Per Scholas Phoenix hosted a small reception organized by U.S. House Representative Ruben Gallego to celebrate the winners and participants of the Congressional App Challenge. This event was a nationwide competition for middle and high schoolers led by the United States House of Representatives that has been held since 2016, centered around coding, program design, and computer science. 

In addition to celebrating the winners and all participants of the challenge, the event included remarks from Per Scholas Regional Senior Vice President, West, Jaclyn Boyes, Office of Rep. Ruben Gallego, community members, and challenge participants. 

“Opportunities like the 2022 Congressional App Challenge are what connects our community’s bright young minds to an increasingly digital world,” commented Jaclyn Boyes, former Managing Director of Per Scholas Phoenix. “Arizona is the 12th-highest ranking state in the entire country for our tech industry diversity. It’s so critical that we don’t lose steam behind any efforts for more STEM programs made available to students in our schools.”

Click here to read about the 2023 Congressional App Challenge winners!

Leaders from Technology, Government, Private Equity, Nonprofit Contribute to Transform America’s Tech Workforce in the Southwest

PHOENIX (February 28, 2023) – Per Scholas Phoenix today announces the establishment of its inaugural Advisory Board. Leaders from technology, government, private equity, and the nonprofit sector will contribute their time and talent to supporting Per Scholas Phoenix and its mission to transform America’s technology workforce through rigorous tech skills training.

Inaugural Per Scholas Phoenix Advisory Board Members include:

• Anebi Agbo, Product Builder & Entrepreneur, Eikon Labs
• Rich Asay, Senior Operations Analyst, Global Services, Keyfactor
• Amber Braaten, IS Service Desk Controller, Master Electronics
• Shereka Jackson, Founder/CEO, Future Stars Inc
• Aaron Jones, Software Developer, City of Chandler
• Phillip Pipkins, Founding Partner, Prospeq, LP

“We are thrilled to have inspired leadership from our inaugural Per Scholas Phoenix Board members. Their creative vision will help us connect rigorously trained tech talent with quality job employers, changing the face of tech here in Arizona,” said Jaclyn Boyes, Per Scholas Phoenix Managing Director. 

Since opening in 2021, more than 100 learners have graduated from Per Scholas Phoenix and have gone onto employment in tech roles at a variety of companies across the city – from large financial service institutions to small startups. 

Per Scholas Phoenix is grateful for Founder’s Circle partners TEKsystems as well as generous support from Boeing, New World Foundation Quality Jobs Fund, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and Wells Fargo.

 Currently, Per Scholas Phoenix offers a variety of tech training courses including Java Developer, IT Support, and more. To learn more, please visit www.PerScholas.org/Phoenix.

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for more than 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 20 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 20,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Per Scholas Phoenix was featured in the Phoenix Business Journal, discussing Per Scholas’s expansion to Phoenix and how we are preparing our graduates for high-growth careers in tech. Per Scholas Phoenix Managing Director Jaclyn Boyes was interviewed for the article, stating, “this year we are seeing a 100% certification rate and a 95% job attainment rate. Our learners are getting certified and they are getting hired.”

Click here to read the full feature.