FAMU’s FITC Alliance Paving The Way for Future STEM Students

This week the Florida Information Technology Career Alliance, Student Ambassadors of Florida A&M University, held events on Career Development for youth at the Palmer Munroe Teen Center.

While Leon County students enjoyed their week off from school for spring break, productivity didn’t cease. Student Ambassadors of the FITC Alliance at FAMU hosted a week of events catered to youth on how they can prepare for college and future careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). 

The week of events for the students includes lectures on social media etiquette, building resumes, learning interviewing skills/tips.

“The FITC Alliance is a grant given to both FAMU and FSU students by the Florida Board of Governors to help recruit, retain, and employ student in STEM fields of work,” Olivia Wilson, Outreach Coordinator for the FAMU FITC Alliance, said.

The goal of FITC Alliance is to engage academic and industry partners that range from high schools, community colleges, state colleges, universities and private and public employers that will enable academics and industry professionals to work together to attract technology professionals to the state of Florida.

“We’re just trying to reach out to the youth and get them more involved and interested in the STEM field,” Byron Fields, a 4th year Computer Information Studies student and Student Ambassador for the FAMU FITC Alliance, said. 

Along with the lectures and workshops provided for the students, they will take professional headshots and create their very own LinkedIn profiles so they can begin to start marketing themselves to employers in their communities.

The Ambassadors travel across Florida’s Panhandle promoting IT, Computer Science, and Engineering to students by providing lectures, workshop events, and mentoring opportunities when traveling to local schools.

With the Ambassador program, we go around talking to students about why they should become a CIS student and attend FAMU or either FSU,”  Deja Lindsey, a 1st year Computer Science student from Chicago, Ill. and a Student Ambassador for  FAMU FITC Alliance, said.

“This timely grant award will enable us to build a sustainable pipeline of highly-trained students in information technology to meet the competitive workforce needs of the future,” Simon Foo, Department Chair, FAMU/FSU College of Engineering, said.

For more information on the FITC Alliance visit www.fitc.cci.fsu.edu.