Goldman Sachs Employees take a Growing Interest in FIRST
Continued from the September 2007 Newsletter
"The Bowlathon was smashing success," declared Randy Schaeffer, FIRST regional director. "It put us over the top and helped make our move to the Javits Center a reality. It wouldn't have been possible without Tami's enthusiasm and the wonderful at Goldman Sachs."
During the 2007 FIRST Robotics Competition build season, ten Goldman Sachs employees volunteered as team mentors with the FIRST Robotics teams at University Neighborhood High School and at the Brearley School in Manhattan. This effort was led by Glenn Gribble, Technology Fellow within the GS technology division.
Both Rosen and Gribble see FIRST alumni as a pool from which to consider future Goldman Sachs employees. "The demographics of FIRST students here in the metro region and their interest in technology," explains Ms. Rosen, "combined with their future achievement in college, can result in qualified candidates that will help us meet our company's diversity goals."
Gribble, who was also a mentor with the University Neighborhood High School FIRST team, sees a similar connection. In May, he and Tami made it possible for two FIRST teams to participate in the technology division's professional development days. The purpose of the day-long visits was two-fold: 1) to recruit Goldman Sachs employees as volunteer FIRST mentors; and 2) to give the high school students exposure to way technology is used by Goldman Sachs. Students got to participate in a series of workshops dealing with various aspects of the company's operations.
"It was a win-win for everyone," explained Gribble. "Our tech folks were very impressed by the kids and the students got a chance to see for themselves how all that stuff they are learning in school gets applied at Goldman Sachs."
"We look forward to the growth our partnership with FIRST," added Rosen. "We'll be back as part of the NYC FIRST Science and Technology Career Expo at the Javits Center in 2008 and we're already putting together our next Bowlathon."
The Stuyvesant High School FIRST team participated in the workshops held at the company's offices, while FIRST team members from Pope John XXII in Sparta, NJ spent their day at the brand new Goldman Sachs tower on the waterfront of Jersey City. |
