STEM Program Grows to Include 10 Schools
Across the U.S.
HERNDON,
Va., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ePlus inc.
(NASDAQ NGS: PLUS – news) today announced the launch of its
2024 GRIT: Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow® (GRIT) program
across the U.S. GRIT is focused on providing middle and high
school girls with consistent education, exposure and opportunities
across the technology industry, has expanded this year to include
10 schools across California,
Minnesota, New Jersey, North
Carolina, Texas, and
Virginia.
Created in 2017 as a joint initiative between ePlus and Cisco,
GRIT was founded in response to the increasing shortage of
cybersecurity professionals worldwide, particularly women.
GRIT is a STEM-focused program that helps girls understand
what technology careers and positions are available to them, to
highlight roles to which they can aspire and to encourage them to
consider careers in technology.
"Diversity of all kinds, including thought, experience, skill
level, gender and many other areas, is critical to the success of
an organization," said Mark Marron,
CEO and president of ePlus. "Through the GRIT program, we
hope to continue doing our part to help bridge the gap between the
number of girls and boys in middle and high school STEM classes,
and to ultimately see that impact down the road as more women
become more involved in every area of technology. While the number
of women in cybersecurity and technology is increasing, there is
still work to be done, and GRIT is here to help accelerate forward
progress."
More than 350 girls have graduated from GRIT since its
inception. This year's program will host a record 134
participants.
As reported on the website Women in Tech®, over the
past 30 years STEM occupations have risen 79% and are projected to
increase another 11% from 2020-2030. In contrast, "women's
enrollment in STEM courses has been dropping and only accounts for
18% of new computer science degrees."1
School Support for the GRIT Program
Midlothian Middle School, Richmond,
VA:
"I have had the privilege of witnessing the
empowerment, inspiration, and importance of Girls Re-Imagining
Tomorrow here at Midlothian Middle School. In just a few short
months, the girls in our GRIT program come out with a wealth of
knowledge about the future of IT, safety, and the importance of
technology in our ever-evolving world. The GRIT program gives
the exposure and inspiration to girls that they can achieve success
in technology. The most rewarding part of GRIT has been watching
each student grow in their self-confidence."
Dale Junior High, Irvine,
CA:
"GRIT has provided valuable opportunities for
our students to learn about females in STEM careers from guest
speakers, apply their 21st century skills in a meaningful way and
build relationships with their peers outside of the regular
classroom environment. It will forever inspire and be a
positive event in my students' lives."
Rowan-Salisbury School System, Charlotte, NC:
"Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow is dedicated to
empowering and equipping girls with the skills, knowledge, and
confidence they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through
their programs and mentorship initiatives, they inspire young girls
to dream big and break barriers. The experiences the girls
engage in are meaningful and allow them to develop and pursue their
passions."
Visitation School -- Mendota Heights,
MN:
"GRIT allowed my students to see and experience a variety of
job possibilities beyond the social norms."
For more information on GRIT please visit our web page.
About ePlus inc.
ePlus has an
unwavering and relentless focus on leveraging technology to create
inspired and transformative business outcomes for its customers.
Offering a robust portfolio of solutions, as well as a broad range
of consultative and managed services across the technology
spectrum, ePlus has proudly achieved more than 30 years of success,
carrying customers forward through adversity, rapidly changing
environments, and other obstacles. ePlus is a trusted advisor,
bringing expertise, credentials, talent and a thorough
understanding of innovative technologies, spanning security, cloud,
data center, networking, collaboration and emerging solutions, to
organizations across all industry segments. With complete lifecycle
management services and flexible payment solutions, ePlus' more
than 1,850 associates are focused on cultivating positive customer
experiences and are dedicated to their craft, harnessing new
knowledge while applying decades of proven experience. ePlus is
headquartered in Virginia, with
locations in the United States,
UK, Europe, and Asia–Pacific. For
more information, visit www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email
info@eplus.com. Connect with ePlus on LinkedIn, Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram. ePlus, Where Technology Means
More®.
ePlus®, Where Technology Means More®, and
ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United
States and/or other countries. The names of other
companies, products, and services mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
1
https://www.womentech.net/en-us/women-technology-statistics,
2023
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