On Friday, July 31, students from the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology joined representatives of the New Jersey Big Data Alliance (NJBDA) for an immersive visit to SHI International, offering students a firsthand look at the infrastructure, innovation, and people helping shape the future of technology.
Approximately 20 high school students, ranging from freshmen to juniors, participated in the experience alongside Lakeisha Stokes, Department Chair of Career & Technical Education, and faculty facilitators from the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.
The day began at SHI’s Data Center Factory and AI Lab at 400 Ridge Road, where students and guests stepped behind the scenes of enterprise technology operations. Participants toured the data center factory and saw vendor-agnostic racks of computing and networking equipment being assembled, configured, and prepared for deployment into customer data centers.
For students studying data science and information technology, the tour provided a tangible connection between what they are learning in the classroom and the sophisticated technology environments that power businesses, universities, government agencies, and other organizations.
The group also received an engaging presentation on artificial intelligence and education, exploring how rapidly evolving AI technologies are influencing learning, the workplace, and the skills students will need as they prepare for future careers.
Following the morning program, participants gathered for lunch before continuing to SHI’s Customer Innovation Center at 300 Davidson Avenue, where they had another opportunity to experience emerging technologies and learn how organizations evaluate and deploy innovative solutions.
The visit was made possible through the collaboration of many individuals and organizations committed to creating meaningful opportunities for New Jersey students.
Sanika Khare coordinated the event on behalf of SHI, while SHI team members Scott Fee, Jeff Levin, and Gio Rifino provided facility tours, presentations, and insights throughout the day. Special thanks go out to Dave Molinaro from the Advanced Growth and Technologies team and Charlie Mulrooney from the AI Solutions team for their willingness to share their expertise. This event gave students an up-close view of both the technology itself and the many career paths that exist within the industry.
NJBDA was represented by President Stephen K. Burley, University Professor and Henry Rutgers Chair at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Entrepreneurship Vice President Joseph Sheruda, Public Sector Client Director at Velocity Tech Solutions; and Marketing Vice President Demetrios Roubos, Information Security Officer at Stockton University.
Sheruda helped spearhead the idea for the visit and worked with the participating organizations to bring the experience to life. NJBDA also supported transportation for the students, helping ensure they could take full advantage of this unique educational opportunity.
For Gio Rifino, Public Sector Account Executive at SHI, the event reflected a shared commitment among all of the partners involved.
“It gives me a great sense of pride to work for an organization like SHI that encourages giving back to the local community, and to collaborate with partners who share those same values and commitment to creating opportunities for our most important customers—our students.”
Experiences like this are especially powerful because they allow young people to see possibilities that can otherwise feel abstract. A data center becomes more than a diagram in a textbook. Artificial intelligence becomes more than a headline. And careers in technology become something students can envision themselves pursuing.
NJBDA is proud to work alongside educators, industry partners, and community leaders who are helping build those connections.
Our sincere thanks go to SHI International, Sanika Khare, Scott Fee, Jeff Levin, Gio Rifino, Dave Molinaro, Charlie Mulrooney, as well as Lakeisha Stokes and the faculty of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology, for creating such an informative and welcoming experience for the students.
We are equally grateful to every student who brought their curiosity, questions, and enthusiasm to the day. By bringing education, industry, and New Jersey’s technology community together, events like this help strengthen the pipeline between today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s opportunities, reminding us just how exciting that future can be.
