Our Crowdfunding Groups
“The Department of Computer Science is making a strong effort toward addressing the diversity problem in the tech industry. Supporting the attendance of students at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing is an important part of our agenda. Successful fundraising through weR Gold would help us significantly expand the number of students who can participate in the conference, and take home the confidence, skills, and professional connections that the Grace Hopper experience provides.” - Chuck Stewart, Professor and Department Head, Computer Science
The Grace Hopper Conference provides a wide array of opportunities for Rensselaer women. Students who attend GHC will build professional networks, go to seminars that enhance their confidence as women in the tech field, and secure prized internships and permanent job offers. Through these connections made, and the knowledge gained at GHC, our female students harness their inner strength to become leaders in the tech industry.
In 2019, the students who attended Grace Hopper came away with internship offers at companies such as Facebook, Apple, Wayfair, Signa, Audible, Microsoft, and Google, just to name a few. Last year, one of our graduate students who attended received a full-time offer from Google after interviewing with company representatives at the Grace Hopper career expo. Similarly, one of our CS alumnae who attended in her senior year obtained her current full-time job at Blue Apron after interviewing with the company at GHC.
Further, many students use GHC as an opportunity to expand their knowledge in specific domains of computer science. This gives them a competitive edge when searching for internships, research positions, and jobs.
At the 2019 conference, students attended a variety of tech talks on topics, such as integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into user experience, and accessibility of design for all users. Several students said that these seminars opened their eyes to the wide range of concentration areas in CS. One of our students said, “[I learned that] you can pursue literally any interest with computer science!”
The most amazing part of GHC is the empowerment and sense of belonging that women experience at the conference. One of our students who attended in 2019 said that through GHC, she realized that she should never sell herself short. It is through her intelligence and hard work, not coincidence or luck, that she has accomplished so much and gotten to where she is today. One of the 2018 attendees commented that because of her experience at Grace Hopper, she wants to always ensure that safe spaces exist for women and underrepresented minorities in the computing industry. Another student shared that she has a reignited enthusiasm to help girls in elementary school expand their horizons by learning programming early in their education. This student is currently working on a program with ACM-W and Coding&&Community to bring coding classes into Troy Middle School in downtown Troy. She emphasized the importance of young women seeing other women working and finding success in the tech industry.
The feedback we hear from students after they return from GHC include comments such as, “I attended leadership seminars that I believe truly helped me better understand myself, and they gave me more confidence. I plan to bring that into almost every aspect of my academic and professional career.”
“[I learned] how important it is to give back to the community and lift others up as you move forward; to continue the cycle of support.”
“I was able to network with women from a variety of career levels, career paths, companies, and locations all around the nation. I was inspired by each woman’s story and her journey on how she got to where she is today… I cannot imagine there exists a better opportunity than attending Grace Hopper for a young woman searching for a career in computer science.”
Both the Department of Computer Science and the chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery Women’s Chapter (ACM-W) at Rensselaer would be extremely grateful for your support. ACM-W is a community of students that celebrates, informs and supports women in computing. Our chapter provides a safe, collaborative space for everyone with a passion for technology. By providing a variety of workshops, networking events, and career advancement opportunities, ACM-W’s goal is to tear down inherent biases to achieve a more inclusive and diverse tech industry. Several ACM-W members attended GHC in 2019, and they have been working actively to bring what they learned back to the Rensselaer community.
Your donation, in any amount, will help more women have experiences similar to those described on this page at the next Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in late September of 2020. The ripple effect of excitement and empowerment that comes from Grace Hopper is palpable and inspiring for our students. By sending more women to the Grace Hopper Celebration, Rensselaer is helping the tech world become a more welcoming place for women.
For more information on ACM-W, head to our website!
For more information on the Department of Computer Science, visit our website!
