VenturEd Fellowship Shatters Barriers: Underrepresented High School Students Lead Innovation in Tech

BALTIMORE - Dec. 4, 2024 - PRLog -- VenturEd, a non-profit organization changing access to the tech industry, today announced the success of its Winter 2025 Fellowship program. With over 40 diverse Fellows placed in virtual internships at startups, VenturEd is not only accelerating the careers of these talented high school students but also transforming the tech world's landscape.

"At VenturEd, we believe that while talent is evenly distributed everywhere, opportunity isn't," says Kofi Hair-Ralston, Founder of VenturEd. "At the same time, opportunity is fleeting. It comes and goes. We're biasing towards spreading it."

The Winter 2025 cohort is a testament to VenturEd Global's commitment to diversity and inclusion. With an average GPA of 3.84, these exceptional students represent four continents, with countries including the United States, Nepal, Zambia, Paraguay, and Qatar, bringing a global perspective to the challenges and opportunities of the tech industry. Furthermore, VenturEd has achieved perfect gender parity within the program, with a 50/50 split between male and female Fellows, as opposed to the 64% male dominance reported by the EEOC in the broader tech workforce. VenturEd's impressive diversity statistics, with only 4.8% of Fellows identifying as White compared to the industry average of 68%, demonstrate the organization's unwavering dedication to creating a more equitable and representative tech landscape.

"We are immeasurably proud of the diversity of our Fellows," states Hair-Ralston. "We made sure VenturEd wasn't just about filling seats. We're spotlighting voices that have been historically sidelined."

The VenturEd Fellowship is structured as an intensive, 8-week virtual internship program, providing Fellows with hands-on experience in a variety of technical disciplines, including data analysis, programming, marketing, design, and project management. Unlike traditional internships that often relegate students to menial tasks, VenturEd Global ensures that Fellows are immersed in substantive projects that directly contribute to their partner companies' success. This experience not only enhances their resumes and college applications but also equips them with the practical skills and confidence to thrive in a competitive job market.

"We believe in learning by doing," explains Hair-Ralston. "Our Fellows are active participants instead of just observing, really working in their unique perspectives and talents. Skills you don't really get elsewhere, that usually just hold people back."

"We want our Fellows to be more than just skilled," adds Hair-Ralston. "We want them to be moral leaders, independent thinkers, and use their talents to make the world a better place."

Visit the page at http://www.venturedglobal.org