Get an introduction to the tech industry through this unique summer tech internship experience program. The “Coding by Design” Summer Program will introduce five participants per course to the skills companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon are looking for. Participants will create a simple user journey, wireframe use cases, build a prototype using Bolt, and present their project to local companies.
This 2-week hands-on program will take participants beyond the computer science theory taught in college classes and beyond most summer internships.
Participants will learn how professional Product Managers, UX/UI Designers and Developers use a concept called Agile to work together to build tech products in as little as two weeks. On the final day, participants will present their product to representatives of local companies, who will serve as judges.
Participants will be able to showcase technical skills to recruiters by building a webapp in two weeks while learning about the tech industry and understand business terms needed to describe and make a case for their technical ideas to engineering leadership.
The El Paso Community Foundation provided this opportunity initially to computer science students who were not accepted into summer internships yet sought to prepare themselves as capable tech employees. Now the opportunity to learn how Silicon Valley tech companies build digital products is open to everyone interested in borrowing and implementing the process to quickly prototype solutions.
CS college students, (ex: UTEP or EPCC), Anyone applying for these Tech Industry Roles:
• Software Developer/Engineer
• UI/UX Designer
• Product Manager
Entrepreneurs that are looking to operate using Tech Industry practices.
Sergio Ponce De Leon
A local Tech Entrepreneur dedicated to leveraging his engineering expertise to continue driving growth and development of the local community. The firm he founded, SourceCode Publishing, has recently pivoted to working with local startups to develop concepts into initial MVPs. With early career exposure to research in Quality Assurance at the National Science Foundation, the University of Texas at Dallas, and at the US. Air Force, he built his professional career with quality at the core. He has led engineering teams, committees, and students throughout his experiences at ThyroidHQ, SourceCode Publishing, Fivestars (acquired by SumUp), Microsoft TEALS, and the University of Texas at El Paso, to implement technology for positive change and social impact. He is an advocate for causes that promote education, community well-being, entrepreneurship, and mental health awareness.
Juan Ferret, Ph.D.
Juan Ferret is the founder and executive director of the Philosophic Systems Institute (PSI), a community non-profit organization that integrates interdisciplinary critical inquiry as transformational learning spaces for the community, often in co-design with underserved populations. PSI’s transformational programs range from Shadows to Light, Lighstream, and STREAM (STEM with Arts and Humanities). These nationally recognized anti-recidivism and diversion programs offer higher learning and life skills for adults and youth facing the justice system by providing community learning programs for low-income housing individuals and families in South Central El Paso. Recently, PSI joined in the design and formation of the Microsoft El Paso Innovation Hub, a collaborative space for creative solutions to improve access to tech opportunities, including an apprenticeship program for individuals aiming to work in the tech industry with a sophisticated set of 21st century professional skills. At PSI, Juan is also the lead researcher on the Foundations of Physics Group, and the Systems, Semiotics and Logic Group, which is working on the development of an advanced abductive logic systems’ AI that can be collaboratively developed in community. For over a decade prior to his work at PSI Juan taught humanities, physics, and philosophy courses at UTEP. Juan received his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Physics at the University of Oregon in 2003 after obtaining bachelor degrees in philosophy, mathematics, and physics from Gonzaga University in 1991. PSI is a supporting organization of the El Paso Community Foundation.
Monday – Thursday: 9am – 1pm
(A minimum of 5 students is required for the program to be offered.)
You will be guide through a typical 2-week Agile Sprint to develop a webapp using some of the most in demand skills, tech and managerial:
• Frontend Development (React.js)
• Git version control
• Agile Project Management
• Product Management Principles
• Prototyping using Bolt:
UX/UI Design Principles
Backend Development (Node.js, Express.js)
Database Building (MongoDB)
Generative AI prompting
Each participant
• Must have their own laptop.
• Must have previous coding experience.
• Must have commitment and availability for two weeks to attend all sessions of the program and participating in all activities, discussions, and hands-on exercises.
• Must be self-motivated to work independently and take initiative to finish assignments and tasks.
Work at the Microsoft’s El Paso Office at: Microsoft El Paso Innovation Hub, 500 W. Overland, Suite 210, El Paso, TX, 79901.
Receive an El Paso Community Foundation certificate! Add an internship experience program to your resume. Feedback on your project from representatives of local companies during Final Day Presentation Judging! Gain an understanding of:
• The business side of coding.
• How to describe coding projects to recruiters, engineering managers, and business leaders.
• How to gain a competitive advantage during the hiring process
Experience an overview of what it takes to build software products, from Designing a Concept to Developing to Deploying.
Additional Bonuses:
• Only provided to students that finish the program:
Free Resume Template that generated interview callbacks from CurreyAdkins -PyroCom Systems, El Paso Electric, Steele Consulting, Google, Microsoft, Nation Science Foundation, U.S. AirForce.
Free one-on-one resume review and LinkedIn profile optimization session. Scheduled to occur after the program. (Usually a $500 offer on its own)
Mock Interview and Feedback and Coaching session
• Discounted 1:1 tutoring sessions until you graduate.
• Cheat sheets for Big O, Data Structures and Algorithms, JavaScript/Typescript, SQL, UI/UX Design, Linux Commands, Business Analytics, and more!
1st Offering: June 16 – 26, Monday – Thursday: 9am – 1pm
2nd Offering: July 7 – 17, Monday – Thursday: 9am – 1pm
3rd Offering: August 4 – 14, Monday – Thursday: 9am – 1pm
(A minimum of 5 students is required for the program to be offered.)
Money-back guarantee if participant is not satisfied with the course within the first three days.
$500/seat (20% off until May 31st, making it $400 with discount)
You can also invest in your education using these alternative payment options:
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El Paso Community Foundation is a 501c3 Organization. EIN: 74-1839536