Two Earn Gates Millennium Scholarship

Each year, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program awards 1000 scholarships nationwide to high-performing, low-income students to help them pursue a college degree and gain a competitive edge for the 21^st century. This year, two Genesys Works Young Professionals, Love Chang and Hillary Lor of Central High School, were among the 19 Minnesota students named Gates Millennium Scholars. As Gates Scholars, they will receive financial assistance to cover the total cost of attendance at the college of their choice up until graduation. Below we share the stories of these two amazing students:

Love Chang

“Winning the Gates Millennium Scholarship is like a dream come true,” says Love. Since hearing about the scholarship from his brother and past scholars in elementary school, he was determined to win the scholarship. Love focused on his studies, developed leadership skills, and gave back to the community. Being named a Gates Scholar was well worth his dedication. Love no longer has to worry about how he is going to finance his education. The Scholarship puts him one step closer to achieving his goals, one of which is a college degree.

From a young age, education has always been an emphasis. Love and his family immigrated to the United States from the Thai refugee camp of Wat Tham Krabok in 2004 when he was 10. Upon arrival, Love didn't speak English; he was already years behind his American peers. His main responsibility at the time was his education - he needed to catch up. However, when his father passed away in 2008, he, along with his older siblings, had to quickly learn to take on responsibilities to help their mother run her household of eight. Love learned how to balance schoolwork with home responsibilities. His unwavering focus has allowed him to surpass many of his peers. Additionally, Love became a role model for his younger siblings by tutoring and guiding them through their class work. Despite the challenges, Love never let anything pull him down.

Love’s experience as a Genesys Works Young Professional and Wells Fargo intern has given him the skills and confidence to succeed in the professional world. Both experiences have also inspired him to pursue his goal of studying computer science and anthropology. He wishes to recreate a virtual 3D replication of the refugee camp he grew up in as a way to help preserve and share his culture. Love will be a first year college student at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities this fall.  

Hillary Lor

Last summer, when Hillary Lor told her parents that she hoped to win the Gates Millennium Scholarship, they told her that it probably wouldn’t happen and she shouldn’t raise her hopes too much. Therefore, when Hillary received a package in the mail announcing her status as a Gates Scholar this April, she could barely contain her excitement as she approached her parents with the news. Only then did she realize the timeliness of her good news. The day Hillary became a Gates Scholar was the same day she heard that her dad was laid off from his job. 

As a first-generation college student, Hillary was inspired by her parent’s transition to the United States in 1994 as refugees from Thailand and their efforts to provide the best educational opportunities for their children. Her parents’ struggles acclimating to the new culture in the United States and the countless injustices in her community related to race and socioeconomic status she witnessed motivated her interests in social justice and non-profit work. Her life dream is to start her own non-profit organization focused on health issues faced by low-income communities of color. According to Hillary, the Scholarship paired with her invaluable internship experience at Dorsey & Whitney help make her dream a more tangible possibility.

Hillary and Love pose outside a Bill Gates event at Concordia.

Through Genesys Works, Love and Hillary recently attended an event at Concordia College featuring Bill Gates, the philanthropist behind the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Bill Gates’ knowledge and passion for his work opened Love’s eyes to the struggles of others including widespread diseases and the lack of education and health care. Love is inspired to one day be a leading figure confronting similar issues as well. Also, Gates has encouraged Hillary to believe that anything is possible, as long as she works hard for it. This fall, Hillary will be working hard at Saint Catherine University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree with the hopes of entering the health field upon college graduation.

Genesys Works is proud of the accomplishments of Love and Hillary! If you would like to host an intern like Love and Hillary, contact Program Manager Joel Crandall at jcrandall@genesysworks.org today!

From Pakistan to Python, Genesys Works Gives Young Programmer a Huge Opportunity

“September 27^th, 2009.” The date rolls without hesitation off of Muhammad A. Khalid’s tongue—the day he arrived at O’Hare from Pakistan. His family had had a good life there, with his father working as a computer programmer and Muhammad and his siblings dedicated to their schoolwork. Then, things changed. Threats came. There was a targeted killing in Muhammad’s neighborhood. Eventually, he stopped going to school “because we feared for our lives.”

Muhammad A. Khalid

That flight to Chicago, the result of four years’ hard work by Muhammad’s father to obtain a visa and escape from a rapidly deteriorating political situation, was a huge opportunity for Muhammad. A second major opportunity came the summer after his junior year of high school, just three years later, when he decided to join Genesys Works.

After immigrating to the United States, Muhammad’s family had to start over. His father was unable to find work in Minnesota, and though he was always interested in computers, Muhammad didn’t have a clear path for developing his own technical talents. That is, until he found Genesys Works. The eight week business and IT boot camp finally gave Muhammad the opportunity he needed to get real skills. Genesys Works staff helped him go even farther. Recognizing his desire to program, Muhammad’s summer instructor introduced him to online training resources that would help him develop his abilities. After the summer, Genesys Works kick-started his career early by placing him in a year-long internship with Capella University in downtown Minneapolis. Within weeks of starting at Capella, he had designed macros to shorten his team’s routine tasks, impressing colleagues with twice his experience.

Muhammad quickly realized his next step: learn the programming language Python and start tackling something bigger. He had already seen a problem that needed solving, a bloated manual process for editing batches of websites. With the help of his co-worker Chris, he developed a solution to the slow process. Now, his team is poised to implement the script he wrote, making a two-hour process take mere seconds.

His dream now is to design operating systems, and the programming work he does daily at Capella keeps him on the track to achieving that dream. As he puts it, "Genesys Works has provided me the confidence, the skills and that extra step that I needed to succeed.  It is a wonderful opportunity that should not be wasted." 

If you are a current high school junior and you’d like to benefit from Genesys Works, apply online at www.genesysworks.org/twincities. The application deadline is March 13.

 

First College Student Set to Graduate in January

In January, we will see our first college graduate. A Young Professional from Genesys Works - Twin Cities' first class of students, Pa Yong Xiong, will be graduating a semester ahead of her peers. She is currently completing her degree in Business Management, Communications, and Conflict Studies at Hamline University. 

We sat down with Pa Yong to reflect on her experience as a Genesys Works student and hear about her goals after graduation.

What is your biggest take away from Genesys Works?

Genesys Works definitely shaped me into who I am. It taught me confidence and perseverance; I learned how to work hard. In addition, the staff has always been there; throughout my life, I have never found such a supportive group of people. I can always depend on the staff when I need a reference or a reminder. With Genesys Works on my resume and the staff supporting me, I feel confident that I can achieve anything. 

Genesys Works also helped me decide what career path I wanted to pursue. While I interned at Travelers, I got exposed to business operations, and in college, I decided to pursue it after discovering that medicine was not the best fit for me. Genesys Works helped me see a future where I can continue to build on my strengths and skills. 

From the very first Breaking Through Ceremony where I stood on stage with the other ten students, I was so proud of myself and felt so fortunate to be part of something great. Four years later, I still have the same feeling. I could not be more proud.

11 Months, 11 Miles and a Life-Changing Internship

When the day arrived for Lisa Yang and Ia Lee to begin their year-long internships at Carlson, they traveled the 11 miles from Robbinsdale Cooper High School to the lobby of the Carlson Towers in eager anticipation. Gone was the din of passing time in crowded high school hallways and the familiar look of student lockers. These two 17-year old classmates were now immersed in the professional hush and imposing marble-clad walls of the Carlson Towers. Though they had spent their summer preparing for this moment through the Genesys Works program, now that it was here, it was still daunting.

When Chip Goodall (Information Technology Manager, Workplace Services), who would serve as their placement supervisor, arrived in the lobby, they knew they were in good hands. Chip started by giving them the whirlwind tour of all the members of their department. In fitting IT fashion, he allowed them to integrate to their new environment by setting-up their own workstations. 

Though this day may not have been quite as nerve-wracking for Chip and his team, this was the first year for having high school interns through Genesys Works and they were not sure what to expect. They had some ideas about how best to employ Ia and Lisa as part of their team, but as they started giving the interns tasks, they could not be certain of how well the two would perform.

It turns out they need not have worried. One Team Lead in their area, Angela Hedden-Solway, has been impressed with what she has seen. “I have seen extreme growth in both Lisa and Ia. They have gone from taking things one step at a time to being able to handle multiple projects/activities, prioritizing work and obtaining team goals.”

Because Genesys Works interns typically spend a full year in their positions, it allows supervisors and co-workers to invest in them and entrust to them work that truly helps the department. Chip says it this way: “They have helped us in a manner that we didn’t even see coming last fall. By having them on our staff, we were able to navigate some difficult staffing situations where we had shortages due to vacations and medical issues. They moved from building and repairing laptops and desktops to learning our security access request system and providing fulfillment support.”

Wallin Education Partners Provide $96,000 for College

This month, six Genesys Works young professionals received news that each will receive $16,000 to use towards their college education. All six were selected based on their academic excellence, motivation, and leadership. As part of the requirements for our College and Career Connections Program, all students have been applying to scholarships; each has a goal of completing 15 scholarship applications before graduating from high school. As a reward, these six students have been named Wallin Scholars. Congratulations to our list of winners:

 

 Armani Black                    Bonsa Tilahun                  Janet Phetsamone

Gina Xiong                                         Jeanetta Langhorne                                           Xai Ly

 Armani Black, intern at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, senior at Johnson High School

Bonsa Tilahun, intern at Medtronic, senior at Columbia Heights High School

Janet Phetsamone, intern at Allina Hospitals and Clinics, senior at Roosevelt High School

Gina Xiong, intern at University of Minnesota, senior at Brooklyn Center High School

Jeanetta Langhorne, intern at Travelers Insurance, senior at Humboldt High School

Xai Ly, intern at Faegre Baker Daniels, senior at Minneapolis North High School

Below, three scholars share their college plans and gratitude for the generosity from the Wallin Education Partners:

Beyond PC Deployment: Stacy Yang takes on business systems at Xcel

We love seeing our students and clients think creatively about the kinds of work Genesys Works interns can do. Last year, it was Lulite at the National Marrow Donor Program, who opened the doors for students in software testing roles. Now, it's Central High School student Stacy Yang pushing the envelope for her peers. She's taken on a variety of IT business operations tasks, and she has performed at the top of her game in all of them. Check out this testimonial from Xcel supervisor Kathy Toth.

Stacy has been a valuable addition to the program management team in business systems at Xcel Energy. Stacy completes contract requisitions and follows up on them through approval and issuance to our vendors. She helps complete the purchasing cycle in an expedient, compliant manner. In addition, she assists with the month end process by rolling over forecasting spreadsheets... [and] executes several other ‘as needed’ tasks with enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Stacy’s support role has assisted to focus the project managers on execution and quick, compliant processing of information technology contracts. 

Stacy has reaped the benefits of a year in her position as well. A major part of the theory behind Genesys Works is that the skills a student builds in a corporate work place--time management, analytic thinking, problem-solving--are the same ones required to succeed in college. Given the success Stacy has had as a pioneer at Xcel, she should have no problem as she enrolls at The College of St. Benedict (her likely pick) this fall. As she puts it:

 

Through Xcel Energy I've learned how to become an independent, innovative thinker. Along with that I am most fortunate to have a group of wonderful, supportive co-workers who never hesitate to answer my call for help.

Genesys Works Alum Jennifer Viveros on Women in IT

Jennifer Viveros understands that a first impression only takes seven seconds. She recognizes the importance of a good handshake. To her, networking is not simply something you do on Facebook with your friends; it is building relationships that “may be the first step towards your dream.” And along with all of these elements, Jennifer sees how the knowledge and experience gained during her time with Genesys Works and Bremer Financial, where she interned, helped move her in a direction she did not expect: pursuing a professional career in information technology.

“My decision of joining Genesys Works was mostly because of my interest in business. I never imagined this experience was going to get me into the IT world,” Viveros explained about her reasoning for participating in Genesys Works.  “My current plan is to major in Computer Science and Mathematics. My career aspiration after college is to work in an IT department, but not as an intern, as the CIO.”

Viveros, right, examines the inside of a tower with her peers

Viveros is currently attending Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, where her passion for IT is continuing to flourish. She reminisced that her transition from Genesys Works to college IT course work was not as smooth as she thought it would be. Coming from the Genesys Works program, whose typical population consists of 50 percent or more females working in IT to Gustavus’ Computer Science program, which is very much male-dominated, was quite intimidating.

“I was really afraid because mostly everyone (males) knew about the subject and I didn’t. I was about to drop the class, but then decided to try. It was worth it because I currently love my major.” Viveros went on to make a call to her fellow women to join her in the IT world, stating “girls who are interested in the IT world and feel passionate about it should go for it. They shouldn’t give up ... because they feel they don’t know much about it.”

Genesys Works Will Change My Life

With over 600 motivated students from all over the metro area competing for 160 internships, we reached out to Harding High School junior Qudus Rahmon to find out why he, like many others, want to become a Genesys Works Young Professional.

How did you first hear about Genesys Works? 

I first heard about Genesys Works during a 25 minute presentation in the auditorium at my school. That's where I fell in love with Genesys Works because it'll help me build a strong resume; I can earn a PAID, IT internship; and I can train in technology and professional skills. I’ve also heard about Genesys Works through my friend Luis Moreno, a current Genesys Works student working at Bremer Bank. He motivated me and influenced me to apply. 

You were one of our very first applicants this year. What is it about Genesys Works that made you apply two months ago? 

The most specific reason that made me apply for Genesys Works two months ago is basically is that I'm really dedicated, I'm in a program called Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps(NJROTC), and that program taught me a lot of leadership skills and to be more dedicated. I'm in a high rank (Chief Petty Officer) in that program, which shows that I'm really dedicated and motivated towards everything I do. I also want to gain real world experience, such as working in companies, instead of working at a fast food restaurant. I want to show my parents and friends that I can accomplish my goal of being part of Genesys Works so I can start pursuing a professional career. Plus, my mother believes "hard work pays off", and I will continue to think about that quote everywhere I go and when I'm a part of Genesys Works.

What do you hope to get out of this program? 

I’m looking forward to the eight week training program, because that's where all the magic happens and that's where I can learn a lot of new things about technology because I love to fix computers. What I also hope to get out of this program is to strengthen my communication skills, because I love to meet new people and to be active. Most Importantly, I hope to set goals for myself and find ways to achieve them. 

How does Genesys Works fit into your future plans?

Genesys Works fits into my future plans because I'm planning on majoring in computer and electronic engineering. I would love to work with the Geek Squad at Best Buy one day because I love hands-on work such as fixing computers. I believe Genesys Works is a good step to achieve my goal. "If you believe, you can achieve," and I believe Genesys Works will change my life.

Video: Your daily dose of inspiration from two incredible young professionals

In a March 16th ceremony that made them celebrities for an evening, Genesys Works young professionals Raymond Perez-Rivera (interning at Capella University) and Lashay Thompson (Cargill) were honored with Beat the Odds scholarships for overcoming incredible obstacles in their lives. It was the first time most in attendance were exposed to the astonishing public speaking ability of these two high school seniors. 

In Genesys Works, public speaking is a core part of the curriculum that prepares high school juniors for serious corporate internships. At the same time they are developing technical skills like networking and imaging computers, they are presenting formal speeches to their peers. These speeches range from simple introductions to presentations on a topic in IT. Many of the biggest breakthroughs happen through these speech assignments, where students build confidence by forcing themselves out of their comfort zone.

The students put the most work into developing their presentation skills are honored as featured speakers at our annual Breaking Through Ceremony. Last September, Lashay was one of those featured speakers. In light of her recent success, we're posting her video here, along with another fantastic speech by colleague Jacob Johnson.

Hearing how Lashay and Jake changed their lives may just change yours:

Genesys Works is Life Changing

By Peter Vue, Genesys Works Young Professional and Intern at 3M

Peter examines the inside of a computer, getting ready to disassemble it

Being a curious teenager, I want to know every thing there is to know of the ever changing and evolving technology of today and tomorrow’s world. Applying for Genesys Works, I would have never thought that I would get to be a part of such a great program, until the moment I opened that acceptance letter in the mail. I joined Genesys Works because I knew I would be guaranteed a fun, yet educational summer. I have learned that self presentation, technology and professionalism are crucial knowledge and skills to have in life. It helps you become more prepared for the professional path ahead. 

As for me, I gained these qualities during the summer of 2011, thanks to Genesys Works. That was one of the best summers of my life. I got the chance to assemble and dissemble computers. I have always been afraid to do that on my own. I was given the chance to work one on one with a highly intelligent IT professor for eight straight weeks. Information technology testing and mock interviews were provided to better prepare me for working in the real world. I was also fortunate enough to do volunteer work with an energetic and large group of young professionals at various events.

The benefits of being with Genesys Works are the opportunities that you would not find anywhere else. I have benefited plenty from Genesys Works, whether it is the fun, the people or the skills and knowledge I have obtained from the eight weeks of intensive training. Over the past many months of being a part of this wonderful program, I gained confidence like never before. I was introduced and revealed to the professional world. I continue to keep my hopes and dreams high, hoping someday to live the professional life that was first introduced to me by Genesys Works. Continuing to believe, I dream to someday earn my own spot in the professional world.

Peter with his 3M team, from left to right, Tammy Sachse, Paula Brisson, Debbie Jenny, Naomi Bliss, and Demond Byrant

Genesys Works has helped me grow and become more confident in the things that I do. I believe I am very lucky to be a part of 3M and to be working with my supervisors, Naomi Bliss and Tammy Sachse, along with the rest of my team. 3M is a great a place to be and a place that offers great experiences to young professionals. I am a Contracted Intern. My job is to check for errors of projects and correct them. Projects are constantly coming in and checking for errors is a huge responsibility. It is important that corrections are done so that there is no confusion in the future. The relationship I have with my co-workers is beyond great. I feel like we are a family placed together in cubes. The laughs and work we share helps us grow, improve and learn together. The coolest thing about working at 3M is being able to see a Minnesota found company, working and interacting with the rest of the world.

A Day in the Life of Maren Rodriguez, Genesys Works Young Professional, Intern at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Maren Rodriguez begins each day of her senior year at Humboldt Senior High School in Saint Paul at 7:30AM. Here, she reviews material for her College in the Schools Psychology class with her friend Stephanie. 

 Maren poses with her favorite teacher at Humboldt, Ms. Melissa Chaffee. 

Around noon, Maren leaves Humboldt High School and heads to her internship at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Information Technology Department in downtown Saint Paul.

Working with the LAN Support Team at MnSCU, Maren's day is usually filled with a variety of tasks, from assisting users with common computer problems to re-imaging computers. Her most recent accomplishment was assisting her team with MnSCU's migration to Windows 7.

Student Ambassadors Pay It Forward in Recruitment

Genesys Works Young Professionals gain a lot from their participation in the program.  They gain IT and professional skills during summer training, have the opportunity to work in meaningful internships during their senior year, make lifelong friends and map out plans for college and professional careers.  At Genesys Works, they are also given ownership for the development, expansion and growth of the Twin Cities program and each day students pave the way for future Young Professionals by excelling in their internships and changing stereotypes about inner-city youth.



Young Professionals also play a tremendous roll in recruiting new students for the program.  Their knowledge of their classmates, their schools and their first-hand experience in the program leaves them uniquely qualified to seek out new students for the program and encourage them to apply, a role students take very seriously.



Over the years, a pay it forward culture has developed at Genesys Works - Twin Cities as students actively encourage others in their school to join the program.  For Tou Thao, Class 3 Alumni, it was fellow Central High School student Tou Moua from Class 2 who first introduced him to Genesys Works.  Thao saw Moua dressed professionally as he walked to class one day and began asking questions.  Moua knew Thao to be a harding working student, so he eagerly shared about his experience working in the IT department of Capella University, which sparked Thao's decision to join Genesys Works.  The next year Thao shared his experience with, Elvin Gateri, another Central student he knew to be hardworking and tech savy, continuing the tradition.


Class 3 students Tou Thao and Chue Thao present to future Young Professionals for Bring a Friend Night 2011

This pay it forward culture is already evident in Class 4 where Genesys Works Young Professionals are hard at work recruiting juniors in their schools. Lead Student Ambassador Stanley Wu leads the charge at Central High where he has been speaking in homeroom classrooms, creating video announcements and is constantly sharing about his experience in Genesys Works.  His hard work is already paying dividends in the increased number of applications recieved from Central. 

When asked why he was so invested in recruiting students for Genesys Works Stanley said, "Genesys Works can change students' lives. Many people were living in a bad place before they started Genesys Works. They came out like champions and feel like they accomplished something meaningful after the program. Even if some of them were already in a good place, they are now in a better place. All of us Young Professionals gained valuable skills over the summer. Even now, we're gaining skills and experience that most high school students wouldn't normally get. The more students that learn these skills and gain valuable work experience the better."

Current Student Ambassadors like Stanley Wu, center, use their communication skills to encourage classmates to join Genesys Works

Thank you, all Genesys Works Student Ambassadors and Alumni, for your hard work as we recruit Class 5 in the Twin Cities.  With your help, we cannot wait to welcome 200 outstanding students into the program this summer!

Philanthropy on the Front Lines: Ibrahim and Troy at Dorsey

We've written much about the Genesys Works Young Professionals on this blog--the obstacles they've overcome, the incredible commitments they make to success in school and the workplace, their accomplishments as they win scholarships and move on to college. Students like Ibrahim, currently an intern at Dorsey & Whitney, do the most they can to take advantage of the opportunity Genesys Works and its corporate partners provide.

What we don't always make clear is the amount of care and energy invested into our students' experiences by the people they work with. Ibrahim's supervisor, Troy Johnson, is an especially strong example of the influence an intern's coworker can have on him. Like a normal manager, Troy assigns tasks and gives trainings to Ibrahim. But he has also acted as a mentor, inspiring Ibrahim to think big about his career and motivating him to take risks in the workplace.

Young Professional Ibrahim Hagos has developed a strong professional relationship with Troy Johnson, his supervisor at  Dorsey & Whitney.

Spring CCC and Recruitment Kickoff 2012

Tou Thao speaking to Class 4 students about his college experience

Tuesday, January 3^rd marked the Spring Kickoff for Genesys Works' Career and College Connections program and student recruitment. Our current class of young professionals gathered as the excitement began to build for all of the new things happening this upcoming year. Eleven alumni from Classes 2 and 3 came prepared to share some words of wisdom about their college experiences thus far.

The event kicked off with a chance to mingle amongst Genesys Works friends, staff, and alumni, strengthening the generational family and rekindling the resolve to break through the barriers that have held so many back from achieving their full professional potential. As the chatter died down, the alumni gathered upfront to provide some words of wisdom for our current class of young professionals. Taela Fullilove, a Class 3 alum, shared how much scholarships played a role in her being able to afford college. She is attending Iowa State University and her tuition expenses are completely covered. Tou Thao, who currently attends Polytechnic Institute of New York University, was able to give a different perspective about what he has learned since being so far away from his family. Our alumni were able to lead small groups to allow for more intimate discussions of college to occur.

Class 4 student Christina Nguyen and executive director Jeff Tollefson

Another goal of this kickoff was to increase the energy surrounding student recruitment. We charged all of our students with the task of being ambassadors for Genesys Works. There was quite a buzz as students shouted out recruiting goal numbers for their respective schools. Students ended the night by receiving their Genesys Works embroidered button-down shirts. Now when they walk down the halls of their schools, not only will they be equipped with the skills to articulately speak about Genesys Works, but will don the apparel to promote it as well.