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Student Commencement speaker Shruti Sekar is destined to succeed, helping others along the way

Colleen Rich — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:14:21 +0000

Student Commencement speaker Shruti Sekar is destined to succeed, helping others along the way Colleen Rich Thu, 12/14/2023 - 11:14

In the summer before she started at ��AV, this year’s Student Commencement Speaker Shruti Sekar learned Python with her friends while participating in coding activities, which launched her passion for computer science.

Shruti Sekar.
Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

In her first semester, the computer science major joined Mason’s Student Government Senate and the Honors College’s Student Advisory Board. The next year, she worked as a teaching assistant for the Break Through Tech Summer Guild to introduce more women to computing. She also participated in Break Through Tech’s short-term Sprinternship program, where she received a chance to explore software engineering at Mastercard during winter break.

Since her junior year, Sekar has enjoyed supporting initiatives for students as a secretary for Girls Who Code. In her final semester, she helped to set up the executive board for the hardware hackathon HackOver-flow; participated in Mason’s President-Student Advisory Board; and founded Social Sandbox, a community engagement and technology club, with her team.

Sekar loves writing fiction, crafting lyrics and poems, and collaging scrapbooks. She also relaxes by spending time with friends, interacting with animals, creating products for hackathons, and playing video games. She attributes her success to her lovely friends and professors and, most importantly, to her parents and brother who have encouraged and uplifted her every step of the way. After graduation, Sekar will join Mastercard as a data engineer and continue working toward her accelerated master’s degree in computer science at Mason.

Sekar delivered the following remarks at Winter Commencement on Dec. 14 in EagleBank Arena.

Before I begin, I would like to congratulate the Winter 2023 graduating class! Even though we speak different languages, come from various countries, and study distinct disciplines, we all embody the determination and grit required to earn a degree as Mason Patriots! Congratulations to all undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in the Class of 2023!

Every graduating class has a story to tell. Our story reaches beyond countless hours preparing for graduation, days of studying for finals, weeks of attending lectures, and years of working towards our degree.

Our story includes waves that shook our education.

We started by touching our screens to start video calls as we physically drifted apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We saw the skies painted orange as the weather wilted from wildfires flowing from Canada.

We heard shrill alarm bells ring and felt our hearts sink when nearby universities underwent lockdowns.

We felt a loss of rights with an increase in policies targeting LGBTQ+ communities and women.

We tasted desperation akin to apocalyptic nightmares with multiple wars.

But when undercurrents of tragedy rippled through, we, as a Mason community sent lifeboats to our peers drifting in turbulent waves.

For me, my first two semesters at Mason were the most isolating. My brain felt drained, my heart felt heavy, and my mind doubted itself. You see, Mason is the first place I took an actual coding class. As a computer science major, I had no prior experience besides block-based coding made for young kids.

I had heard terms relating to databases or software engineering from my dad and brother. Even when I was applying to Mason, I intended to study as a mechanical engineering major. But before orientation, I learned Python with my friend Swetha, and our connection gave me the confidence to switch into computer science.

But the transition was not easy. Seeing the mountains of technical knowledge other students displayed, I felt I would never be smart enough or do enough. When difficult coding assignments hit, or I found myself working past 1 a.m., I truly questioned if the path I was taking was the path I should be taking.

In the end, the problem didn’t lie in my ability; it lay in our lack of connection during the pandemic and our utter loneliness. Everyone took virtual classes, and we all pretended that we were doing fine. We apologized when we faced interruptions in Zoom, fine-tuned our lighting and microphones, and adjusted our camera to provide a picture-perfect view of ourselves. We sometimes even turned off our cameras to prevent others from noticing the chaos behind us.

The truth is that we students know that the outside world affects our education—yet we still try to isolate our own lives from our academics.

Despite my feeling of drowning in waves, the people around me pulled me to shore. The strength of the Mason community has always lay in reaching out and uplifting one another from the harshest currents in the ocean.

My mother and father continued to motivate me to pursue a higher education degree. My brother encouraged me to think critically about my four-year plan. My friends and professors empowered me through their kind words.

In particular, during my first semester at Mason, the Student Government Senate and the Honors College Student Advisory Board anchored me through the worst tempests of the pandemic. Administrators at the Honors College taught me the meaning of interdisciplinary collaboration and club presidents like Taye, Ghaaliyah, and Rosy highlighted the value of empathy and good leadership. In Student Government Senate, they listened to me and made me feel respected when I worked on mental health and accessibility initiatives.

The Honors College and Student Government supported me in creating events and learning more about community initiatives, which would serve as a template for the rest of my undergraduate experience. They taught me that we should pursue even the smallest of ideas and that we should all look out for each other.

While we were all in our little islands at home trying to hold steady through passing storms, these organizations made me feel like there were bridges between us and that we were never truly alone.

So many people at Mason are anchors for others.

I joined Break Through Tech and met phenomenal professors who led the initiatives to help women become involved in technology. I met women who were also learning how to code for the first time, and we all felt like we genuinely belonged in computer science. From there, I joined Girls Who Code and even founded the club Social Sandbox with my wonderful team and faculty advisor, Professor Peixoto, to merge technology with civic and community engagement.

Throughout my time in the student organizations at Mason, I met so many dedicated people; we became a network just like a school of fish where we all swam together toward a common goal of increasing the number of women in tech and helping each other succeed.

In my time at Mason, so many people made me, and people like me, feel included. It reminds me of how my brother once told me that it doesn’t matter how smart you are or what job you have. Instead, people will remember you by how you treat them.

So, Mason Patriots, I ask you: How does the story you write today impact the generations of tomorrow? How will you use the tools you learned to protect and improve your communities?

While there are many insurmountable issues in the world, the best way we can make progress is to start local, to start with our communities, to start with us. Already, I see that Mason’s community of green and gold continues to be an anchor of change for a better future.

While we saw the skies turn orange, and the waters turn green, Dr. Stafford’s classes studied the streams of Virginia’s waterways to understand pollution and how we can change it. While nationwide college enrollment dipped throughout the pandemic, seniors Nikita Alluri and Dhaksha Kannan created their own company, IncluYou, to help make the college transition easier. While we raised questions during the digital revolution of AI and Chat-GPT, Dr. Yao answered them to educate the next generation of computer scientists.

We watched our world change, and we decided to change the world together.

As I said before, we students know the world affects our education; however, as a graduating class, we didn’t let the world’s situation stop our studies.

We lost people, money, and security.

But we learned that the power of education and community cannot be taken away from us.

We learned that Patriots sponsor change within our state.

We learned that Patriots share a dream—that these graduates donning green and gold see, live, and change for creeks of calm and oceans of equality.

We shall continue to write tales where our voyages transcend waves of uncertainty and turmoil and instead transform into a story of success and support. Because as Mason’s graduating class of Winter 2023, we are the authors of our story.

Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2023!

Watch the Commencement Ceremony

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Your Path to Tech event introduces new students to computer science, information sciences and technology

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:05:34 +0000

Your Path to Tech event introduces new students to computer science, information sciences and technology Teresa Donnellan Mon, 08/28/2023 - 12:05

Last Friday, students new to the College of Engineering and Computing gathered in the Corner Pocket, a space in the Hub to attend Your Path to Tech, a daylong event hosted by Break Through Tech Mason. The event welcomed students new to the College of Engineering and Computing, especially women, interested in exploring computer science (CS) and information sciences and technology (IST). Students heard from accomplished speakers, practiced skills in hands-on workshops, and connected with both academic advisors and peer mentors.

Missy Cummings, one of the nation’s first female fighter pilots, former advisor for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and current ��AV professor and director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center, gave a keynote address. Afterward, attendees heard from a panel of women with ample tech industry experience and a panel of Mason alumni now working in the field.

“All of their stories were so empowering,” said Pallavi Vegesna, who is starting a Master’s in Data Analytics Engineering this fall. She was inspired by the speakers’ unique paths to working in tech: One panelist majored in psychology before working for the CIA; two others immigrated to the U.S. to pursue their American Dreams.

“It made me emotional because I'm here today as a grad student. And I hope to ... make it like they've made it,” said Vegesna. “They worked really, really hard to be where they are today, and looking at them gives me reassurance that women can make it in tech—and women can make it really, really big in tech.”

“Looking at them gives me reassurance that women can make it in tech—and women can make it really, really big in tech.” —Pallavi Vegesna

Students received hands-on experience through workshops like “A Hands-On Introduction to the AI Pipeline,” led by assistant CS professor Antonis Anastasopoulos, and “Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Analytics,” led by associate IST professor Humaira Akhtari and Mason alumnus Elijah Bass. The event also offered attendees the chance to talk to CS and IST advisors and be matched with a peer mentor to help them navigate their studies at Mason.

“A Hands-On Introduction to the AI Pipeline,” led by assistant CS professor Antonis Anastasopoulos (Right), and “Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Analytics,” led by associate IST professor Humaira Akhtari and Mason alumnus Elijah Bass (Left)

“Students had a blast listening to our awesome speakers and being a part of those hands-on workshops – those were big hits!” said Shahnaz Kamberi, an associate professor of CS as well as the event’s organizer. She looks forward to the success of the Pathfindher mentorship program, which teamed upperclassmen with freshmen and transfer students who attended Your Path to Tech. “The mentor-mentee pairs were still in deep conversation even after we wrapped up and closed the venue,” she said.

“I hope the attendees learned a lot from the event,” Kamberi added. “The main takeaway I hope they gained is confidence in their decision to stick with tech. I hope through hearing from these powerful women in the industry, the students learned that even with obstacles and challenges, they can definitely succeed in their path to tech.”

Break Through Tech Headlines

Tech industry professionals describe “A Day in the Life”
March 25, 2024
Student Commencement speaker Shruti Sekar is destined to succeed, helping others along the way
December 14, 2023
Your Path to Tech event introduces new students to computer science, information sciences and technology
August 28, 2023
Break Through Tech Sprinterns collaborate, build community during micro-internships
February 13, 2023
Mason group relishes conference for women in tech
October 6, 2022

See how Mason is building the computing workforce

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Break Through Tech Sprinterns collaborate, build community during micro-internships

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:29:55 +0000

Break Through Tech Sprinterns collaborate, build community during micro-internships Teresa Donnellan Mon, 02/13/2023 - 14:29

During winter break, fifty-three George Mason students participated in three-week micro-internships via Break Through Tech DC’s Sprinternship program. Assigned to one of thirteen partner companies, each student worked on an assigned project and presented findings to supervisors. Partner companies included American Express, Bechtel Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton, Commvault, Crown Castle, KPMG, Mastercard, Microsoft, Ticketmaster, and Verizon.

Sprinterns were able to glimpse the professional tech world, not only experiencing what it might be like to work at their assigned company but also hearing from professionals in various roles, allowing them to consider different tech and tech-adjacent roles. Three themes emerged from a survey of Mason’s 2023 Sprinterns: collaboration, collegiality, and community.

Collaboration is key.

Most Sprinterns remarked on the difference between individual classwork and the collaborative nature of professional work.

“I've never had like a collaborative project in a computer science class before,” said Wijdane Mifdal, a Sprintern at Crown Castle. “You know, they always like tell you all of your work is individual [in class].”

Part of collaborating is figuring out who’s doing which tasks. Grace Ollivant, a Sprintern at Booz Allen Hamilton, served as project manager for her ten-person team. She explained, “They were kind of letting us direct the project ourselves; so we had a few people on the engineering team, a few people on government, and a few people on operations.”

At the end of their micro-internships, each Sprintern group presented to upper-level management on their assigned project. Mifdal recalls the CEO of Crown Castle particularly complimenting her group’s smooth presentation. “He loved how we collaborated together,” she said, "It just went so perfectly, and then he himself told us to apply for summer [internships]. It was really cool.”

Collegiality is welcome.

Sprinterns were pleased by the friendliness and respect with which employees at their host companies approached them. Employees at each partner company helped Sprinterns approach and complete their projects. Davina Lim, a Sprintern at MasterCard, said, “They helped us a lot in the project. They were very open and let us ask them questions whenever we needed help.”

Such mentorship is crucial to the Sprintern experience. In addition to project guidance, most Sprinterns were able to hear from professionals in various roles throughout their assigned companies. Lim was able to attend information sessions with employees working in cybersecurity, data science, and product management. “It was good learning more about what they actually do,” she said.

Mifdal warmly remembers her supervisor at Crown Castle, who set up informational interviews for each Sprintern according to her interests. She was especially intrigued to learn about the different roles available for a software engineer, such as architecture designers working at the macro-level of a software project.

Moreover, several Sprinterns commented that their temporary colleagues were much less intimidating than a nervous student might imagine. Lim noted, “I was expecting it to be a little stricter, and I was a little intimidated at first. But everyone was really nice.” Mifdal said, “I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome like that.”

Community is built.

A sense of belonging in the tech industry is especially valuable for underrepresented students in computing. Collaboration and collegiality in the Sprinterns’ experiences fostered a strong sense of community among the Sprinterns, who were able to network with peers and professionals alike.

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Students

Mason group relishes conference for women in tech

Teresa Donnellan — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:05:29 +0000

Mason group relishes conference for women in tech Teresa Donnellan Thu, 10/06/2022 - 13:05

In This Story

Shahnaz Kamberi

Break Through Tech George Mason sent a group to the Grace Hopper conference from September 20 to September 23. Students learned, networked, and even secured interviews for internships and jobs.

“I couldn't have picked a better conference for my first!” says Nikita Alluri, a computer science major. “It was so inspiring to see so many women and nonbinary technologists of different backgrounds and identities gathered in one place to share a common interest: technology.”

AnitaB.org created the Grace Hopper Celebration in 1994. Named for Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the conference “brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront.”

As last year the conference was held virtually, Associate Professor of Computer Science Shahnaz Kamberi says attending in person this year made a world of difference. “The comradery and the connection was a great feeling. It was great to speak with other women and nonbinary members of the computer science industry, exchange ideas, connect via LinkedIn, etc.”

The conference featured talks on technology and the workplace, hands-on workshops, and an expo hall filled with booths from various organizations. Mason too had a booth at the expo, which Kamberi says was a useful place for Mason attendees to gather, share what they learned in different sessions, and receive visits from companies and prospective students interested in Mason.

Kamberi notes the utility of the in-person workshops. “These workshops were a great way to get some hands-on practice in areas that might not be my main field of research/experience. I was also able to take a lot away from the workshops to bring back to my students. I can replicate these workshops or bring what I learned from these workshops back to the classroom lecture; which is very beneficial to me since I can use these activities to further engage my students in the classroom.”

At the expo, Alluri spent much of her time visiting healthcare and finance companies. In addition, she enjoyed meeting other college students with similar interests.

“There was something for everyone,” she says, adding, “As a Junior, one of my main goals at this conference was to secure a summer internship. It was also extremely informative and exciting to learn what different companies are up to in terms of increasing accessibility and inclusivity.”

Dhaksha Kannan, a computer science student and Break Through Tech peer leader, gained valuable networking experience at the conference. She says, “The biggest thing that I took away from this conference is that you can always network, no matter where you are, what resources you have, [or] what skills you have.” She explains, “I literally met a recruiter while eating breakfast, secured a job interview while talking about how passionate I am about Mason, and made a ton of cool friends that come from everywhere!”

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Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

Students get a professional boost with Break Through Tech’s Guild program

Rena Malai — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:13:01 +0000

Students get a professional boost with Break Through Tech’s Guild program Rena Malai Wed, 07/20/2022 - 11:13

In This Story

Shvetha Soundararajan

Team 6 present their app project during the last day of Guild.

The 2022 Break Through Tech DC summer Guild program at George Mason took place in June. A hybrid approach allowed students to participate remotely, with the last day commencing with an in-person gathering at Dewberry Hall.

About 40 students participated in the Guild at Mason, which included interactive activities, presentations, and team projects. With networking opportunities mixed in, students from underrepresented backgrounds had a chance to do a deeper dive into their computing education and career paths through Guild.

According to Shvetha Soundararajan, Break Through Tech DC site lead at George Mason, the Guild program is intended to encourage women and students from underrepresented groups to explore computing in a meaningful way.

“Through the Guild, we showcase that computing is for all, it is inclusive and accessible, and that there are many more aspects to building software than just coding,” she says.

Guild participants worked in teams to develop an app, and present their work at the end of the week. First place went to team 2, and their app Sign With Me, which teaches preschoolers the alphabet in sign language.

Second place went to team 3 for the app Biome World, that helps educate elementary school students about biomes. Team 6 received third place for their app APventures, an AP level study app designed to feel like an adventure game.

“The 2022 Guild participants worked together in teams to create innovative and unique EdTech apps that are valuable,” says Soundararajan. “They worked very hard to create productivity, study, and collaboration apps for students of different age groups.”

Mason junior Helen Chen says Guild opened up the doors for her to learn coding, and even get in some public speaking practice.

“I was so happy to learn JavaScript and create something with code for the first time,” says Chen. “Presenting our project to the professors and industry leaders was truly an unforgettable experience and I think it might have cured my fear of public speaking a little bit.”

Freshman Anabela Shearer says Guild was a great experience and it helped her feel more confident about pursuing a computing career.

“I was able to meet Mason students who are also pursuing a career in computer science,” says Shearer. “It helped me feel confident in my knowledge of coding. I have never coded before prior to Guild but it was easy for me to catch up with the others who have.”

Mentors from major corporations like Booz Allen Hamilton and Microsoft also attended Guild. According to Gerald Irish, senior software engineer at Microsoft, it’s important to contribute towards building a more inclusive industry for the next group of IT professionals.

“Sometimes we take for granted how we navigated the challenges we faced while moving through the industry, so sharing our experiences can help students from underrepresented groups feel more comfortable navigating those challenges for themselves,” says Irish. “Going forward I hope the mentees we interacted with will use us as a resource for guidance, connections, or just as a sounding board to help them along the way.”

The Break Through Tech Guild program is open to all students with a focus on women and nonbinary individuals who are first and second year students. Students can be enrolled in any major or minor. No prior experience is required to apply for Guild.

“The Guild and other BTT programs would not be possible without the support of our industry partners,” says Soundararajan. “For a second consecutive year, we received overwhelming support from our industry partners and industry mentors from Booz Allen Hamilton, Microsoft, Appian, and Accenture.”

About Break Through Tech 

Break Through Tech works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel more women and underrepresented communities into technology degrees and careers. BTT DC is the first cross-institutional collaboration, partnering with Mason and the University of Maryland. 

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Stepping onto a different path

Rena Malai — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:51:18 +0000

Stepping onto a different path Rena Malai Mon, 06/13/2022 - 12:51

Britney Aiken, recent information technology grad, comes from a family where everyone works in healthcare.

Although she thought about following suit, Aiken knew she wanted a different path. She says she loved math in high school and wanted to do something in the field of engineering once she reached college. Her mom picked up on her daughter’s tech abilities early on, and Aiken attended Academies of Loudoun, a STEM program for high school students in Loudoun County, Va.

“As far as I can remember, I was always drawn to technology,” says Aiken. “I chose to pursue information technology in higher education because I wanted a well-rounded perspective. Computer science is a popular way to go, but IT covers everything- cloud computing, cybersecurity, computer networking, web development, programing, and more.”

Aiken says joining the Break Through Tech DC program at George Mason allowed her to be surrounded by like -minded people who are just as intrigued and interested in engineering as she is.

“As a Break Through Tech student peer leader and a Mason ambassador, people ask me about the difficulty level of engineering, is it too hard to do,” says Aiken. “The best thing to set yourself up for success is to join a community like Break Through Tech and talk with professors and advisors. Don’t be afraid to put your brand out there early.”

Setting a good example for future STEM grads is a motivating factor for Aiken, who will be working at Amazon full time after interning for the tech magnate last summer in Denver. She’s excited to be part of a change that will hopefully encourage more women into STEM careers.

“I took an engineering class in high school and I was the only girl,” says Aiken. “I want more women to join this field. There is nothing we can’t achieve.”

She may have broken the mold for one of her sisters, who might join sibling rank by also pursuing STEM.

“I feel like I’m definitely more aware now that other people are watching me, not in a bad way but it makes me want to set a good example in the way I interact with people and face challenges, whether it’s related to engineering or just life,” says Aiken. “I just want to set a good example for my sisters, and other students around me.”

About Break Through Tech 

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Instinct can lead to great things

Rena Malai — Fri, 27 May 2022 15:20:51 +0000

Instinct can lead to great things Rena Malai Fri, 05/27/2022 - 11:20

Brenda Henriquez, a brand-new computer science graduate as of May, says she always had ��AV on her radar. Coming into a STEM area felt like a natural fit for her and she was excited to join the Break Through Tech DC at George Mason initiative as a peer leader.

“I’ve already seen and experienced the empowerment that comes from being a part of the Mason community. Joining Break Through Tech as a peer leader was my opportunity to be on the other side, and offer empowerment back to the students in STEM,” she says.

Henriquez founded the first ever ThinkBowl 2022, a female and non-binary focused collaborative pitch competition to assist students in bringing their tech ideas closer to reality. Through support from Break Through Tech and Girls Who Code, Henriquez helped students reach their goals and dive deeper into STEM areas.

ThinkBowl differs from a traditional hackathon, according to Henriquez, as the focus is more on the process of creating and editing a pitch rather than developing a functioning piece of software or hardware by the end of the event. ThinkBowl participants created projects such as mobile apps on recycling, proposed changes to the Mason360 user interface and functions, and a contemporary connections app – helpful for roommates – that splits utility bills equally.

“ThinkBowl 2022 was created to invest in creating a community to help and support female and non-binary students accelerate their growth within technology education and careers,” says Henriquez. “Our peer leaders still keep in touch.”

Henriquez also spent time with her fellow peer leaders hosting events on Masters/PhD workshops and forming Break Through Tech groups to participate in Patriot Hacks 2022. She was awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award at the Computer Science Awards ceremony held in May.

“I feel fortunate to be a part of a community where there is support for many different paths,” she says. “I also hope others feel that they have a community where changing the plan they initially had for their future is supported. Break Through Tech is here to welcome them.”

About Break Through Tech

Break Through Tech works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel more women and underrepresented communities into technology degrees and careers. Break Through Tech DC is the first cross-institutional collaboration, partnering with Mason and the University of Maryland.

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Break Through Tech Guild application goes live Friday

Rena Malai — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:29:44 +0000

Break Through Tech Guild application goes live Friday Rena Malai Thu, 03/10/2022 - 08:29

Break Through Tech DC at ��AV will be accepting applications starting Friday for its Guild program, which runs from June 6 to June 10.

Students from underrepresented communities who are curious about technology are welcomed and encouraged to apply. They will receive a stipend for participating in the Guild program.

To apply and for more information, visit the Mason Guild program page on the Break Through Tech DC website.

The Break Through Tech Guild program is open to all students with a focus on women and nonbinary individuals who are first and second year students at Mason. Students can be enrolled in any major or minor. No prior experience is required to apply for Guild.

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College of Engineering and Computing

internships

Break Through Tech Sprinterns interned at top companies

Rena Malai — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 20:13:44 +0000

Break Through Tech Sprinterns interned at top companies Rena Malai Mon, 02/14/2022 - 15:13

In This Story

Shvetha Soundararajan

Sprinterns Nuseiba Al-Harazi, Thea Planas,
Shruti Sekar, Karen Pari Sejas, and Neha Acharya show their thanks while Sprinterning at Mastercard.

Most students look at winter break as a time to rest and catch up with family and friends.

But a select number of ��AV students used it to gain valuable professional experience through the Break Through Tech DC at George Mason Sprinternship program. Sprinternships, mini internships, took place January 2022 and ran about three weeks. Mason Sprinterns brought their tech talents to the table at top companies including Microsoft, Booz Allen Hamilton, Mastercard, and Verizon.

According to Shvetha Soundararajan, site lead for Break Through Tech DC at George Mason, the Sprinternship program is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain real-world experience, tech-industry resume credentials, and build professional networks.

“This was the first iteration of the Sprinternship program at Mason and 32 Sprinterns were a part of this cohort,” she says. “Some of our Sprinterns have already received return offers for summer internships. We are immensely proud of them.”

Sprintern Shruti Sekar, a computer science major at Mason, saw her experience at Mastercard as a useful introduction to learning how the work world works.

“It was actually the first opportunity for me to have an internship,” says Sekar. “I wanted real world experience and to learn collaboration, and how a company works in general.”

Neha Acharya, also a Mastercard Sprintern, saw her Sprinternship as opening up doors to bigger and better opportunities in the tech world.

“This was a great opportunity to gain experience and explore potential careers,” says Acharya, a sophomore studying information technology. “We had networking opportunities at Mastercard and were introduced to a wide variety of career options.”

General stereotypes around interning can project connotations of boring tasks and intimidating surroundings. For Iza Lazaneo, a Sprintern at Microsoft and a junior studying computer science, she was thrilled to find a welcoming environment, challenging projects, and plenty of support from seasoned colleagues.

“Everyone at Microsoft treated us (Sprinterns) extremely well,” she says. “We felt like part of the team.”

Sekar and Acharya were wrapped up in Mastercard’s collegial environment, and a setting where they felt comfortable asking questions.

“Everyone was super friendly,” says Sekar.

“It was extremely warm and welcoming,” adds Acharya. “The company values and initiatives really resonated with me.”

According to Sekar, students considering a Sprinternship in the future should just go for it, because it’s worth it and Sprinterns will be surrounded by supportive folks.

Acharya says students can use knowledge gained in classes and apply it to a Sprinternship, especially when it comes to coding. Bring your questions and jump in, she says.

Students nervous about Sprinternships shouldn’t be, says Lazaneo. She says any new experience can be stressful but a Sprinternship is well worth the work. A refresher course before beginning a Sprinternship can help ease nerves, especially if working with unfamiliar coding language.

The Sprinternship program is targeted towards women and students from underrepresented groups. For more information on Mason Sprinternships, visit Break Through Tech or email breakthroughtech@cs.gmu.edu.

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internships

diversity