Huston-Tillotson University’s HBCU C2 Summer Coding Campers to showcase their Tech Skills during Open Forum this Friday
Wednesday Jun, 25 2025
Austin, TX – (June 25, 2025) – Parents, educators, tech enthusiasts, and area residents are invited to attend Huston-Tillotson University’s HBCU C2 Summer Coding Showcase, the culminating event of the weeklong annual HBCU C2 (Coding + Creativity) Summer Camp during which area youth used their creativity to develop apps that can solve real-world problems.
The showcase, which has no admission charge, is set for Friday, June 27 at 3:00 p.m. in the Agard–Livingston (A–L) Auditorium on the university campus.
Campers, who were students in grades 5-12, will present original app concepts, demonstrate Sphero robotics, and share how they applied Swift programming to address issues such as sustainability, mental health, and community connection. The camp also implemented its HBCU C2 Summer Coding Showcase Club, a student-led extension of the camp designed to help participants further develop their ideas and prototypes.
“For five years now, I’ve watched Austin youth transform from curious coders to purposeful creators,” said Dr. Jennifer Miles, Program Director and Director of the HBCU C2 Coding Center. “This camp is not just about coding—it’s about equipping students to use technology as a tool for justice, sustainability, and community impact. And this year’s showcase will make that vision come alive.”
The camp, held in partnership with Austin’s Pre-freshman Engineering Enrichment Program (AusPREP), is managed by the Center for Academic Innovation and Transformation at HT, and is a collaborative project supported by the Apple Community Education Initiative. Launched in 2020, the initiative aims to bring coding, creativity, and community-connected learning experiences to Huston-Tillotson University.
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HBCU C2 is a national teaching and learning initiative that empowers HBCUs to bring coding and creativity experiences to their campuses and communities. It promotes innovation, educational equity, and community problem-solving through app design and Apple’s Swift programming language. The initiative is committed to diversifying the tech workforce by removing barriers, transforming STEM education, and creating lifelong learning pathways. C-squared HBCUs partner with key industry leaders to help build a skilled and diverse workforce pipeline.
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About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University is a private, historically black institution located in Austin, Texas, with a rich heritage stemming from its founding in 1875. HT was established through the merger of two separate institutions, Samuel Huston College and Tillotson College, which occurred in 1952. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ, and it serves a diverse student body of approximately 1,200 students. HT offers undergraduate degrees in various fields such as business, education, liberal arts, and natural sciences, with a particular focus on programs that promote community engagement, social justice, and environmental sustainability,and graduate degrees in business and education.
About HBCU C2
HBCU C2 is a national teaching and learning initiative that empowers any HBCU to bring coding and creativity experiences and program opportunities to their home campus and community. HBCU C2 promotes innovation, educational equity, and aims to address community challenges using app design and Apple’s Swift programming language. The HBCU C2 community is committed to creating opportunities that will diversify the tech workforce by removing barriers, innovating STEM education, and developing life-long learning pathways. C-squared HBCUs engage in this effort with key industry partners so that our contribution leads to a more skilled, diverse workforce pipeline for high-demand technical and creative careers. Learn more about the HBCU C2 at https://hbcuc2.org/.
