Bluefield State student-turned Disney intern grateful to attend AfroTech conference in Houston

"This year is Kellie Williams' first AfroTech conference. The 21-year-old is a computer science major at Bluefield State, which is a historically black college in West Virginia. She was selected to come to Houston thanks to an internship with The Walt Disney Company. "I knew I had to get here someway, somehow. When they gave me the opportunity, I was so grateful. I took it and ran with it. I was going to get here one way or another," she said."

"Her first day at AfroTech started with an exclusive session for Disney Scholars to connect with technologists and recruiters within the company. "It truly set the tone. Just to hear what they had to say to me and what they're pushing me to do, it truly made me feel like this is going to be a great week. I'm truly going to learn the most and meet the great people," she said."

"Despite attending an HBCU, Williams also said she had never had the opportunity to see so many women of color in tech. On top of that, there are more than 168 companies represented and an expected 40,000 attendees. "To see it, it makes me happy," Williams said. "I get excited to talk to all these different people and see these people in my field. These are people I can not only collaborate with, but also look up to.""

AfroTech returned to Houston, transforming the convention center into a hub for Black technologists, creatives, investors, and corporate leaders. The event brings together students through career development, networking sessions, and company representation. Kellie Williams, a 21-year-old computer science major at Bluefield State, attended as a Disney Scholar through an internship and participated in an exclusive session connecting with Disney technologists and recruiters. The conference features more than 168 companies and expected attendance of 40,000, offering visibility and role models for women of color in tech. Williams arrived with networking skills and an updated resume, aiming to build connections and launch her post-graduation career.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles