Ascend’s Houston IT team surprises intern with $4,000 college award
Braxton Tillis describes his information technology internship at Ascend’s Houston office as a rewarding experience that has taught him invaluable networking and organizational skills. But he had no idea it would be rewarding in other ways, such as receiving $4,000 for college.
Houston IT team members on June 8 surprised Tillis with the award at a celebration of his graduation from Phillis Wheatley High School. The award, funded entirely by donations from Houston team members, will help pay for his expenses at Texas A&M University in the fall.
Tillis, 18, was speechless and turned around in astonishment as Dennis Conley, Ascend’s IT project office manager, presented him with the gift. The soon-to-be first generation college student plans to study biomedical science and pursue a career as an anesthesiologist.
“Thank you,” said Tillis, smiling ear-to-ear. “This will help me go forward in life.”
Tillis began his paid internship last August and will continue working at Ascend through the summer. He works with the IT team, helping on the service desk line, repairing printers and reimaging computers.
Team members say Tillis has been a helpful addition to the IT team. He is always willing to learn and performs his duties with professionalism, they said.
“It was a pleasure and an honor to be able to change or influence the life of a young adult,” said Xiong Xiong, director of the enterprise applications. “I see nothing but endless opportunity in Braxton’s future, and if I can play any role in it, small or big, I will do it in a minute. It’s the Ascend way.”
Tillis graduated on May 29 in the top 10 percent of his high school class. He applied to eight Texas universities and was accepted to all of them. He also received four scholarships for his academic achievements.
He said he has enjoyed working at Ascend because he has learned so many new skills. For example, he used to struggle with time management, but not anymore. After months of juggling several tasks, he now knows how to properly manage his time to produce positive results. His team members have been “awesome and welcoming,” he said.
One of the most exciting parts of his intern experience has been earning a paycheck, he said.
“When I received my first paycheck, I was shocked. I had never made that much money in my life until now,” he said. “To celebrate my first actual paycheck, I took my parents out to eat. It felt so amazing paying for their food and looking at the reaction on many people’s faces.”
Tillis landed the internship through Genesys Works, a national program that provides low-income high school students with technical and professional training to prepare them for internship opportunities. The nonprofit has hundreds of corporate partners that support the students by providing them with nine-month paid internships.
Genesys Works was founded in 2002 in Houston, where more than 60 corporate partners, such as Ascend, open their doors to give high school students meaningful work experience.
“It’s such a wonderful organization,” said Melissa Scheppele, Ascend’s chief information officer and vice president of information technology. “For us, it’s a great extension of our support of Yellowstone Academy, and to make a positive impact on high school kids who might not have role models or whose parents haven’t finished college. We’re able to provide them with not only business skills, but also life skills.”
Ascend will have two new interns in the fall, she said.
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