be open to anything,” said Tyjuan Stevens Jr., a senior at Detroit Public Safety Academy. “Some things I thought I wouldn’t like—like 3D printing—I actually really enjoyed. I’m glad I pushed through and opened myself up to new options.” Tyjuan now looks forward to trade school and a career in welding.

LIFT is proud to support the future of advanced manufacturing by preparing the next generation of skilled talent and helping to close the critical skills gap in the defense industrial base.

Congratulations to all of our IGNITE graduates—your hard work and dedication have set you on a path to success. We can’t wait to see what you achieve next!