DataSetGo, a first-of-its-kind digital
curriculum, is opening doors to data science careers at more than
400 schools, with $50,000 in recent
awards to those who show promise in the field
DES
MOINES, Iowa, June 4, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Principal® Foundation, a global
nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities
build financially secure futures, and EVERFI® from
Blackbaud®, the leader in powering social impact through
education, announce the second and biggest year of
DataSetGo, a first-of-its-kind interactive digital
curriculum that teaches high school students the fundamentals of
data science and its value in daily life, the workforce, and the
world.
Since its inception in 2022, DataSetGo has reached over
26,000 high school students in over 400 schools throughout the U.S.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, the program reached over 17,000 new
students and 200 additional schools across ten states, including
New York, Texas, and California.
Last fall, DataSetGo expanded to include DataSetGo
Distinguished Scholars, a new national program that equips students
to explore postsecondary education and workforce opportunities,
including those in the rapidly growing field of data science.
Data science roles can be found in nearly every industry and
according to the World Economic Forum, there could be up to 1.4
million new jobs created in data science and data analytics between
2023 and 2027.
"Having learned more about the possible job opportunities has
opened several possibilities I had no idea existed. It would be a
dream to learn more about data analysis and science to eventually
make a profession out of it one day," wrote Jarod Story, a Distinguished Scholar who attends
Irving High School near Dallas, Texas.
All the schools that use the DataSetGo curriculum are in
low- to moderate-income communities, where educators have given the
program high marks. The research-backed curriculum was designed to
align with national educational standards and is provided at no
cost to educators through a strategic partnership between Principal
Foundation and EVERFI.
"This program [DataSetGo] is totally awesome. I'm so
overwhelmingly proud of my students," said LaTara Meyers, a teacher at H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C., whose student Amaya Bostic is among the Distinguished
Scholars.
The full list of ten Distinguished Scholars was announced in
May. Each student received a $5,000
award, for a total of $50,000.
"These impressive students seized the opportunity to learn about
data science and the doors it could open for them," said
Jo Christine Miles, Director,
Principal Foundation and Community Relations, Principal. "We're
thrilled to provide awards that will help them continue to pursue
their dreams."
"In nearly every industry, data science skills are in high
demand. DataSetGo ensures that students are aware of the
opportunities and equipped to pursue them – because then, their
career options are endless," said Ray
Martinez, co-founder and President of EVERFI from
Blackbaud.
Six of the ten Distinguished Scholars ("national award winners")
were selected from a national pool of essay submissions that
detailed how students plan to apply what they learned through
DataSetGo in their careers and lives.
The other four Scholars ("local award winners") were selected
from schools in Brooklyn, N.Y.;
Minneapolis, Minn.; Washington, D.C.; and Dallas, Texas who participated in
DataSetGo virtual or in-person learning sessions. Three of
these local award winners were selected throughout the school
year.
The final local 2023-2024 Distinguished Scholar was announced at
an in-person event in Brooklyn, New
York on Tuesday, May 13.
Hosted by EVERFI and Principal Foundation, the event celebrated the
DataSetGo program and featured sessions with guest speakers
who rely on data science in their careers in professional sports,
artificial intelligence, and entertainment.
Below are the 2023-2024 DataSetGo Distinguished Scholars.
The entry window for the 2024-2025 competition will open
September 15.
National award winners:
- Tanasia Kennedy, NC, Sugar Creek Charter (Teacher –
Tony Brantley)
- Adnrew Chun, NY, Benjamin N. Cardozo
High School (Teacher – Travis
Malekpour)
- Valeria Tamayo, TX, Fossil Ridge High School (Teacher –
Sandra McCorkle)
- Jenna Wrinkler, TX, Irving High
School (Teacher – Denovias Mack)
- Rico Lane, GA, East Coweta High School (Teacher – Laura Colley)
- Fareeha Naaz, NC, Hickory Ridge High School (Teacher –
Bernie Thompson)
Local award winners:
- Brooklyn, N.Y. – Ashlee Bailey, Brooklyn Prep High School
(Teacher – Diana Isern)
- Minneapolis, Minn. – Mohamed
"Ali" Ali, Hiawatha High School (Teacher – Gwendolyn Fortune)
- Washington, D.C. –
Amaya Bostic, H.D. Woodson High School (Teacher – LaTara Meyers)
- Dallas, Texas – Jarod Story, Irving High
School (Teacher – Denovias Mack)
For more information about DataSetGo or the
DataSetGo Distinguished Scholars award program,
visit https://principal.everfi.com.
About Principal® Foundation
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. ("Principal Foundation")
is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing
philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in
the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. ("Principal")
operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from
Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent,
charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form
of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.
Established in 1987, Principal Foundation works with organizations
that are helping to shape and support the journey to financial
security by ensuring access to essential needs, fostering social
and cultural connections, and promoting financial inclusion.
3609043-052024
About EVERFI® from
Blackbaud®
EVERFI from Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is an international technology
company driving social impact through education to address the most
challenging issues affecting society ranging from financial
wellness to mental health to workplace conduct and other critical
topics. Founded in 2008, EVERFI's
Impact-as-a-Service™ solution and digital educational content
have reached more than 45 million learners globally. In 2020, the
company was recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative
Companies by Fast Company and was featured on Fortune
Magazine's Impact 20 List. The company was also named to the
2021 GSV EdTech 150, a list of the most transformative growth
companies in digital learning. Blackbaud acquired EVERFI in
December 2021. To learn more about
EVERFI, please visit everfi.com or follow us
on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter
@EVERFI.
Blackbaud Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all the statements,
expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of
products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be
accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible
that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on
which such statements are based. In addition, other important
factors that could cause results to differ materially include the
following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased
business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in
sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and
other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with
successful implementation of multiple integrated software products;
the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated
with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles,
particularly in larger organization; technological changes that
make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk
factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for
Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the
SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's
investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names
appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Blackbaud, Inc.
Media Contact: Zevenia Dennis,
zevenia.dennis@ruderfinn.com
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SOURCE Principal Foundation