STEM Advantage held its annual CIO Networking event sponsored by the German Consulate and DIAG USA on November 16, 2017, at the home of Cindy McKenzie, Board Member and CIO at Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, and Steve Pitts. Grant funding through a partnership with MCS/Open Tech facilitated the event, which was attended by 30 CIOs. Matt Martinez, Executive Director of DIAG USA, and German Consulate General Hans Jörg Neumann spoke about the US/German support for apprenticeships, highlighting the workforce development aspect as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Also in attendance were Deputy Consul General Dr. Steinbrenner and Board Members David Buckholtz (Sony Pictures Entertainment), Marlo Donate (Farmers Insurance Group), and Carole Schlocker, who along with her husband Ellis Levin donated the wine.  Joan Samuels of MCS/Open Tech introduced the speakers and emceed the event.

To support the role of internships/apprenticeships, Edith Young, STEM Advantage Alumna, spoke about her experiences in STEM Advantage, as well as how her internship/apprenticeship experiences contributed to her success as a Business Analyst at Sony Pictures Entertainment. 

Thank you to the German Consulate, DIAG USA, MCS/Open Tech, Cindy and Steve, Carole and Ellis, and our guests for this special evening.  We look forward to seeing you at next year's CIO Networking event!   

Congratulations to STEM Advantage Scholar Shawna, who recently accepted a position as a Consulting Analyst at Accenture. Shawna is earning a bachelor's degree in Computer Technology with a focus on Homeland Security at Cal State Dominguez Hills. She'll graduate in December.

"STEM Advantage has helped start my career as a consulting analyst with Accenture, debt free. Through STEM Advantage I was able to gain experience through two summer internships with Farmers Insurance. At Farmers I was able to use and refine the skills I learned in the classroom and apply them in a corporate setting. Through the STEM Advantage mentorship program, I was connected with my mentor, Sharon, who helped guide me and give me tips on how to use my strengths to win in interviews. The experiences that I gained in this program have put me ahead of the curve and helped me land a high paying job with a leading tech consulting company." 

Thank you to everyone involved with the STEM Advantage program for making a difference in the lives of talented students, like Shawna. As a role model for young women, Shawna will 'pay it forward' and make a difference in their lives, too.

To support over 100 STEM Advantage Scholars this year, we need more paid summer internships to provide talented, diverse students real world experience in their field of study. Our partner schools are Cal State LA, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Northridge, and Cal State Long Beach.  Majors include:

Computer Science

Computer Technology with a focus on Homeland Security

Computer Information Systems

Computer Engineering

Software Engineering

Mathematics

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Civil Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

To provide a paid summer internship(s), please contact Dawn or Lee Ann.