New Innovation Depot Opening at Clark Atlanta University Fall 2021
Students at Clark Atlanta University are excited to be headed back to in person classes and activities this Fall. " You have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world. This innovation lab will really allow students to come together to collaborate and make those positive changes.” says Hawa Wague
Dell Technologies and The Home Depot are providing an exciting space on campus to help students be their most innovative and get to learn about cool technology in the process.
The Innovation Depot will give students an inviting and unique space to collaborate, get to experience technology in a different way, and even relax in between classes. In addition to being a space for the students to just hang out, there will also be guest speakers, events and contests that will make this space even more exciting.
An exciting feature of the Innovation Lab is an online space created just for the students as a resource for them to explore the innovative tech that Dell and The Home Depot have to offer and a place to explore tools to create a startup, learning resources, learn more about career opportunities, and get a certification. It was created by Norma-Angelika Garcia, Hawa Wague, Nate Battle, Maya Sanchez and Emma Wirt during a recent Dell Internship. “We feel honored to be working on such an impactful project for the Clark Atlanta community. As, most of us come from similar backgrounds as Clark University students. We are incredibly proud to share our knowledge and give back to a community that resembles each of our own.”, the group stated.
As part of Dell Technologies Project Immersion program, Tawanna Atwater spearheaded this idea to help better prepare diverse college students for STEM careers. “We look at this as an investment in our future workforce. By 2030 there will not be enough people in technology to fill the available jobs. Diverse backgrounds and experiences are essential to create a culture of belonging. Like most companies, we need more talent in this space. Our strong partnership with the Clark Atlanta University will allow us the opportunity to build relationships with students that may want to join the Dell Technologies family. This is a win-win for everyone.”
There is more than meets the eye in technology for both Dell Technologies and The Home Depot. “We are looking for Rockstar talent and the people we have met at the Atlanta University Consortium (AUC) which includes Clark Atlanta, have been amazing, innovative and have a passion for technology and driving human progress. This space will help us to develop more relationships with that talent and hopefully encourage more students to explore STEM careers, start their own businesses and shape the future of technology.”, says Angela Harper, Director of Talent Innovation, Dell Technologies.
Tawanna Atwater and Angela Harper said they hope this is not the last Innovation Depot they build and are currently looking at other college campuses that would be great partners in the next adventure.