CSEdWeek Spotlight Series: Aishat Kolawole, Code@TACC Alumni

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    In 2023, the Education & Outreach (E&O) team at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) completed its eighth year of hosting Code@TACC, the center’s signature summer residential program for high school students. Since its inception in 2015, Code@TACC has served more than 600 students from diverse backgrounds with the majority identifying as African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx. Hundreds of these campers have gone on to pursue postsecondary education in STEM fields.

    Aishat Kolawole is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science (CS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

    We caught up with the camp alumna to hear about her experience at Code@TACC, the program’s impact, and to learn about her career aspirations.

    Aishat Kolawole is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science (CS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Credit: Photo provided by Aishat Kolawole

    E&O/TACC: What inspired you to attend a Code@TACC camp?

    Aishat Kolawole: I was in a STEM program in high school. I was interested in civil engineering but wasn’t confident in my coding skills. In 2016, my mother sent me an email from TACC’s Dawn Hunter about the Code@TACC two-week residential camp. It seemed like an interesting opportunity, so I applied the same day. Code@TACC changed my focus from engineering to computer science by showing me how CS and STEM work together.

    E&O/TACC: What are some of your favorite camp memories/experiences?

    Aishat Kolawole: I enjoyed learning about C++/C programming languages at TACC. The instructors provided practical lessons from real-world experiences. I loved building robots, coding with my peers, and making wearable devices, which was an intricate, informative process. On a personal note, I held a baby goat for the first time in my life during a trip to the zoo.

    E&O/TACC: What are your future career plans?

    Aishat Kolawole: After finishing my undergraduate degree, I hope to work in front-end web development, software engineering, and/or UI/UX design. I want to bring innovative and visually appealing solutions to life. My interest in UI/UX design stems from a desire to enhance user experiences and create products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately, I want to create projects that not only meet technical requirements but also delight users with thoughtful design and functionality.

    Aishat Kolawole details the wearable device she created at Code@TACC. Credit: TACC photo

    E&O/TACC: Why should students attend Code@TACC camps?

    Aishat Kolawole: Code@TACC provides real-world computer science experiences and fosters connections with students who may be interested in STEM. Seeing immediate results helps students gauge the work they may do later in life. These camps also allow you to explore a variety of STEM subjects and get a feel for college by interacting with UT students and faculty.

    E&O/TACC: Thank you for your time and contributions to STEM, Ms. Kolawole.