Delaware State University and Verizon launch technology program  

A $400,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation will fund two-year Verizon Innovative Learning Program and is now expanding to 12 cities nationwide. All of the money from the grant will be given to DSU and will be presented at an even being held at Delaware State University on June 28.  The event will begin at 11:00 am and will take place in the DSU Board Room.

The program will provide mentorship and hands-on classes in coding, robotics, 3D design and entrepreneurship to dozens of minority middle school boys over the next two years. DSU students and faculty with backgrounds in computer science and entrepreneurship will serve as mentors to guide students through the program, which will being with a summer program on the DSU campus and continue during  the school year at DSU and at William Henry Middle School and Central Middle School in Dover.

Dover is now one of 12 cities in the country to join the Verizon Innovative Learning Program, which began in 2015.

Attendees for the event include Governor Jack Markell, DSU President Harry L. Williams, the Capital School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Shelton, Delaware Secretary of Education Dr. Steven Godowsky, Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins, and Verizon Regional Vice President Tony Lewis.

The Verizon Innovative Learning Program was created to address an urgent need in the STEM field with young minority boys. This program has showed that out of 300 young men already participating in the program, 100% of students increased mobile technology proficiency and 69% had an increase of interest in STEM careers.