Aniya Keene, North Carolina A&T State University

Aniya is an incoming freshman at North Carolina A&T State University. She attended Brooke Point High School and hopes to develop skills in Information Technology through the North Carolina A&T Information Technology and Army ROTC Program. During her high school years, Aniya was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Youth of Africa Club, and served as Secretary for the Black Student Union. She was also a Spirit Club member, along with participating in additional extracurriculars and volunteer opportunities while working part-time jobs.

Elijah Everett, Norfolk State University

Elijah is a graduating senior who is about to begin his first semester as a graduate student. He majored in Computer Science. As a senior project, Elijah created an Creating an online Secure E-Voting system to be used in US elections. Additionally, Elijah was named Lockheed Martin STEM Scholar and completed a Mimo Web Development boot camp course.

In his free time, Elijah plays the piano. In the future, he aspires to become a full-stack web developer. Elijah wrote, “Looking ahead, I envision a career where I can leverage technology to address pressing societal challenges, from enhancing cybersecurity measures to developing sustainable computing solutions. I am particularly interested in how artificial intelligence can be ethically integrated into various sectors to improve efficiency and accessibility.”

Joshua Beller, University of Michigan

Joshua is a freshman majoring in Computer Science at University of Michigan. He dreams of becoming a Machine Learning Engineer at Google, a goal that aligns with his strong foundation in technology. Joshua’s interest in programming began in 6th grade after utilizing a block code platform where he learned the fundamentals of coding.

Joshua writes that, “Coding is not merely a skill but a gateway to endless opportunities for creativity, innovation, and impact.” In high school, Joshua’s experience extended to his school’s first robotics team. He worked at his high school over the summer doing Chromebook repairs and providing general technology help desk support.

Aiyanah Batton, Southern University and A&M College

Aiyanah is a Rising Senior at Southern University majoring in Computer Science. She has made the Dean’s List for multiple semesters throughout her college career and has a passion for video games as well as a love for writing. She was published at the age of 16 and hopes to publish a book in the future.

Aiyanah’s interest in tech evolved from her interest in video games. She writes “My passion for video games, ranging from The Sims to League of Legends and beyond, sparked my interest in the technology that powers such immersive experiences.” While she realized coding was not her calling, Aiyanah developed a fervent interest in the broader field of Information Technology. She feels that her dream job in IT is one that will ensure she is able to make a meaningful impact by assisting others and alleviating others’ stressors through her work.