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ColorStack a national organization dedicated to increasing the number of Black and Latinx computer science graduates that go on to launch rewarding careers founded its newest chapter at Binghamton University during the spring 2023 semester.

The mission of ColorStackBU is to increase opportunities and foster academic success for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

ColorStackBUs president, Julian Ortiz 26, started the group to support other students who are coming to college looking for community.

Our three pillars are social, technical and professional, Ortiz said. We want to bring people together on every level.

Since chapter approval at the end of the spring 2023 semester, ColorStackBU has attracted membership from students throughout the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. During the semester, the organization hosts events where students can learn technical skills needed in their fields, get professional photos taken, and network with other computer science graduates who are already established in their careers.

ColorStack aims to increase the number of Black and Latinx computer science graduates who go on to launch rewarding careers. Image Credit: Provided.

ColorStackBU is a great way for us to get up to speed and help us support each others personal and professional development, Ortiz said. A lot of us come from underserved high schools and are touching computer science for the first time in college, and it helps to be surrounded by other students in similar positions.

ColorStackBUs vice president, Bryan Perez 25, has seen the organization flourish over the fall semester and has high hopes for expanding ColorStackBU in the new year.

We are reaching a point where were all getting internships, were all getting fellowships, and its nice that the mission of our organization was met with such enthusiasm from so many students, Perez said.

As hardworking students, ColorStack members experienced a lack of resources for Black and Latinx students pursuing a degree in computer science and wanted to fill the gap.

There hadnt been a large focus on people of color in computer science, and we felt like we needed to provide a space, Ortiz said. Instead of splitting up the community into different subgroups, we decided to start an organization open to everyone.

As a first-year student, Hilary Rojas Rosales 27 was quickly drawn to ColorStackBU. She is now one of the groups interns.

I was looking around for a student organization to join upon starting college, and I saw ColorStacks new chapter advertised as a student-run network that places an emphasis on people of color in computer science fields, Rojas Rosales said. It felt like that aha moment like when you find something youve been looking for.

ColorStackBU is invested in making sure incoming students from Black and Latinx backgrounds have been exposed to the same resources as some of their more privileged peers, and it frequently hosts events outside of normal class hours to give students an equal opportunity to participate.

Many of us are coming into college with no idea what a resum is or what LinkedIn is, because they didnt teach us those things in high school, Rojas Rosales said. ColorStack recognizes that students from underrepresented backgrounds should have those things available to them.

As more than just a professional development organization, ColorStackBU also hosts a series of cultural events where students can celebrate their heritages with one another while networking.

My favorite event so far was Sip and Apply, where students got to make and enjoy a special Mexican drink while applying to internships, Perez said. We love to have people come and enjoy each others culture, and just talk with one another. Were all looking to help each other out.

With several exciting events coming up for spring 2024, the executive board of ColorStackBU is determined to expand membership and get more people on campus talking about the group.

We want to see our community flourish, and for a lot of us who are first-generation computer science students, we come to Binghamton for that community, Perez said. Being able to be mentors for each other and give back to one another is so important, and we can only grow from here.

Ortiz also feels as if his life has changed since he founded ColorStack, and he wants students to know that the same opportunities are available to them.

I was so unsure of myself, and far less secure in my position before I realized networks like ColorStacks were available to me, he said. Finding a strong community full of people who I can relate to within my field made me a lot more confident. Now, I am sure that this is the path I want to go down. As an organization, we strive to bring the same security to our peers.

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ColorStack aims to help Black and Latinx computer science students | Binghamton News - Binghamton