Helping Students Gain Coding and Additional STEM Skills Through Internships and Hands-On Training

In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, the need for a diverse and inclusive workforce in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is more crucial than ever. BlueVoyant aims to do our part with our continued partnership with STEMcx, the educational arm of the Transforming Lives Community Development Corporation (TLCDC), which is dedicated to exposing students from underrepresented areas to STEM fields. For the past four years, this collaboration has been instrumental in providing high school students from underrepresented communities in Baltimore with opportunities to explore and excel in STEM fields. 

The Summer Coding Internship 

Together, BlueVoyant and STEMcx offer a paid summer coding internship program that has been running successfully for four consecutive years. This year, the internship program attracted nearly 200 applicants, out of which only nine exceptional students were selected. These students embarked on an intensive eight-week journey, working closely with BlueVoyant's skilled engineering and coding mentors, including myself, primarily in a virtual setting. This hands-on experience allowed the interns to hone their coding skills and tackle real-world challenges. 

Showcasing Talent and Innovation  

The end of this year’s internship was celebrated with a closing ceremony earlier this month where the interns had the opportunity to present their coding projects in a competition. The panel of judges included talented members of the BlueVoyant team — Zemichael Yemane, Software Engineer, Abdul Khan, Software Engineer, and Taylor Miller, Director of Product Integration, who evaluated the creative projects. The students showcased a range of innovative solutions, including a translator app, a weather application, a magic mirror, and a speed detection webcam.  

Incidentally, it wasn’t without reward. The top three winners of the competition were awarded cash gift cards in recognition of their outstanding efforts. Moreover, each intern received a $2,400 stipend from BlueVoyant, highlighting our commitment to supporting and encouraging these students. 

 Special guests on hand to congratulate and encourage the students included Maryland State Senator Jill Carter, Dr. Debra Brooks, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success, and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller.   

“At BlueVoyant, we are committed to fostering diversity through programs that not only raise awareness but also provide tangible opportunities and resources for underrepresented groups in STEM,” said Sangya Sharma, Chief Diversity Officer and Chief Human Resource Officer at BlueVoyant. “By teaming up with STEMcx for four years, we are actively working to create a more inclusive tech community, and to drive meaningful change." 

We will remain involved with STEMcx’s events throughout the year and look forward to welcoming next summer’s interns. 

Tanner Clark, a data engineer, has been an internship leader for the STEMcx program since 2021.