The sound of cheering and laughter could be heard yesterday as the first ever participants graduated from the Skills Up Program.

 All 12 students who enrolled in the course at the beginning of the course ended up graduating.

The college course was put in place to decrease the wait list for daycare spaces by providing a course that gives students the skill to run their own home daycare.

Heidi Adams Education Coordinator for the Skills Up Program runs through what the year was like.

 "We began in January doing information sessions, and then for the month of February, we did interviews," says Adams. "On March fourth classes began, the first three weeks were held through Workplace Education Manitoba after that Red River College took over training. These last two and a half weeks have been through partners, giving information sessions."

This is the Skills Up Program first graduating class. The Valedictorian of the Program Paula Jackson talks about what it's like to graduate from the program.

 "[It] feels empowering. It's great to have the pilot project going on," says Jackson. "I'm glad that we got to shape everything and can't wait to see the next class come out and get through this just as like we did."

Adams noted that they are going to be re-applying for the program through the month of July and hope to hold the course again next year.