INDIANAPOLIS –Through a grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, students in Evansville and Muncie will have access to the Catapult internship program.

Catapult is an experiential, paid internship for Indiana high school students in Indianapolis, Evansville, and Muncie who aspire to a career in technology. Taught by industry professionals, in conjunction with a licensed computer science teacher, students develop technical skills, create authentic peer relationships, improve workplace readiness, create plans for postsecondary success, and build deep roots for a lifelong personal and professional connection to Indiana.

Unlike traditional programs that focus on one competency, Nextech leverages strategic partnerships to deliver best-in-class experiences, while removing barriers such as transportation, meals, and equipment. Catapult students learn a variety of skills including front-end web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, project management, product development) and create their own personal portfolio/website using industry-recognized software development platform GitHub.

After the Catapult internship, alumni continue to be engaged through programming focused on college and career readiness. Almost 400 students have completed the program since 2016. More than 80% of active alumni pursue a STEM path after high school and 60% come from populations underrepresented in Indiana tech.

Nextech President Karen Jung, said she firmly believes in the transformational power of computer science education to prepare students for success in the classroom and in life. According to Jung, “If a student can see it, if a student can experience it, they can be it.”

The CenterPoint Energy Foundation strives to be a catalyst in the communities it serves. By supporting initiatives like Nextech’s Capapult internship, The CenterPoint Energy Foundation helps expand access to education and career opportunities for students across Indiana.

“CenterPoint is proud to support opportunities that help prepare the next generation of Indiana’s workforce,” said Mike Roeder, president of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “Through programs like Nextech’s Catapult internship, students can explore their interests, gain real-world experience in technology and build the skills that will help drive our state’s future economy.”

About Nextech

Launched in 2015, Nextech, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit is dedicated to creating equitable access to computer science curriculum and experiences for all K-12 Indiana students to help each student unleash their potential to thrive in a digital economy. Nextech is a supporting organization of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. For more information visit: www.nextech.org.

About the CenterPoint Energy Foundation

The CenterPoint Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where CenterPoint Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. More information about the Foundation can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation.