The Parallax Future Innovators Fund provides educational hardware to further a student’s interest and potential which might otherwise be hindered by social or economic circumstances. Sometimes students simply outpace what’s available at school or at home, so we try to match their interests with an opportunity. Recently, I was at the NICEK12 Cybersecurity Conference in St. Louis where I met up with Sarah Putterman, who told me the following story about one of her students who received a cyber:bot through the Parallax Future Innovators Fund.
In February 2021, I nominated a 10th grade girl for recognition from your Future Innovators Fund. Our district was nearing the end of 14 months of virtual school. My student was struggling more than most of us with our homebound status. We had a virtual class together twice each week, but the two of us would almost daily sit quietly in office hours together on a Google Meet, sometimes doing homework together, or just keeping each other company. Her potential was great, and you recognized her with a Cyber:bot as a result. As we returned to in-person learning, she didn't return. I checked around and learned she had moved with her family to another school district. In November 2022, she emailed me out of the blue. Now a 12th grade student, she reflected on our time together and on her Cyber:bot award. She's been shining in her AP-Computer Science A course this year, in that other district. Not sure if she'll study art or computer science, she asked me to write a recommendation for college. She's looking at some STEM schools and considering her options. In her words...."if there’s anything I've learned in your class it's that in coding, the possibilities are endless so wherever I end up in the future I won't stop coding. " Thank you to Parallax for giving me the professional development I needed, especially during the pandemic. Thank you also for reaching out to my student, this one in particular, and leaving a lifetime impression. She felt valued and seen, in a time that was especially difficult. Together, we may have inspired a young woman to continue in STEM in order to change the world. Much appreciation from Cheltenham, Pennsylvania!
Thank you to Ms. Putterman for letting us know of the student’s success. We should also note that you enabled this opportunity for the student. You had the classroom that she’ll remember long after she’s grown up.
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
