In collaboration with the i.am.Angel Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside, iD Tech and Snap will also grant full scholarships to 75 underserved students
CAMPBELL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–iD Tech, the world leader in youth STEM education, in collaboration with Snap Inc., today announced a new course designed to teach students, ages 13+, the foundational skills to create their own augmented reality experiences. iD Tech will offer the course through 1-on-1 Online Private Lessons.
The new course, Augmented Reality with Snap’s Lens Studio, introduces students to the fundamentals of Lens Studio, Snap’s powerful desktop application to build and publish augmented reality experiences called Lenses on Snapchat. Taught by world-class instructors, this creative and dynamic course empowers students to draw their own 2D designs and add animations, creating their own Lenses that can be published on Snapchat.
“Lens Studio is designed so that anyone can experiment, create, and express themselves through the medium of augmented reality on Snapchat. Now through iD Tech’s Online Private Lessons, we’re excited to empower students to explore their creativity, express themselves and experience firsthand the power of creating augmented reality,” said Jonathan Solichin, Interactive Engineering Manager at Snap Inc.
“We are so excited to launch Augmented Reality with Snap’s Lens Studio, a new course at iD Tech, where teens will be able to draw, design and create their own Lenses. We have a generation of students who are camera natives, and our goal is for them to go beyond interacting with Lenses and to begin creating experiences,” said Ricky Bennett, VP of Innovation and Partnerships at iD Tech. “For a generation that’s grown up wholly digital, we believe this is a natural extension of their curiosity and understanding of the world they live in, and now’s the time for them to create.”
iD Tech and Snap are teaming up with the i.am Angel Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside to name 75 students as Snap Scholars. These students will receive a full scholarship to enroll in four 1-on-1 Online Private Lessons in the “Augmented Reality with Snap’s Lens Studio” course. More than 30 computers have been donated for a new STEM Lab at the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside, bringing this creative space to life.
“At iD Tech, we aim to inspire the next generation of Lens Creators through fun and interactive course offerings, taught by our rockstar instructors,” said Joy Meserve, COO of iD Tech. “Our collaboration with Snap, the i.am Angel Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside will bring this creative course to 75 students who are poised to be changemakers in augmented reality and tech.”
This new program also includes mentorship, as experienced Lens Creators will engage and inspire students with their own knowledge of augmented reality. Through the “Snap Saturdays” virtual event series, several Lens Creators will share their authentic stories and empower students to continue their own journeys as Lens Creators. Open to Snap Scholars and the iD Tech universe, “Snap Saturdays” will be held virtually January through March 2021 on a monthly basis.
With over $6 million in philanthropic commitments since its inception, iD Tech has a storied history of giving back and providing life-changing STEM experiences that embolden underrepresented students to shape the future. Through this innovative program, iD Tech is committed to furthering its mission of bridging the digital divide and working to provide every child access to a quality tech education.
About iD Tech
iD Tech is the world leader in youth STEM education and believes that all students deserve quality tech education. The family company was founded by a mother-daughter duo over 20 years ago in Silicon Valley and operates year-round online programs, in addition to summer camps at more than 150 top universities worldwide. Course topics include coding, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, robotics, and game design. iD Tech is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and is committed to gender diversity. Since its inception, iD Tech has donated more than $6 million in life-changing educational experiences to underrepresented communities. For more information, visit www.iDTech.com.
About Snap
Snap Inc. is a camera company. We believe that reinventing the camera represents our greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. We contribute to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.
About i.am Angel Foundation
As part of his commitment to philanthropy, will.i.am launched the i.am Angel Foundation in 2009 to TRANS4M lives through education, inspiration and opportunity. The i.am Angel foundation administers charitable activities and programs targeted towards providing college scholarships (i.am scholarship), college preparation (i.am College Track), and opportunities in STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).
The i.am Angel Foundation is especially committed to transforming will.i.am’s hometown of Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. Boyle Heights is a predominantly low-income, working class immigrant community that is rich in culture and potential, but struggles due to a lack of resources and opportunities. The foundation’s mission is to turn Boyle Heights into a model, and share the template that other struggling communities around the world can follow to turn around challenged communities.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside
Founded in 1972, Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside (www.wsgvbgc.org) delivers fun and educational programs each year to over 7,000 youth of Los Angeles County across six club sites: Monterey Park, La Puente, Baldwin Park, Ramona Gardens, Estrada Courts and William Mead. Our Clubs provide key programs for academic success, leadership development and healthy lifestyles. In addition, we offer unique programming for our community including STEM Sailing, Brent’s Club, College Bound and a licensed Early Learning Center. The Clubs’ mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.
Contacts
Press contact:
Vanessa Moore
idtech@moxiegrouppr.com