Over the summer, senior computer science major Matt Sutton had a six-week internship at All Star Code, teaching young men of color skills in computer science and coding. This community outreach program is made possible through the Steinman Foundation’s relationship with All Star Code, which allows computer science majors to get an introduction to the industry, while also helping to introduce others to it as well.
During the weeks of his internship, Sutton helped instruct these young men in the basics of coding, building skills from their interests. This country-wide program works with instructors, previous graduates of the program, to teach the students both in-person and online. The program was hosted locally by Cargas Systems, which provided the students with the materials, systems and space needed for instruction.
After setting up the Zoom and in-person classrooms, Sutton would engage students in team-building activities or mini-games to get them excited for the day. Each week, the students would be introduced to various technical subjects, such as Javascript, HTML and web development. After lunch, the students would also be instructed on how to hone their soft skills, such as networking and building a resume.
“This would help not just their technical skills, but also skills outside of that which would help them find a job in the future,” Sutton said.
Sutton was able to learn about this internship through Stephanie Zegers, who often sends out information on upcoming internships for many majors that fall under the STEM umbrella. He then went on to research All Star Code to find that they have a local branch, as Sutton is from Lancaster.
“Elizabethtown’s whole motto is ‘Educate for Service,’ and I found that the company and this program really fit that idea,” Sutton said.
Sutton described the experience as very rewarding to participate in, and enjoyed working with the students. His favorite part was being able to be a part of the very gratifying process.
“It was very cool to be able to utilize my major outside of the classroom, and also to provide that same education that I received to teens,” Sutton said. He described how rewarding it was to help students problem solve, and have those same “Eureka!” moments that he had when he was first learning the code. It is a very challenging and very rewarding experience when they are learning new code languages and getting their first programs to work. Sutton does not want to pursue education as a career, but the experience helped him to see just why people love to teach.
Sutton also found a mentor in a fellow co-worker at the program, an employee who had this intern position the year prior. As a graduate of Millersville, he had a lot of advice for Sutton, and also helped him network with employees of the program and the hosting company, Cargas Systems.
“Whenever I was unsure about something, he would guide me through the process,” Sutton said.
For fellow computer science majors looking for an internship, Sutton suggests continuing to practice coding concepts, core algorithms and do the exercises your professors recommend. By continuing to hone and maintain your technical skills, you’ll feel properly prepared for any tasks expected of you. However, Sutton also recommends working on your soft skills, as both are important when it comes to getting a job.
“Working on your networking and your public presence is just as important,” Sutton said.
