By: Shelby Hobbs
Thursday April 21, 2016

Trenique BarkerBarker aspires to make a difference in the world. He is determined, smart, and has a work ethic that will drive him to greatness. The Florida IT Career Alliance is grateful to have such a passionate individual represent the team as a Student Ambassador. Trenique is graduating this semester from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Science. On campus, he has been involved with the FAMU Tennis Club. He joined FITC in hopes of inspiring students and networking more with his classmates and faculty. “I saw becoming an FITC Ambassador as a way to become a more well-rounded individual,” Trenique described.

During his time as an Ambassador, Trenique has been involved in outreach in the community. He has tutored students at Palmer Munroe Teen Center. This spring, he represented FITC at the FAMU Advising day at Tallahassee Community College. At this event, he spoke with students about the CIS department at FAMU. He has also helped students at Lincoln High School. In this position, he was able to discuss opportunities available within the field of technology. According to Trenique, “[FITC] gives students the opportunity to build greatly needed interpersonal communication skills needed for the real world.” Trenique described working with the students at the Palmer Munroe Teen Center as his most memorable experience with FITC. “My first day there I met a student who was a senior in high school and he needed help finding scholarships, finding the right college, and whether or not he even wanted to go to college,” he explained. “We just shifted into talking about what he wanted out of life, his career, and more,” he described, “it feels good to know that you were able to provide assistance with very crucial life decisions, and potentially be an influence for the better.”

After graduation, Trenique plans to move to St. Petersburg, Florida, and work in a Software Development position with Pronto Progress. He hopes to settle into his new position and eventually start a Master’s program in either Mathematics or Computer Science. Trenique would like to find a career that allows him to share his love of technology with others. To learn more about Trenique, connect with him on LinkedIn.

FITC Student Ambassadors make up a team of dedicated and knowledgeable students both at FSU and FAMU. These students travel across the Florida Panhandle to promote information technology, computer science, and computer engineering to high schools. Ambassadors are responsible for activities such as running coding camps, assisting in technology clubs, or hosting college tours. For more information on FITC Ambassadors, visit the Ambassador page.

The Florida IT Career Alliance is an initiative funded by the Florida Board of Governors which aims to recruit, retain, and employ Florida's next generation technology workforce. FITC promotes information technology, computer science, and computer engineering to local high schools and college students across Florida. Connect with FITC on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.