Month: June 2024

DES MOINES, IOWA, June 4, 2024 – Principal® Foundation, a global nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities build financially secure futures, and EVERFI® from Blackbaud®, the leader in powering social impact through education, announce the second and biggest year of DataSetGo, a first-of-its-kind interactive digital curriculum that teaches high school students the fundamentals of data science and its value in daily life, the workforce, and the world.

Since its inception in 2022, DataSetGo has reached over 26,000 high school students in over 400 schools throughout the U.S. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the program reached over 17,000 new students and 200 additional schools across ten states, including New York, Texas, and California.

Last fall, DataSetGo expanded to include DataSetGo Distinguished Scholars, a new national program that equips students to explore postsecondary education and workforce opportunities, including those in the rapidly growing field of data science.

Data science roles can be found in nearly every industry and according to the World Economic Forum, there could be up to 1.4 million new jobs created in data science and data analytics between 2023 and 2027.

“Having learned more about the possible job opportunities has opened several possibilities I had no idea existed. It would be a dream to learn more about data analysis and science to eventually make a profession out of it one day,” wrote Jarod Story, a Distinguished Scholar who attends Irving High School near Dallas, Texas.

All the schools that use the DataSetGo curriculum are in low to moderate income communities, where educators have given the program high marks. The research-backed curriculum was designed to align with national educational standards and is provided at no cost to educators through a strategic partnership between Principal Foundation and EVERFI.

“This program [DataSetGo] is totally awesome. I’m so overwhelmingly proud of my students,” said LaTara Meyers, a teacher at H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C., whose student Amaya Bostic is among the Distinguished Scholars.

The full list of ten Distinguished Scholars was announced in May. Each student received a $5,000 award, for a total of $50,000.

“These impressive students seized the opportunity to learn about data science and the doors it could open for them,” said Jo Christine Miles, Director, Principal Foundation and Community Relations, Principal. “We’re thrilled to provide awards that will help them continue to pursue their dreams.”

“In nearly every industry, data science skills are in high demand. DataSetGo ensures that students are aware of the opportunities and equipped to pursue them – because then, their career options are endless,” said Ray Martinez, co-founder and President of EVERFI.

Six of the ten Distinguished Scholars (“national award winners”) were selected from a national pool of essay submissions that detailed how students plan to apply what they learned through DataSetGo in their careers and lives.

The other four Scholars (“local award winners”) were selected from schools in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Washington, D.C.; and Dallas, Texas who participated in DataSetGo virtual or in-person learning sessions. Three of these local award winners were selected throughout the school year.

The final local 2023-2024 Distinguished Scholar was announced at an in-person event in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, May 13. Hosted by EVERFI and Principal Foundation, the event celebrated the DataSetGo program and featured sessions with guest speakers who rely on data science in their careers in professional sports, artificial intelligence, and entertainment.

Below are the 2023-2024 DataSetGo Distinguished Scholars. The entry window for the 2024-2025 competition will open September 15.

National award winners

Tanasia Kennedy, NC, Sugar Creek Charter (Teacher – Tony Brantley)Adnrew Chun, NY, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School (Teacher – Travis Malekpour)Valeria Tamayo, TX, Fossil Ridge High School (Teacher – Sandra McCorkle)Jenna Wrinkler, TX, Irving High School (Teacher – Denovias Mack)Rico Lane, GA, East Coweta High School (Teacher – Laura Colley)Fareeha Naaz, NC, Hickory Ridge High School (Teacher – Bernie Thompson)

Local award winners:

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Ashlee Bailey, Brooklyn Prep High School (Teacher – Diana Isern)Minneapolis, Minn. – Mohamed “Ali” Ali, Hiawatha High School (Teacher – Gwendolyn Fortune)Washington, D.C. – Amaya Bostic, H.D. Woodson High School (Teacher – LaTara Meyers)Dallas, Texas – Jarod Story, Irving High School (Teacher – Denovias Mack)

For more information about DataSetGo or the DataSetGo Distinguished Scholars award program, visit https://principal.everfi.com.

About Principal® Foundation 
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. Established in 1987, Principal Foundation works with organizations that are helping to shape and support the journey to financial security by ensuring access to essential needs, fostering social and cultural connections, and promoting financial inclusion.. 3609043-052024

About EVERFI® from Blackbaud® 
EVERFI from Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is an international technology company driving social impact through education to address the most challenging issues affecting society ranging from financial wellness to mental health to workplace conduct and other critical topics. Founded in 2008, EVERFI’s Impact-as-a-ServiceTM solution and digital educational content have reached more than 45 million learners globally. In 2020, the company was recognized as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and was featured on Fortune Magazine’s Impact 20 List. The company was also named to the 2021 GSV EdTech 150, a list of the most transformative growth companies in digital learning. Blackbaud acquired EVERFI in December 2021. To learn more about EVERFI, please visit everfi.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter @EVERFI.

Blackbaud Forward-looking Statements 

Except for historical information, all the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organization; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud’s investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc. 

Media Contact: Taylor Madigan, taylor.madigan@ruderfinn.com

For the first time in decades, the world’s population is facing increases in the number of people living in extreme poverty, rather than annual decreases which had, according to a major global report, become the norm over several decades. The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023, published by the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme, reports that more than 1 billion people globally are currently experiencing poverty, with over half (566 million) being children under age 18.The United Nations projects that the global goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 will not be achieved in time and that almost 600 million people will still be living in extreme poverty.

Hoping to inspire innovation that can effect change in response to this urgent issue, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and partner Unbound Latin America invite students aged 6-17 to participate in the goIT Monthly Challenge for June. Participants are encouraged to explore the challenges, implications and causes of poverty and to create a digital innovation concept that addresses the concern. Concepts that have the potential to reduce poverty by promoting conditions like equity, access, and improved quality of life can be submitted to TCS by June 30th for the chance to win.

This initiative is part of TCS’ ongoing commitment to leveraging technology for social good. It is intended to help young people gain skills and confidence by tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues through innovation and digital solutions.

TCS urges students, educators, and institutions to join them by taking part in the June goIT Monthly Challenge, and help to create a world where we can all thrive, together.

Learn more about how to enter the June goIT Monthly Challenge at: on.tcs.com/goIT-ENG.

About TCS’ goIT Digital Innovation and Career Readiness Program 
TCS’s Go Innovate Together program (goIT) is TCS’ flagship STEM education program. Focusing on digital innovation and career readiness, goIT engages students from diverse backgrounds with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects and computer science, design thinking and digital innovation. The program offers an industry-developed, customizable curriculum that teaches students the 21st century skills necessary for a career in technology. Lessons cover topics including design thinking, rapid prototyping, artificial intelligence, machine learning and more.

Since the launch of the goIT Monthly Challenge in 2020, thousands of students across the globe have used key principles from goIT to design tech-based solutions and submit pitch videos based on a Monthly Challenge theme. Each month, TCS co-hosts the event with a Sustainable Development Goal ambassador, globally minded nonprofit or a TCS client. The Challenge has engaged a growing number of teachers and students every month, exploring topics ranging from gender equality and systemic racism to protecting life under water.

Visit the goIT Monthly Challenge competition website to learn how to enter — or get your students involved — with this or upcoming challenges: https://on.tcs.com/goIT-ENG.