Creating IT Futures Donates Scholarship Fund for Prime Digital Academy

New Software Programming School to Open in Twin Cities

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Dec 15, 2014, 02:03 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Creating IT Futures Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CompTIA, donated $100,000 in scholarships to Prime Digital Academy, a newly established software programming school in the Twin Cities area. The funding to help low-income individuals reduce the cost of their training is the first to come out of the foundation's new research and development program, IT Futures Labs.

The Creating IT Futures Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CompTIA, donated $100,000 in scholarships to Prime Digital Academy, a newly established software programming school in the Twin Cities area. The funding to help low-income individuals reduce the cost of their training is the first to come out of the foundation's new research and development program, IT Futures Labs. Pictured, from left to right, are Diana Ermini, chair of the Creating IT Futures Foundation; Mark Hurlburt, president of Prime Digital Academy; and Charles Eaton, CEO of Creating IT Futures.

"By partnering with Prime, IT Futures Labs hopes to increase knowledge in what it takes a person who might not have a college degree and is struggling financially to go from zero to 60 in software development, so we can promote best practices nationwide and impact hundreds of people who need an upwardly mobile career," said Charles Eaton, CEO of Creating IT Futures. "Our foundation is proud to help people in need of opportunity to enter the world of software development, which offers high earning potential but also presents a high barrier to entry."

The scholarship dollars will be directed at individuals who are unemployed, under-employed or under-represented in the technology field, such as women, African-Americans and Hispanics. Prime will feature an accelerated learning program to help smart, driven learners get up to speed for entry-level jobs in software engineering. The academy focuses on industry-led experiential learning and apprenticeships with some of the metro's leading IT employers.

The government and philanthropic partnership to support Prime was developed in conjunction with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to foster development of the accelerated-learning model in communities nationwide. Prime's 18-week program's objective (with optional 12-week or more apprenticeship) is to arm graduates with three things: 1) entry-level technical skills relevant in the current market, 2) behavioral skills to succeed as part of a software development team, and 3) a mindset of continuous learning and a toolbox of techniques to support a long, successful career.

Applications for the first class will close on January 22. Apply online at http://primeacademy.io.

About the Creating IT Futures Foundation
The Creating IT Futures Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity with the mission of helping populations under-represented in the information technology industry and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure, and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at www.creatingITfutures.org.

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SOURCE Creating IT Futures Foundation