Digital Scholars Program
Digital Scholars is an intensive summer program for rising 11th and 12th graders, as well as incoming college freshmen, to build computing skills, increase college and career-readiness, and make connections to Chicago’s dynamic tech community.
In the summer of 2020, DPI launched the Digital Scholars Program to build a deeper and more diverse pool of students pursuing computer science and tech-related degrees. The program is a partnership between UIC CHANCE, UIUC Grainger College of Engineering, UIUC College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Swift. To date, the program has reached over 400 students and involved 175+ representatives from Chicago’s tech community.
This no-cost program is intentional about serving Black, Latinx, female, gender-expansive and first-generation students from Chicago Public Schools and Chicago-area districts.
See our full impact to date.
Program Overview
Digital Scholars have the opportunity to enroll in one of five courses:
- Data Science Discovery – explore the dynamic field of data analysis and visualization using real-world data sets
- Exploring Electrical and Computer Engineering – Learn about the intersection of hardware and software through hands-on projects that include circuits, signal-processing, and more
- Foundations of Computer Science & Coding – Discover the fundamentals of computer science principles using the Java or Kotlin programming languages
- iOS App Design – Learn Ui/UX design principles and create a working prototype of a mobile app using Swift and Xcode // access an opportunity to showcase at the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue
- Programming in Swift – Learn to code in the Swift programming language through mini-mobile app projects
Students meet and make meaningful connections with members of Chicago’s dynamic tech community through daily talks with tech entrepreneurs, technologists, business strategists, & civic leaders.
Students participate in weekly workshops that dive into key topics such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, entrepreneurship, data science, and presentations from Chicago’s top tech incubators.
Beyond the college-level course, participating students get additional experiences to build essential skills such as communication, collaborating in teams, how to create a personal brand and build a professional network, as well as other work-readiness skills.
2026 Info Sessions
Chicago-area youth, caring adults, mentors, teachers, counselors and school administrators are invited to join a virtual informational session to learn about Discovery Partners Institute, the Digital Scholars Program and its key benefits for participants, as well as have the opportunity for any questions to be answered.
How to Become a Digital Scholar
Rising 11th and 12th grade students, as well as first-year college students at City Colleges of Chicago and Illinois institutions, are invited to apply to this summer program. The Digital Scholars Program will be held in-person daily from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. over the course of six weeks during the summer in downtown Chicago.
- SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
- SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW
- PREPARE FOR & PARTICIPATE IN YOUR SCHEDULED INTERVIEW
- AWAIT AN ADMISSIONS DECISION
Ready to become a Digital Scholar?
Student Testimonials
“The Digital Scholars program has helped me learn more about computer science, app development and has really made me more inspired about what I want to do in the future.”
Alena
2021 Digital Scholar (Mobile App Development); Senior - Bolingbrook H.S.
“This was an experience that has greatly changed my mindset and thought process. It gave us the opportunity to have conversations with some of the most successful people in the Chicago tech community.”
Doriyon
2021 Digital Scholar (CS 100), First-Year CS Major at UIC
Digital Scholars Speakers, Supporters, and Workshop Hosts
DPI’s ambitions are large and transformative in scale. The Pritzker Tech Talent Labs is building programs and partnerships to reach thousands of learners to transform the composition of Chicago’s tech workforce.
We will not be able to achieve this impact without the development of strategic partnerships to map out a learner’s journey from middle school to a successful career in tech. Our Digital Scholars Program partners include school districts, community colleges, non-profit program providers, four-year institutions, and employers.
Get Involved
- Click here to sign-up for more information!
- For questions or additional information, please contact: Kay Monelle, Director of Student Programs at kaym@uillinois.edu or Lindsey Vetvick, Associate Director of Student Programs at lvetvick@uillinois.edu.