This week, WP Engine staff participated in an informative Lunch & Study session targeted on Code2College, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit group making vital strides within the STEM training panorama.

The session, led by Code2College CEO and Co-founder Matt Stephenson, included an outline of present volunteer alternatives accessible to staff (and anybody else who could also be ) and a name to motion for these wanting to contribute to the group’s efforts.

Code2College: A Story of Impression and Development

Since its inception in 2016, Code2College has targeted on its mission to dramatically enhance the variety of minority and low-income college students coming into and excelling in STEM undergraduate majors and careers.

With over 3,000 college students served and an enlargement into 20 communities throughout the U.S., together with 15 totally different areas, the group’s development is nothing wanting spectacular. 

WP Engine has been a proud associate of Code2College since 2018, internet hosting highschool interns and logging essentially the most volunteer hours within the group’s most up-to-date Range STEM report.

“Code2College is doing superb work and bringing extra younger folks into STEM fields who could not have had the chance to take action in any other case,” mentioned WP Engine VP, Range and Inclusion Tarsha McCormick. 

“We’re not solely proud to associate with them of their efforts, however we’re additionally excited for the entire glorious initiatives Code2College has on its roadmap for the approaching 12 months and past.” 

How WP Engine Workers Can Make a Distinction

In the course of the session, Stephenson detailed a number of volunteer alternatives for WP Engine staff and others concerned about contributing. 

Every of the accessible roles is designed to suit a wide range of schedules and pursuits.

Workshop Mentors 

Volunteers can dedicate 1-3 hours a month to assist highschool college students develop skilled abilities, achieve STEM profession publicity, and navigate the faculty admissions course of. 

Final 12 months’s STEM case competitors with H-E-B, specializing in a youngsters’s cell app, is a first-rate instance of the thrilling initiatives mentors will be concerned in.

Instructors for After-Faculty Coding Periods 

Volunteers are inspired to share their experience in technical topics by educating coding to college students in digital, after-school classes. 

This hands-on curriculum carried out over Zoom permits college students to use their studying instantly by way of small initiatives.

Brief-Time period Digital Volunteering

For these with restricted availability, Code2College additionally gives digital occasions like essay modifying, resume assessment, and admissions essay assessment. 

Technical Mentorship Alternatives

One other volunteer alternative revolves round Code2College’s bold aim to assist, develop, and place 200 Black and Latina ladies in STEM roles by 2024. 

This initiative goals to supply focused mentorship and coaching, enhancing entry to skilled networks and selling gender and racial fairness within the technical ecosystem.

Upcoming Code2College Occasions

The Lunch & Study concluded with an outline of upcoming Code2College occasions, together with:

• Code2College IDEA Awards (Annual Volunteer Awards): Wednesday, January 31, from 6 – 9 p.m. at Atlassian (Austin).
• Black Historical past STEM Open Mic Evening: Thursday, February 22, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Eastside Tech Hub (Austin)
• Imaginative and prescient 2024 Summit: Girls in Investing: Friday, March 22, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Atlassian (Austin).

Regulate the Code2College Weblog for extra data on upcoming occasions. 

Wanting Forward

The partnership between WP Engine and Code2College is greater than only a collaboration; it’s an effort in direction of making a extra inclusive and numerous future in STEM.

The journey of Code2College is a beacon of hope and empowerment, and thru partnerships like that with WP Engine, the long run seems brighter for minority and low-income college students getting into the world of STEM.

Discover out extra about Code2College right here, and be taught extra about WP Engine’s volunteer efforts right here.