ePlus Welcomes New Class of GRIT -- Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow -- Participants

Rhea-AI Summary

ePlus Inc. launches its 2024 GRIT program to provide middle and high school girls with consistent education, exposure, and opportunities across the technology industry. The program, in collaboration with Cisco, is aimed at addressing the shortage of cybersecurity professionals, particularly women. It has expanded to include 10 schools across California, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. The CEO, Mark Marron, emphasizes the importance of diversity in organizations and the need to bridge the gender gap in STEM classes. The program has seen over 350 graduates and will host a record 134 participants this year. Women's enrollment in STEM courses has been dropping, and only accounts for 18% of new computer science degrees.

STEM Program Grows to Include 10 Schools Across the U.S.

HERNDON, Va., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ePlus inc. (NASDAQ NGS: PLUS – news) today announced the launch of its 2024 GRIT: Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow^® (GRIT) program across the U.S.  GRIT is focused on providing middle and high school girls with consistent education, exposure and opportunities across the technology industry, has expanded this year to include 10 schools across California, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

Created in 2017 as a joint initiative between ePlus and Cisco, GRIT was founded in response to the increasing shortage of cybersecurity professionals worldwide, particularly women.  GRIT is a STEM-focused program that helps girls understand what technology careers and positions are available to them, to highlight roles to which they can aspire and to encourage them to consider careers in technology.

"Diversity of all kinds, including thought, experience, skill level, gender and many other areas, is critical to the success of an organization," said Mark Marron, CEO and president of ePlus.  "Through the GRIT program, we hope to continue doing our part to help bridge the gap between the number of girls and boys in middle and high school STEM classes, and to ultimately see that impact down the road as more women become more involved in every area of technology. While the number of women in cybersecurity and technology is increasing, there is still work to be done, and GRIT is here to help accelerate forward progress."

More than 350 girls have graduated from GRIT since its inception.  This year's program will host a record 134 participants.

As reported on the website Women in Tech^®, over the past 30 years STEM occupations have risen 79% and are projected to increase another 11% from 2020-2030.  In contrast, "women's enrollment in STEM courses has been dropping and only accounts for 18% of new computer science degrees."¹ 

School Support for the GRIT Program

Midlothian Middle School, Richmond, VA:

"I have had the privilege of witnessing the empowerment, inspiration, and importance of Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow here at Midlothian Middle School. In just a few short months, the girls in our GRIT program come out with a wealth of knowledge about the future of IT, safety, and the importance of technology in our ever-evolving world.  The GRIT program gives the exposure and inspiration to girls that they can achieve success in technology. The most rewarding part of GRIT has been watching each student grow in their self-confidence."

Dale Junior High, Irvine, CA:

"GRIT has provided valuable opportunities for our students to learn about females in STEM careers from guest speakers, apply their 21st century skills in a meaningful way and build relationships with their peers outside of the regular classroom environment.  It will forever inspire and be a positive event in my students' lives."

Rowan-Salisbury School System, Charlotte, NC:

"Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow is dedicated to empowering and equipping girls with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through their programs and mentorship initiatives, they inspire young girls to dream big and break barriers.  The experiences the girls engage in are meaningful and allow them to develop and pursue their passions."

Visitation School -- Mendota Heights, MN:

"GRIT allowed my students to see and experience a variety of job possibilities beyond the social norms." 

For more information on GRIT please visit our web page.

About ePlus inc. 
ePlus has an unwavering and relentless focus on leveraging technology to create inspired and transformative business outcomes for its customers. Offering a robust portfolio of solutions, as well as a broad range of consultative and managed services across the technology spectrum, ePlus has proudly achieved more than 30 years of success, carrying customers forward through adversity, rapidly changing environments, and other obstacles. ePlus is a trusted advisor, bringing expertise, credentials, talent and a thorough understanding of innovative technologies, spanning security, cloud, data center, networking, collaboration and emerging solutions, to organizations across all industry segments. With complete lifecycle management services and flexible payment solutions, ePlus' more than 1,850 associates are focused on cultivating positive customer experiences and are dedicated to their craft, harnessing new knowledge while applying decades of proven experience. ePlus is headquartered in Virginia, with locations in the United States, UK, Europe, and Asia–Pacific. For more information, visit www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email info@eplus.com.  Connect with ePlus on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  ePlus, Where Technology Means More^®.

ePlus^®, Where Technology Means More^®, and ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other countries.  The names of other companies, products, and services mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

¹ https://www.womentech.net/en-us/women-technology-statistics, 2023

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SOURCE EPLUS INC.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the GRIT program launched by ePlus Inc.?

The GRIT program aims to provide consistent education, exposure, and opportunities across the technology industry to middle and high school girls, addressing the shortage of cybersecurity professionals, particularly women.

How many schools are included in the 2024 GRIT program?

The 2024 GRIT program has expanded to include 10 schools across California, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

How many girls have graduated from the GRIT program since its inception?

Over 350 girls have graduated from the GRIT program since its inception.

What is the CEO, Mark Marron's view on the GRIT program?

Mark Marron emphasizes the importance of diversity in organizations and the need to bridge the gender gap in STEM classes through the GRIT program.

What is the percentage of women's enrollment in STEM courses?

Women's enrollment in STEM courses has been dropping and only accounts for 18% of new computer science degrees.