Area high school students graduate from UW technology program

Twenty area high school students will receive certificates of graduation on Saturday, June 2 for completing an intensive technology training and college preparatory program through UW–Madison called the Information Technology Academy (ITA).

All of this year’s graduating class members are planning to attend higher education institutions this fall.

ITA is a four-year pre-college program that provides hands-on training and access to technology for talented students of color and economically disadvantaged students attending Madison public schools. During their four-year ITA experience, the students meet bi-weekly during the academic year to learn Web design, animation, graphic design and other technology skills.

They also hone their technical skills through summer technology training camps and short-term internships, and strengthen their leadership skills by participating in community service projects. Their learning and development is further enhanced through mentors, who help guide and support the students throughout the four years.

The graduation event will be held on June 2 from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lowell Center, 610 Langdon St. The program will include a keynote address by Cynthia Lin, Social, justice educator at the UW–Madison Multicultural Student Center.

Since the program was founded in 2000, 138 students have graduated from the IT Academy, and 99 percent have enrolled in institutions of higher education directly after high school.

ITA is made possible through the generosity of the UW–Madison Division of Information Technology, the UW–Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, the UW–Madison PEOPLE program, the Wisconsin Technology Network, and many other sponsors and partners.