As COVID-19 accelerated the need for modernizing networks to handle multi-cloud and hybrid deployments, Infoblox closed a record-breaking FY2020, which saw phenomenal demand for our cloud-native BloxOne DDI platform and BloxOne Threat Defense products. In my FY2021 Sales Kick Off keynote, I challenged Bloxers to share our success with our broader community and change one future STEM worker’s life by raising a diversity scholarship for our neighbor, the University of Washington, Tacoma.
At Infoblox, we believe deeply in fostering diversity in the tech industry. Extending equal opportunity aligns with the inclusive culture that we try to create with our frequent all-hands and executive open office hours to ensure that everyone—from interns up—can be heard. And we know that diverse backgrounds build better performing teams, which aligns with our value of delivering the best possible experience for our global customer base.
In under two hours, Bloxers donated $25,000—which the company matched for a total of $50,000. Instead of helping one future STEM worker, we raised what became the School of Engineering’s largest scholarship of the year, which will fund at least one year’s worth of in-state tuition for three students from diverse backgrounds. On graduation, the below remarkable recipients will bring their diverse experiences to solve real world engineering problems.
Elvin Ferrera (Electrical Engineering Major)
- For the past two years, Elvin participated in the Latino Leadership Initiative program and the Latino Education & Training Institute to develop strategies to support the fast-growing Latino population at his transfer school.
- This past academic year, Elvin worked at the Center for Student Cultural Diversity and Inclusion at his transfer school, assisting in the programming of many broad cultural events.
Qinyu Tao (Computer Science Major)
- Qinyu is a non-native English speaker, and her previous volunteer experience includes administrative coordination of ESL courses offered in the community.
- Qinyu’s partner is active duty in the military. When he is in training or deployed, she balances solo parenting with her studies.
Andrea Seguya (Information Technology Major)
- At age 14, Andrea competed in the Microsoft Technovation Challenge with a mobile app she designed in MIT App developer to simplify the process of the donation of scholastic materials and funds to less advantaged schools in her community in Uganda. Her app came in first in the junior competition and fourth in the overall competition.
- Last year, she participated in a 6 month software engineering internship in her home country of Uganda to develop and improve websites, portals and mobile applications for the collection, transmission and storage of company data.
