First graduates took the stage from Walmart Academy in Los Banos

LOS BANOS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Whether you are shopping for household items, clothing, or produce Walmart strives to be your one stop shop. Now, they are adding an academy to their Los Banos campus.

"The company committed to about two years ago a $2.7-billion investment into paying and training associates," said Chester Gray, Regional General Manager.

This academy location is one of 200 they hope to open by the end of this year and the first in Northern California.

"If we're able to offer training to our associates-- it'll help us deliver the best in class shopping experience for our customer," said Gray.

The inaugural graduating class celebrated in style. Donning their caps and gowns, more than 60 graduates crossed the stage

"There's so many diverse people from different job titles, it's not just one person that does one thing-- we're all going to be doing something to teach people the Walmart way," said Tony Correia, Academy Department Manager.

Patrice Jones took the fast track to management after being hired as a cashier just seven months ago. She said the academy will only open the door to opportunity.

"It's more than basics, how to talk to people and how to get people to work for you and with you and actually be a team player."

Walmart Academy is where classroom meets sales floor.

"They go through the essentials on how to run their departments and the fundamentals of retail and how to we make this shopping experience the best we can for our customers," said Gray.

There are five classrooms at the Walmart Academy that seats about 30 trainees. The academy will serve 22 stores in the Central Valley and San Jose area.

Three other Northern California Walmart Academies are slated to open in Fairfield, Rocklin, and Tracy.

Tracy will be a divisional academy three times bigger, servicing the west coast for store, market, and regional manager training.