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Highlights
TCS’ go Innovate Together (goIT) program engages students from diverse backgrounds to give them an insight into the tech industry and its relevant skills.
Our recent partnership with energy giant, Halliburton in Houston, Texas, USA, has allowed us to bring goIT to Houston’s schools and classrooms.
The successful partnership, which impacted 200 students over the course of just 3 months even during the pandemic, will continue its efforts to make technology education more accessible in Houston’s schools.
In this article
Community at the core
As a company that puts the community at the core of our business practices, we are building on the belief that we make a greater impact through partnerships with our business partners when working together towards a common goal. For that reason, TCS partnered with energy giant, Halliburton in Houston, Texas, to bring goIT to schools that Halliburton supports through their independent community outreach efforts.
When bringing goIT to a school, TCS strives to create an immersive experience for students--one that brings an entire community into the classroom. TCS associates Satyendra Chauhan and Raghu Nechulli Puthan Veedu, who work closely with Halliburton, were quick to recognize the overlap in community support and connected the goIT team with Halliburton’s Community Relations Manager, Melissa Sowell. Understanding the value goIT could bring to both students and associates, Sowell introduced the goIT team to leadership in the Humble and Aldine school districts in Houston.
Shaina Glass, the Director for Technology Applications and STEM at Aldine ISD said, “This feels like a gift fell in my lap. I’ve been looking for ways to engage our middle school learners in technology education, and goIT is a perfect fit.” She agreed to pilot the program with the STEM academies, Drew and Grantham, as a consideration prior to integrating the program into their full school curriculum.
Connie Schaut, the coordinator for the STEM Academy in Timberwood Middle School in Humble ISD had a similar reaction to goIT’s innovative content. She and her STEM teacher, Brandi West, were both eager to introduce the program to their 7th grade students.
How goIT sparks innovations
From March to May 2021, through the pandemic, a Texas freeze, flooding, and state testing, teachers at the three schools facilitated goIT to over 200 students. Through the program, TCS and Halliburton associates played a significant role in the program by using their time away from work to provide project feedback, as well as inspiring students to pursue careers in computer science by sharing their own career journeys.
Shane Miller, Senior Director of Global Infrastructure Services at Halliburton, was a repeat volunteer in the classroom, and delivered the keynote fireside chat during the culmination. When asked what drove him to volunteer, he said, “Explaining to students that they are intelligent and valuable and that they can participate in the technology revolution creates self-esteem and hope. Having them do an actual project that has a deliverable while they are surrounded by encouraging professionals further helps them understand that they are valuable. Professional people taking time out of their days just because they care about these students and their futures has to have a lasting positive impact on these students.”
Explaining to students that they are intelligent and valuable and that they can participate in the technology revolution creates self-esteem and hope.
Halliburton is serious about their commitment to the schools and the partnership with TCS. Ken Braud, the CIO of Halliburton, showed his support by attending the final showcase in May to deliver some words of wisdom to the students. Additionally, Susanna Sabbagh, a Halliburton VP and President of their foundation, agreed to sponsor prizes for the winning teams that were awarded to the schools.
A partnership to look out for
Both school and corporate stakeholders reflect on the program as incredibly successful. Blanca Gonzales, a teacher from MacArthur High School Grantham Academy, called goIT the highlight of the year. Timberwood Middle School loved the program so much, they trained an additional teacher and engaged their entire 8th grade class with the goIT program. Both schools agreed that bringing professionals into the classroom, especially during the pandemic when schools could not otherwise provide outside opportunities was a very enriching experience for the students. West said, “we love to have outside opportunities to allow students to grow and citizens and solve real problems. This can be difficult to organize and implement however Hillary and her team at TCS and Haliburton made this process smooth and successful.”
What's next in the journey
These initial programs between Halliburton and TCS are sparking what will be a long partnership that will hope to make technology education more accessible to schools in Houston. Next year, while Timberwood plans to run the program again with both 7th and 8th- students, Aldine is hoping to bring goIT to all 15 of its middle schools across the district. At TCS, we are excited that goIT is making opportunities for students to meet professionals while shifting the way students experience and teachers approach technology education.
