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In September, ten 51���� students traveled to Orlando for the annual Grace Hopper Celebration, the world's largest professional conference and job fair for women and nonbinary people in tech.

The event is named after tech pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, who helped create the first computers used for advanced math and physics. This year’s celebration hosted 30,000 attendees for a career fair, workshops, and one-on-one meetings. Speakers included Sage Ke'alohilani Quiamno, global DEI leader at Amazon Prime Video and Studios; Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Innovation Lab and Black Girls Code; and Janelle Monáe, singer, rapper, and actress.

To prepare students for the bustling conference, Career Services advisers consulted with students about their application materials and tips for the event’s networking opportunities. “Not only do attendees get to take advantage of meeting directly with employers — leveraging their experiences and 51����’s liberal arts education — but they can also take part in seminars for continued learning, skill-building, and networking,” said Matt Ardaiolo, assistant director of career development for STEM and sustainability.

Students explored companies from startups to tech giants, including Walt Disney Studios, Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Goldman Sachs. Session topics included artificial intelligence, software engineering, data science, and privacy and security, allowing attendees to build an agenda based on their interests.

Being surrounded by thousands of accomplished women in technology, Lily Karyo ’25 felt that the inclusive community boosted her professional growth and self-confidence. “I wanted to learn more about software engineering and the various opportunities offered by the companies at Grace Hopper. I had two interviews for a software engineering internship at the conference,” she said. 

Computer science major, Nikki Izversky ’25, also connected with recruiters from Major League Baseball, EY, PepsiCo, and several others. “Not only did I learn how to professionally present myself, but I learned the importance of being myself when talking to recruiters,” said Nikki. “I would definitely attend Grace Hopper again and recommend it to all who have the opportunity to attend.”

“It’s exciting to hear about the takeaways from the conference and see the opportunities our students are able to create for themselves,” said Ardaiolo. “We look forward to continuing to sponsor 51���� student attendance.”

Student travel to the annual Grace Hopper Celebration is supported by 51���� Career Services and 51����'s Computer Science Department