Boston, MA – (January 26, 2021) – Fairwinds, which provides Kubernetes configuration validation software backed by a suite of services and open source tooling, continues its commitment to diversity and inclusion programs by awarding the first three of six scholarships to the Turing School of Software and Design. The scholarships are designed to help students who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with both academic and cost-of-living aid while they pursue an education in software development.
“Last year, Fairwinds asked a bold question in response to the Movement for Black Lives: ‘What can we do to help ensure more equity in tech?’,” said Bill Ledingham, CEO at Fairwinds. “This partnership with the Turing School represents a big part of our answer to that question. We’re extremely proud of the first three scholarship winners and are excited to help these students achieve their dreams.”
Throughout 2020, Fairwinds worked to identify ways to support Black lives within the company, nationwide and around the world. The Fairwinds Scholarship to the Turing School has been provided to:
Khoa – An immigrant whose parents were twice captured as they tried to make it to the U.S., Khoa experienced poverty, prejudice and a lack of inclusion growing up in the States. A family member who was a Turing School alumnus encouraged him to pursue his passion for software development and take a risk to change his life.
Cydnee – A Black, Spanish-speaking first generation American with a passion for fighting for underrepresented communities, Cyndee is focused on building software that allows people to maintain their independence, particularly those that fit somewhere between what’s considered able-bodied and disabled.
Klaudia – A mixed-race woman having experienced prejudice from both her family and the outside world, Klaudia has supported herself from a young age. She put herself through college and is attending the Turing School to ensure that the software development industry is filled with people of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.
“We strive to have a diverse student population and realize there are very real barriers in place, particularly for women and people of color, to do our full-time program,” said Darren Smith, the Financial and Enrollment Advisor for incoming Turing School students. “This scholarship helps more of our students focus solely on their education to then succeed long term in their careers."
In addition to funding scholarships, Fairwinds has partnered with the Turing School’s Black @ Turing student group by providing funds to elevate networking and employment opportunities for Black students.
About the Turing School of Software & Design
The Turing School of Software & Design is a nonprofit computer programming school on a mission to unlock human potential by training a diverse, inclusive student body to succeed in high-fulfillment technical careers. With over 1000 alumni and growing, we believe in a world powered by technology where the people building it represent the people using it. Contact: Lindsey Lucero | 719.359.3120 | lindsey@turing.io
