Grand Circus and TEKsystems to Provide Female Coding Scholarships Through DEVELOP(her)

Grand Circus, the state’s leading technology training institute, today reaffirmed its commitment to diversifying the tech industry by announcing the continuation of DEVELOP(her), a coding initiative in partnership with TEKsystems specifically aimed at preparing women to enter the workforce as full-fledged software developers.

“As an organization, we are fully committed to diversifying the tech industry and ensuring that Michigan’s workforce is reflective of its communities,” says VP of Operations Celena Mancina of Grand Circus. “A strong and diverse workforce is critical for any company to scale and stay competitive. By partnering with TEKsystems, we are able to help prepare women from a variety of backgrounds to fill some of the most highly sought careers.”

Under the DEVELOP(her) initiative, TEKsystems will provide partial scholarships to 20 women. These scholarships will cover up to $3,750 of the cost of tuition and are available for full-time or after-hours bootcamps in both Detroit and Grand Rapids.

“For four years we have partnered with Grand Circus, and this program continues to provide a tremendous opportunity for women seeking to gain relevant coding skills,” says Franklin Reed, director of inclusion & diversity, TEKsystems. “The DEVELOP(her) scholarship affords women the opportunity to position themselves as strong candidates in the technology field. We are proud to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to diversity and individuality and look forward to continuing sponsoring the incredible women who will enroll in Grand Circus this year.”

DEVELOP(her) awardees receive the same hands-on training that Grand Circus has continued to perfect since launching in 2016. During this time, Grand Circus has prepared more than 1,500 graduates to enter the workforce as entry-level developers at nearly 300 of the fastest-growing companies around the state. Since launching in 2016, DEVELOP(her) scholarships have been awarded to 60 women who now work at companies such as Accenture, Ally, Amway, Quicken Loans and United Shore. Graduates make a median salary of $52,000 in their first entry-level tech position.

For more information, visit: grandcircus.co/women

For a list of upcoming bootcamps, visit: grandcircus.co/bootcamps/

About Grand Circus

Grand Circus believes everyone should have access to a tech career. With campuses in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Grand Circus has trained more than 1,500 software developers. Graduates of the company’s coding bootcamps work at nearly 300 companies throughout the state. Its innovative 12-week coding bootcamps provide students with the technical and soft skills employers need to effectively grow their business.

Grand Circus was recognized as one of Crain’s 75 Places to Work in 2016 and operates one of 11 Google for Entrepreneur tech hubs—a partnership that provides technology, mentoring and connections to Michigan’s startup ecosystem. The company is also partnered with Facebook, Detroit at Work, TEKsystems and Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation to provide training and funding to eligible students for tech training. In Grand Rapids, Grand Circus is part of the Start Garden ecosystem. For more information, visit grandcircus.co.

About TEKsystems^®

We’re partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That’s the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.