Celebrating the 2024 GitHub All In for Students graduates

Introduction- Sarah Oyetubo (00:00:00)

• GitHub's All-In for Students program has grown from 30 students in 2021 to 858 learners in 2024.
• The program has expanded to include hackathons with Major League Hacking and online learning resources on GitHub's YouTube channel.
• Graduates have shown a commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Welcome Remarks - Paris Griffin (00:02:49)

• The All-In for Students graduation ceremony celebrates the graduates and provides an overview of the program.

Program Timeline and Overview - Paris Griffin (00:03:07)

• The program timeline includes:
  • Applications opening in October with over 170 participants from 70+ schools.
  • Hackathons in October, November, and December with over 344, 500, and 600 registrants respectively.
  • Career Readiness workshops and mock interviews.
• The program had 173 participants from across the US and 73 schools, with 31 total graduates.
• The ambassador pilot program was introduced to provide students with leadership opportunities and to help grow the All-In community.
• Ambassadors led workshops, organized events, and mentored other students.
• The program was successful and will be expanded in the future.
• All-In students participated in three hackathons throughout the program.
• The hackathons provided students with opportunities to apply their skills, collaborate with others, and build innovative projects.
• Students built projects on a variety of topics, including social justice, healthcare, and education.
• The program offered a variety of career readiness workshops and events to help students prepare for their careers.
• Workshops covered topics such as resume writing, interviewing, and networking.
• Students also had the opportunity to connect with Fidelity Investments for internship opportunities and to participate in mock interviews with GitHub employees.
• All-In students attended GitHub Universe, GitHub's annual conference, in December.
• Students had the opportunity to network with GitHub employees and other attendees, learn about the latest GitHub features, and attend workshops and talks.
• Paris Griffin thanked the graduates for their hard work and dedication, and encouraged them to continue to learn and grow.
• She also thanked the program partners and sponsors for their support.

Ambassador Pilot Program Overview - Paris Griffin (00:04:45)

• Launched the inaugural All-In for Students Ambassador Pilot Program to provide peer mentorship and support to students.
• Selected four students from the inaugural cohort to serve as mentors and paired them with smaller cohorts of students.
• Mentors provided weekly support, answering questions about course material and open-source related topics.
• Ambassadors: Jerry Ortega, Kayla Parti, Kir Warner, and Bernard Zandonda.

Participant Feedback - Bernard Zandonda (00:05:40)

• Bernard Zandonda, an ambassador and graduate of the OEN Pioneer Program in 2021, shared his experience.
• OEN program gave him the confidence and platform to apply his skills in the real world, leading to his current role as a software engineer at UBS Bank.
• Being an ambassador helped him grow by balancing his full-time job with mentoring students, improving his organization and time management skills.
• Inspired by the drive and enthusiasm of the students in the program.
• Advice to graduates: stay curious, maintain the connections developed in the program, and remember that networking is crucial for career success.

Partner Spotlight - Paris Griffin (00:08:00)

• GitHub remains committed to developing the next generation of Open Source leaders through the All-in Pursuit program.
• Fidelity Investments has been a continuous participant in the program, hosting hackathons, serving on career panels, and providing internship opportunities.
• MLH (Major League Hacking) provided infrastructure and resources for coding and career preparation workshops.
• Cisco provided funding to present students with resources and opportunities, allowing the program to expand its offerings.
• One Refugee, a new partner, supports college students with refugee backgrounds in Utah and Idaho, expanding the program's reach to those seeking accessibility and resources in the open-source community.

Participant Feedback - Ashley Hendrata (00:10:17)

• Ashley Hendrata, a graduating student and aspiring software engineer, shares her experience in the program.
• The All-in Open Source program helped her stay accountable and consistent with hackathons and modules spread across several months.
• Attending an interactive workshop about interviews helped her gain confidence and ultimately receive an offer from Fidelity Investments, a GitHub open-source partner.
• Ashley emphasizes that the program is what you make of it, and investing time in learning about open source and embracing workshops can be an empowering experience.

Fireside Chat - Joshua Ndon (Fidelity Investments), Melissa Thomas (GitHub), Raymond Burton (One Refugee) (00:11:55)

• GitHub's All In for Students program celebrated its 2024 graduates with a panel discussion featuring representatives from GitHub, One Refugee, and Fidelity Investments.
• Melissa Thomas from GitHub, Raymond Burton from One Refugee, and Joshua Enden from Fidelity Investments shared advice on lifelong learning, passion, mentorship, humility, courage, and perseverance.
• Students emphasized the importance of focus, curiosity, and learning from every experience, while employers value perseverance, skills, experiences, and networking.
• Creative solutions are needed to address barriers faced by students from refugee and immigrant backgrounds, such as being primary breadwinners, having English as a second language, and balancing school, work, and family responsibilities.
• The GitHub All In for Students program, in partnership with Fidelity, provides creative solutions to help students gain the experiences they need to move forward and be successful.
• Students were encouraged to set high goals, create habits that support their goals, and remember that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
• The program focuses on personal growth, self-belief, confidence, and joy for the students.
• The panelists and moderators provided valuable insights and encouragement to the students, helping them gain the confidence they need to succeed in open source and the technology industry.

Participant Feedback - Danyal Ejaz (00:31:23)

• Danyal Ejaz is a student at the University of the People pursuing a degree in Computer Science, expecting to graduate in 2025.
• He describes his journey in the All-In program as enriching, with each step being a learning adventure.
• He particularly enjoyed contributing to open-source projects and participating in hackathons, which not only enhanced his technical skills but also fostered collaboration and innovation within the community.
• He found the All-In community on Slack to be amazing, with program managers being helpful and responsive to queries.
• He also participated in development sessions, which provided valuable insights and practical knowledge that contributed to his growth as a student and aspiring developer.

Graduation Walk (00:32:55)

• The graduation walk is presented, celebrating the achievements of the graduates who have completed the All-In program.

Award Presentation - Various (00:33:32)

• The presentation of awards recognizes students who have gone above and beyond during the 2024 All-In for Students cohorts.
• Open Source Pioneer Award: Casey Charleston is recognized for leading or contributing to building an open-source community by leveraging skills from All-In.
• Most Inquisitive Learner Award: So Balon is recognized for being unafraid to ask questions, share progress, and seek help.
• Participant Who Strives for Success Award: So Mo is recognized for their dedication, commitment to learning, and resilience in overcoming obstacles to reach the finish line.
• All-In Award: Ashley Hrada is recognized for demonstrating a commitment to taking advantage of all available resources and strategically applying them to show they are "All-In" for All-In.

Farewell Remarks - Gerard McMahon (Fidelity Investments) (00:35:34)

• The GitHub All In for Students program has concluded, and the award winners are recognized for their participation.
• Fidelity Investments' Jer McMahan congratulates the graduates and stresses the significance of making STEM careers more accessible.
• McMahan emphasizes the value of diversity and uniqueness in the workplace, encouraging students to contribute their skills, personalities, and ideas to their future organizations.
• He recommends learning through hands-on experiences and watching videos, as these methods have higher retention rates compared to reading alone.
• The GitHub All In for Students program offers students free access to GitHub's platform, tools, and capabilities, promoting learning by doing and experimentation.
• The program features an alumni network that connects students with previous participants for mentorship and guidance.
• Graduates are encouraged to contribute to the program by sharing their experiences and inspiring future students.
• Companies like Fidelity seek self-motivated, independent, and collaborative individuals with a strong portfolio of real-world projects.
• Internship opportunities are available, and students are advised to start searching early due to rolling admissions at many companies.
• The speaker congratulates the 2024 GitHub All In for Students graduates and welcomes them to the professional world.
• Graduates are encouraged to explore graduate programs, including Fidelity's LEAP program, which opens in August for 2025.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of gaining experience through internships or graduate programs before seeking full-time employment.
• Gratitude is expressed to the GitHub All In team, and the program's success is acknowledged.
• The speaker hopes to see more graduates join Fidelity next year and stresses the need to expand the talent pool in the industry.

Closing Remarks - Paris Griffin (00:47:04)

• Thanked the graduates for their hard work and commitment to open source.
• Congratulated them on their achievements and encouraged them to continue contributing to the open-source community.
• Expressed hope that the program and its partners will help the graduates become leaders in the tech industry and change the world.