2014 has flown by so quickly! Last week, we kicked off our final nine-week full-time front-end web development bootcamp of the year. This fall, our 27 students have backgrounds spanning from journalism to inn-keeping, and bartending to bodybuilding. And even though we're only one week in, it's clear why this diverse group was chosen for the program. Allow us to introduce the amazing folks who have joined us for this nine-week adventure:
Andrea Saxe - @AndreaS1986
Graphic designer, front-end developer and lover of all things colour 
Born in: Toronto, Ontario Education: Humber College Languages spoken: English and some Hebrew Previous occupation: Catalogue Designer Fun fact about me: I'd rather have cookies for breakfast than breakfast foods.
Andrew Nguyen - @onlyandrewn
Front-end developer and journalist. Digital storyteller, passionate about drones and data. 
Born in: Mississauga, Ontario Education: BA Communications Studies and Sociology Languages spoken: English and French Previous occupation: Journalist Fun fact about me: I play Quidditch.
Ben Weddel - @benweddel
Business savvy & technologically literate 
Born in: Mississauga, Ontario Education: Wilfrid Laurier BBA Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Marketing Fun fact about me: I play competitive Platform Tennis (and it has nothing to do with ping pong).
Dana Werpny - @danawerpny
Front-end web developer & graphic designer. Specializing in WordPress and E-Commerce. 
Born in: Thunder Bay, Ontario Education: Communication Studies, York University Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Graphic Designer Fun fact about me: I once accidentally walked onto a movie set and sat in the background during filming.
Deborah Chan - @debchn
Toronto-based web developer with a passion for music, literature, and science 
Born in: Montréal, Québec Education: BSc in Psychology, U of T Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Research Assistant in Aboriginal Mental Health, U of T Fun fact about me: When put on the spot, I'm terrible at coming up with fun facts about myself.
Emilia Dallman - @emiliakathleen
Passionate about using my design powers for good. 
Born in: Stratford, Ontario Education: Ryerson University, Fashion Communication Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Freelance Graphic Designer Fun fact about me: I was a theatre kid, Fiddler on the Roof, 1999, Stratford Festival.
Erika Pierre - @erikapierr
Web developer and wayfarer 
Born in: Markham, Ontario Education: Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies), McGill University Languages spoken: English, French Previous occupation: Wholesale coordinator, Medisca Pharmaceutique Fun fact about me: I moved from Montreal to Toronto to attend HackerYou!
Francine Navarro - @francinedev
From cookies to websites, I love making things from scratch. 
Born in: The Philippines Education: B.A. in Media & the Public Interest and Political Science Languages spoken: English and Tagalog Previous occupation: Intern and Freelance Graphic Designer Fun fact about me: I made an iPad case out of an old sketchbook.
Frank Wang - @TheFrankProject
Front-end web developer and glutton for knowledge. 
Born in: Toronto, Ontario Education: BBA Languages spoken: English, Mandarin Chinese Previous occupation: Innkeeper Fun fact about me: I love talking about fitness.
George Balkouras - @georgebalkouras
Front-end web developer, with a passion for music and sustainability. 
Born in: Goderich, Ontario Education: BA in Poli Sci + Lit, Post Grad in Green Business Management Languages spoken: English and Greek Previous occupation: Bartender Fun fact about me: I make an exceptional pecan pie.
Ivailo Ivanov - @TheCodeFather_
Minimalist by day, experimentalist by nature. 
Born in: Germiston, South Africa Education: Woodhill College Languages spoken: English, Bulgarian, Afrikaans Previous occupation: Sales Associate Fun fact about me: I'm a digital hoarder!
Jillian Wallace - @jllwll
Web developer hoping to inspire others through my work. 
Born in: Calgary, Alberta Education: BA in Archaeology, Concentration in Physical Anthropology Languages spoken: English, French Previous occupation: Web Trafficker (Ad Operations) Fun fact about me: Hiking the Inca Trail was the most memorable and breathtaking thing I've done.
Julie McCulloch - @mccullochdesign
Graphic Designer + Web Developer 
Born in: Brantford, Ontario Education: Graphic Design and Advertising at Conestoga College Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Graphic Designer at Cushman and Wakefield Ltd. Fun fact about me: I like to eat breakfast for dinner.
Kristine Planche - @kristineplanche
UI Developer. Graphic Designer. Food Fanatic. Loves to laugh and learn new things. 
Born in: Hamilton, Ontario Education: Specialized BDes with Honours at York University/Sheridan College Program in Design Languages spoken: Fluent English & Conversational/Fluent French Previous occupation: Volunteer Designer with Habitat for Humanity Mississauga Fun fact about me: I'm a klutz and not afraid of it!
Lindsay Hartfiel - @lindsayhartfiel
Curious web developer, designer, writer and digital nomad with an addiction to zumba and coffee shops. 
Born in: Hudson, Wisconsin Education: Journalism (Strat Comm.) — University of Wisconsin-Madison Languages spoken: English and conversational Spanish Previous occupation: Contract Marketing Writer and Graphic Designer Fun fact about me: I ran a mile down 5th Ave in NYC in a bridesmaid's dress for charity.
Marlène Giraud - @marlenegiraud
Front-end developer + UX-UI Designer. Also into DIY, Vintage design, and Music 
Born in: France Education: Master's degree in Management of New Technologies Languages spoken: French, English, Italian Previous occupation: Web Producer at Publicis Fun fact about me: Last summer I spent 10 days without talking as part of a meditation training.
Matt Fairley - @mattfairley_
Web developer who loves creating and sharing cool things. 
Born in: Toronto, Ontario Education: Brock University then Sheridan Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Journalist Fun fact about me: I have an actual university degree in pop culture.
Michael Yambao - @jelotweets
My other car is a giant robot. 
Born in: Tayabas, Philippines Education: Psych/Bio Languages spoken: English, Tagalog/Filipino, "anime-level" Japanese Previous occupation: Researcher/Lab Assistant Fun fact about me: I like film photography unironically.
Moya Miller - @moyamiller
Front-end web developer. Content marketing specialist. Autodidact. 
Born in: Bedford, England Education: Honors Bachelor of Arts, Media and the Public Interest, UWO Languages spoken: English, French Previous occupation: Senior Digital Associate, Weber Shandwick Fun fact about me: I love to make things. I dabble in jewelry-making, quilting, knitting, gardening and anything related to chocolate.
Nikin Nagewadia - @nikin_n
KEEP CALM and CODE ON 
Born in: Etobicoke, Ontario Education: Carleton University + Sheridan College + OCAD Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Graphic Designer + Print Centre Technician Fun fact about me: I have a great appetite towards checking out anything new and innovative. Whether it be: film, music, technology, food and craft beer.
Phil Richards - @phrichards
Librarian turned web developer who wants to make it easier for people to find information on the web. 
Born in: Toronto, Ontario Education: Master of Information Studies Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Data Analyst Fun fact about me: I once went crab fishing in the Pacific Ocean.
Rachel Bloom - @rachelblm
Web Developer | Freelance Journalist/Photographer | Former Intern for CBC, The Coast and Post City 
Born in: Newmarket, Ontario Education: BJH (Bachelor of Journalism Honours), University of King's College Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Freelance Journalist/Journalism Student Fun fact about me: I have interviewed Rob Baker from the Tragically Hip and Loel Campbell from Wintersleep.
Samuel Chun - @samuel_chun
Designer that loves to code. 
Born in: Toronto, Ontario Education: George Brown College School of Design Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Graphic Designer Fun fact about me: I like to watch re-runs of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air whenever I'm sick.
Shane Keulen - @seethruhead
Tech Nerd, Web Developer. Passionate about making the world better with technology. Front-End tooling and Grid enthusiast. 
Born in: Toronto, Ontario Education: Starfleet Academy Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: Bartender Fun fact about me: I'm a fan of plumbing my computers.
Sylvia Nguyen - @sylviacreates
web developer, singer/songwriter, occasional meower 
Born in: Brampton, Ontario Education: Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies, York University Languages spoken: English and Vietnamese Previous occupation: Brand Partnerships Intern at Bell Media Inc. Fun fact about me: I was featured on a reality TV episode on a show called DisBAND on MuchMusic and my band and I got DISbanded *womp womp
Thomas Mattacchione - @TMattacchione
He was deadly on the ground. Now he has wings. 
Born in: March Education: Yes Languages spoken: English Previous occupation: IT Sales Fun fact about me: I race pigeons.
Wish you were part of this amazing group?
We still have a few spots left for our Winter 2015 cohort! It begins on January 19th and will be led by a very talented team: Wes Bos, Brenna O'Brien, Drew Minns and others. Click here to learn more or apply.