Open Technology Group President Has Launched A $100k Commitment To Help Hampton University Students
Leon Burns III and Open Technology Group are helping Black students pursue careers in data analytics with the DEIB in Black Analytics scholarship. Students attending Hampton University’s James T. George School of Business will be able to receive $25,000 scholarship, which will be split among five full-time junior or senior students ($5,000 per student).
“The idea behind the scholarship is to get African American students into careers in data analytics. Data is shaping the way that we’re moving forward as a country business wise, on a sociological scale, economically across the board, and we’re not really being placed in the rooms that are allocating the algorithms to actually include us,” Burns said, according to AFROTECH.
DEIB in Black Analytics scholarship
The scholarship is a 4-year, $100,000 commitment from Open Technology to Hampton University students, providing $25,000 annually to support the academic journey of five students. Candidates must be a full-time junior or senior with a 3.0 or higher GPA to be eligible for the award.
“Leon’s commitment to creating opportunities for the underrepresented in tech will not only set the students selected for this scholarship up for success but also inspire and open doors for others aiming to pursue careers in information technology,” Dr. Ziette Hayes, Dean of Hampton University’s James T. George School of Business, said.
About Leon Burns III
Burns earned his undergraduate degree in management from Hampton University and then pursued an MBA at Long Island University. Burns has served as president of Open Technology Group since 2022. Before this role, he worked in ground operations before transitioning to the help desk, management, and quality assurance.
“Since the start of my career, it has been my mission to bridge the gap between corporate and community through a push for DEIB by providing valued opportunities for those who might be overlooked,” Burns says.
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