Event Date: February 10, 2012

Overview

Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) is committed to the Microsoft mission of helping people realize their full potential. BAM works to align with the Microsoft Corporate Citizenship goals by continuing to build relationships with potential customers and future Microsoft employees.

One of BAM's key commitments is to continually reach out to the external communities and showcase Microsoft’s technology and people in order to help others reach their full potential. As part of this commitment, BAM hosts an annual Minority Student Day (BMSD), now in its 21st year. The goal of the event is to provide area high school students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds with information about the exciting tools, resources, and career opportunities available to them in high technology. Throughout the day, Microsoft employees guide students through hands-on technology labs and information sessions. Employees also serve as mentors, talking with students about the wide variety of career opportunities available to them in technology.

The theme of the 2012 student day is "How Do You Kinect?"

BMSD Objectives

• Build and maintain relationships with schools that have limited resources and high populations of underrepresented minority students

• Create community outreach opportunities for BAM members

• Get potential customers excited about Microsoft technology

• Develop recruitment pipelines of a diverse talent pool

• Expose students to high school internship and college scholarship opportunities

BAM Minority Student Day Host Cities

• Redmond, Washington

• Mountain View, California

• Las Colinas, Texas

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Charlotte, North Carolina

• New York City, New York

• Washington, D.C

• Detroit, Michigan

• Baltimore, Maryland

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

BMSD Events and Activities

• Employee Panels. Employees from diverse backgrounds and experiences expose the students to different job functions and opportunities at Microsoft.

• Microsoft Product Fair. Employees demonstrate a variety of Microsoft products, helping students to get excited about the potential of technology.

• Tour of Microsoft. Students get an inside look at Microsoft and meet the people who work at the company. They see, firsthand, how Microsoft delivers products and services.

• Essay Contest. Students are required to write an essay before they come to Microsoft. The contest challenges the students to start thinking about technology and to reflect on how technology affects their present and future.

• Onsite Games and Projects. These activities challenge students and spark creative thinking. They also provide students with a chance to interact one-on-one with employees and to gain different perspectives.

Success Stories and Feedback

Overall, the students have had fun and look forward to coming to Microsoft. The tours of Microsoft and the hands-on experience are well received. Students get a chance to tap into their potential and learn how Microsoft works. They start thinking about what it takes for them to be successful and how they can use technology to realize that potential. It is also tremendously valuable to see that Microsoft employees are diverse and are passionate about students. For more information on the BAM Minority Student Day, please contact mybam@microsoft.com.