“High School to iSchool” introduces BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and other underrepresented minoritized/marginalized (URM) middle and high school students to Informatics and Freshman Direct Admission. We engage and inform students and their teachers and families about the UW, Informatics and different career paths in technology. 

At the iSchool, inclusion and connectedness are celebrated as essential components of academic excellence. With the iSchool now offering freshmen direct admission to the undergraduate Informatics program, students with limited early-access to technology may feel they are not as competitive as those who have greater access. "High School to iSchool" programs created by the iSchool and our student groups work to eliminate barriers created by institutional discrimination and create opportunities for BIPOC/URM students.

We invite high school students from the Seattle area and the state of Washington to three events during the school year:

FearLess Tech More Innovation Challenge

Oct. 10-14, 2022
Presented by the Informatics Undergraduate Association (IUGA) and Women in Informatics (Winfo)

Women in Informatics and the Informatics Undergraduate Association are excited to welcome middle and high school students from Washington state and beyond to engage in a weeklong online design challenge. Fearless Tech More Innovation Challenge is an opportunity for middle and high school students to experiment and explore the possibilities using technology for social good, to understand that they can and will shape our future. It is not about what can we do with technology; rather, it is about what should we do with technology. 

FearLess is a weeklong hackathon and includes time for students to watch instructional videos, engage with mentors, and build their own project with a team of their choosing. The process is completely virtual, and at the end participants get to showcase their projects to each other and judges from the UW iSchool. (Did we mention there are prizes, too?)

Current iSchool students: Learn details about mentorship opportunities for this innovation challenge.  

Event details Become a mentor

iTech Inclusion Modules Project

Winter quarter
Presented by Winfo, IUGA and the Office of IDEAS

The iTech Inclusion Modules are inclusive, engaging and beginner friendly 20-40-minute technology modules to be used in classrooms for students to explore technology topics, such as: virtual reality; coding; design process; user experience; cybersecurity; how to create an app; webpage development and more. All the modules will have a strong focus on equity, inclusion and social justice.

The modules may be used as a one-time tech unit or in combination as a tech series. They can be combined into a one-day or half-day conference; used as an on-campus workshop or off-campus high school or community “pop-up” experience in conjunction with outreach; and countless other events and activities. The modules are offered in-person or online, and have been developed by iSchool students, faculty, alumni and staff, demonstrating the type of learning that happens at the iSchool.

Hack for Social Good

Friday, March 31, 2023; UW Ethnic Cultural Center (tentative location)
Presented by Winfo, IUGA and the Office of IDEAS

Local high school students get the chance to design a creative, digital solution to complex problems. Students get the chance to work within a small group mentored by current Informatics students. This is designed to be an accessible, beginner-friendly event where everyone can participate.