Pritzker Tech Talent Labs reached 1,750 participants from middle school to K-12 teachers to adults in the workforce; will serve more than 600 during summer programs
CHICAGO (June 11, 2025) — Discovery Partners Institute, part of the University of Illinois System, served a record number of individuals throughout the 2024–25 school year as part of its Pritzker Tech Talent Labs, which focuses on increasing the readiness and inclusivity of the region’s tech workforce.
PTTL reached more than 1,750 participants across its programs, which are focused on addressing gaps and needs for a spectrum of learners starting in middle school through adults in the workforce, as well as K–12 teachers, to equip them with the learning and support to deliver high-quality instruction in computing and data science. Two-thirds of program participants come from economically disadvantaged communities. In addition, PTTL will reach more than 600 participants through its slate of summer programs.
Together, these programs engage more than 50 partners across education, government and industry. Program partners include the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois Chicago, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, World Business Chicago, the City of Chicago Department of Family and Social Services/One Summer Chicago, and Everyone Can (Code + Create).
Leading funders include Google.org, Apple, Amazon Web Services, CME Group Foundation and Motorola Solutions Foundation. Other industry participants — composed of funders, speakers and hosts of students and trainees — include: SAP, Oak Street Health, HCSC, UL Solutions, CIBC, M. Harris & Co, NetherRealm, EX3 Labs, Microsoft, EPIC Games, Vivid Seats, Discover Financial Servies, Cameo, Angi, FinOps Foundation, LinkedIn, Weston Game Lab at the University of Chicago, Fifth Third Bank, Wintrust, mHUB, Portal Innovations, 2112, VOYRE, YSSI, Powerbox, Grapherry, Operation Autopilot, Auvi Labs, CArtLab Solutions, Sterling Solutions and Manufacturing Renaissance.
Computing is the top source of new wages in the United States and computer science accounts for the majority of new STEM jobs, according to Code.org. With 80 percent of jobs currently requiring some level of computing knowledge, youth and adults alike in Illinois are entering a workforce dominated by technology, yet many are not receiving the computing education or digital skills they need to work and innovate in the new digital workforce.
“DPI’s primary goal is to drive equitable economic growth within the region’s tech workforce, which is increasingly driven by the need for competencies in computing and technology,” PTTL Director Mark Harris said. “This growth reflects our ambitions to serve students and teachers across K–12, postsecondary and adults in the workforce, so we can meet the needs of learners at all stages and orient them to technology pathways and careers.”
Since initially launching in 2020, PTTL programs have reached 4,000 participants — 66 percent of whom come from economically disadvantaged areas. PTTL’s goals are to increase the number of regional youth and adults in pursuing pathways into computing and thriving in jobs in the region’s tech workforce.
“For over a decade, I worked as a hairstylist — eventually building my own business from the ground up. But deep down, I knew I wanted something different. Pursuing DPI’s tech accelerator program changed everything. It gave me structure, support, and — most importantly — a chance to start over and build a new career on a different foundation,” said Sarah Schoonover, junior program manager at UL Solutions. “Programs like DPI and organizations like UL Solutions don’t just open doors. They change lives, benefiting families and communities in ways that go far beyond one career move. I’m finally stepping into the future I envisioned for myself.”
“DPI’s Digital Scholars program helped me build the confidence and skills I needed going from high school to an extremely competitive environment at UIUC’s Grainger College of Engineering,” said Chinasa Nwosu, a sophomore majoring in computer engineering. “This summer I am thrilled to be returning to DPI as a Summer Tech Intern, where I will work with university researchers and deepen my connections with the Chicago tech community.”
More than 370 students who have participated in PTTL’s middle, high school, and community college programs so far are pursuing a four-year degree — 70 percent in tech-focused majors. PTTL’s teacher-training programs have reached more than 600 teachers, enhancing their knowledge and skills in computing and data science to integrate new learning into their classrooms, which has an estimated multiplier of 84,000 students reached annually. Trainees from the tech talent accelerator have increased their salary by an average of more than 600 percent after placement in an external role, with combined wages totaling more than $4 million six months after completing training.
2025 summer programs:
- Discover Computing CONNECT: Intro to Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summary: For the second year, PTTL will offer a session for approximately 40 ninth and tenth grade students to explore generative AI, using AI-powered tools to create images, music, videos and more. The session will also include 10 in-service teachers who will incorporate this content into their classrooms during the school year.
- Digital Scholars: An intensive six-week program for high school juniors and seniors and incoming college freshmen to take college-level courses in computer science, data science, electrical and computer engineering, and Swift/mobile app development. Students build college and career readiness skills and get immersed into Chicago tech with daily speakers and weekly workshops. Celebrating its sixth year, the program is run in partnership with UIUC’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and its Grainger College of Engineering. Most students receive a stipend for their participation through PTTL’s partnership with the One Summer Chicago Program and will earn microcredential badges. The program will reach approximately 150 students at the Illinois Tech Conviser Law Center.
- Discover Computing IGNITE & Kode with Klossy – CODE-A-BRATION: AI and Machine Learning: PTTL is partnering with Kode With Klossy to offer a two-day workshop where female and gender-expansive students will learn to code a website, learn about AI and machine learning, present their project, hear from amazing speakers, play party games, and celebrate the power of code. Participants will learn the foundations of artificial intelligence and machine learning, train their very own image classifier, and build it into a website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- CS Educator Summer Intensives: A series of two-week sessions to support both in-service and pre-service teachers interested in deepening their understanding of computer science-based instruction and pedagogy while concurrently working with high school students. Topic areas include data science, Swift iOS/mobile app development, computational thinking, and AI for in-service teachers, and foundational technology experiences for pre-service teacher candidates as they prepare to enter the classroom in partnership with UIC’s College of Education. Approximately 100 teachers will take part in these sessions and utilize this content in their classrooms to reach hundreds of students during the school year.
- GitHub for Educators: GitHub is used by over 150 million developers worldwide to collaborate and create; PTTL’s goal is to expand its reach for more educators. Through a series of three half-day sessions, this program familiarized educators with GitHub and GitHub Education, allowing them to use it as a classroom resource and also potentially teach it to students. More than 100 people participated — primarily teachers but also some students.
- Career Catalyst: A new, intensive weeklong program designed to inspire and support students pursuing tech-related careers and immerse them in the Chicago tech community. The first session, in May, brought together a group of about 30 students from two-year and four-year colleges, all majoring in computer science, computing, or tech-adjacent fields. The program provides students with an insider’s look at leading tech companies and the opportunity to connect with industry professionals. A second session will be held in August; the two sessions combined will reach a total of about 60 students.
- Summer Tech Interns: A 10-week internship program for college freshmen and sophomores to build their resume with real-world work experience and make connections with Chicago’s tech community. A group of approximately 50 students representing UIUC, UIC, and 10 other universities will work on micro-internship projects with Chicago tech companies and startups, nonprofits, and internal DPI research projects. Students spend two half-days on-site with their internship host and the other three days at DPI, where they participate in a series of workshops, attend networking events, and receive technical support on their projects. Student stipends are provided by One Summer Chicago.
- Digital Bridge: In-person weekly workshops on-site at DPI and Chicago tech companies to help community college students build connections to local technologists, entrepreneurs, businesses and civic leaders. Now in its fifth year, the program is a partnership between DPI, World Business Chicago’s ThinkChicago program, and City Colleges of Chicago. The program meets on Fridays at leading Chicago tech companies, and students also complete a capstone project throughout the program. Digital Bridge will reach more than 35 incoming first- and second-year City Colleges of Chicago students — representing all seven City Colleges — with an interest in computer science, computer engineering and related fields.
- Tech Talent Accelerator: Trains workers from underserved and often overlooked backgrounds, preparing them for jobs in technology roles at corporate partners with the intent to build a long-term career. The program starts with a thorough online learning and recruitment process that ensures candidates feel prepared, informed, and supported before taking on the rigors of the interview process. Selected candidates then take a six-month hybrid training program to build their technical, business and human skills, followed by paid in-house projects where they can apply those skills. Trainees are then placed at employer partners to fill in-demand technical roles and receive ongoing support and training from DPI staff who work closely with supervisors, senior leaders, and the trainees to drive positive outcomes.