Major: Computer science
Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska
Keith is where he is today because of an after-school club. As a middle school student, his curious mind was entranced by the LEGO robotics club started by one of his teachers. Now, as a senior computer science student, he's helping build the next generation of computer science students by forming his own STEM after-school clubs.
"It was cool to have something there that gave an opportunity like a cool after-school club," Keith said. "And honestly, it shaped a lot of what I was interested in now because of what I did in middle school."
Keith started his first club through the Nebraska Honors Program and then teamed up with Initialize UNL. Initialize is a registered student organization (RSO) focused on engaging the Lincoln community with computer science learning opportunities. Initialize connected Keith to resources, including computers, robots and a network of student mentors.
After carefully going over the curriculum and updating it to the latest computer science language, Keith was ready to train his mentors. Luckily, they were all fellow computer science students and able to quickly grasp the learning concepts and directions.
During fall 2021, Keith and his team of mentors were able to put their passion to work through leading after-school clubs at three Lincoln elementary schools. Soon, they'll start their second semester of teaching the 10-week clubs.
For Keith, leading after-school clubs has been life-changing. The opportunity has inspired him to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science education, where he'll research systemic issues in the computer science industry and uncover new ways to make the concept accessible to students.
"I don't think computer science is diverse enough," Keith said. "We need to get kids interested early on, make it a viable path... that's one of my motivations."
