Grace College Students Chosen For Smart Tech
WINONA LAKE — Two Grace College students are soon headed to Indianapolis to participate in Smart Tech, an immersive, four-week program to prepare liberal arts students for the high-tech job market. Jenna Reinhard, a Bluffton native who graduated this month with an intercultural studies degree, and Madi Brill, a rising junior from Hudsonville, Mich., majoring in interdisciplinary studies, were selected from Grace College.
The summer program created by Independent Colleges of Indiana and Eleven Fifty Academy is designed to marry the problem-solving, creativity and communication skills of liberal arts students with the technical and coding skills necessary for the high-tech job market. The students will live in Indianapolis June 4 – 29 and work 40 hours a week learning technical skills, creating an e-portfolio and connecting with business leaders. They will gain competency in JavaScript, knowledge of security, legal, and compliance issues, and exposure to a variety of careers in the technology field. At the end of the four weeks, attendees will have a completed e-portfolio and an industry certification from Eleven Fifty Academy, valued at $4,000.
Students are chosen by recommendation of their universities for their academic record and technical savvy, and then approved by the Smart Tech board. DeeAnna Muraski, associate director of the center for career connections at Grace College, led the selection process at Grace.
“Madi and Jenna are both bright students who will contribute and benefit from their experience at Smart Tech. I’m glad they are willing to take on this challenge and improve themselves for the high-tech job market,” Muraski said.
“I’m a little nervous about the program,” Reinhard admitted. “I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m excited about the opportunity to expand my understanding of JavaScript and meet new people from different backgrounds.”
Brill was thinking about her summer plans the entire day before she received an email with the subject line “Summer Opportunity” from Muraski. “I knew it was from God,” Brill said. “There was a little bit of anxiety, but I was prepared to accept it immediately.” As a future librarian, Brill believes the technical skills she learns will be invaluable because libraries are increasingly immersed in technology. “I’m ready to just dive in and learn,” she said.