Underrepresented in Tech

A Wired survey conducted in October 2019 found that the Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous population represented only 5% of firms in the Silicon Valley technology companies. BIPOC are disproportionately underrepresented in STEM-related subjects such as computer science. BIPOC students make up aproximately 62.95% of the Taoma Public Schools district. Of that percentage, 78.8% of students in 10th grade enrolled at Lincoln High School were below or well-below state standards in state math assessments in the 2018-2019 school year. Beta Coders club works together with Lincoln High School's computer science teachers to help empower, and encourage students to get excited about technology.

Our mission

Beta Coders Club is committed to serving the Tacoma, Washington community through volunteer work by serving Lincoln High School. Our mission is to cultivate equity, accessibility, and diversity in Lincoln High School's computer science classrooms. Beta Coders Club and its members strive to inspire high school students to pursue an interest in computer science.

Our current club president

Sophia Sangervasi is a senior at the University of Puget Sound and will be graduating in Spring 2021. She is double majoring in Computer Science and Language, Culture, and Literature in Hispanic Studies. Sophia has been a member of Beta Coders club since 2018, and in 2019 she took on the role of being club president. Since then, she has enjoyed bridging the University of Puget Sound Computer Science student community with the nearby Lincoln High School. She is very passionate about helping others as well as making computer science accessible to everyone.

Contact: Linkedin

Our founder

Sofia Schwartz founded Beta Coders club in the fall of 2016. Sofia knew that she wanted to make a difference in the greater Tacoma area by making Computer Science more accessible to BIPOC. After brainstorming some ideas she came up with Beta Coders Club. With the help of her peers and a wonderful University of Puget Sound professor, Sofia was able to get in touch with Lincoln High's Computer Science teacher. Beta Coders has since made a lasting impact in students lives and continues to make a difference all thanks to her! Sofia graduated from University of Puget Sound in 2018 with a B.S. in Computer Science.