Our mission
We challenge, inspire and teach technology skills to students with potential - empowering refugee and underserved youth to achieve success, garner influence and gain stability in their families and communities.
Our vision
Our vision is to ensure students succeed with opportunity. We’re building a community to empower underserved youth with skills for the future.
Our goals
We support and empower students to foster a life-long interest in STEM.
We help students identify their goals and create actionable steps to achieve those goals.
100% of our students graduate high school with a plan for professional development in place.
Today
We provide engaging, enriching, and challenging curriculum to over 150 students annually. There is a place for every student, regardless of background, in our curriculum.
Our story
Pi515 founder and Executive Director Nancy Mwirotsi has dedicated her life to advocating for underrepresented individuals, including refugees, young women, and people of color. She believes that success comes from opportunity and creates such opportunity.
Pi515 programs increase diversity in STEM careers, closes the digital gap, and strengthens the talent and tech pipelines in Iowa.
Since our establishment in 2014, over 130 Pi515 students have graduated high school and continued on to pursue secondary education in STEM fields.
Our team
Nancy Mwirotsi
Founder & Executive Director
Samuel Trujillo
Tech Program Facilitator Intern
Joel Aguirre
Tech Program Facilitator Intern
Our board of advisors
Nicholas Gerhart
President
EVP and Chief Innovation Officer at Homesteaders Life Company
Vinodh Sankaranthi
Vice President
Global Fintech Leader at John Deere Financial
Sarah Young
Treasurer
Corporate Strategy at FinOps
Anika Yadav
Secretary
Student Advisor Waukee High School Student
David Hensley
Executive Director at John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Luke Stadtler
Web Developer at ClientCiricle
Megan Manteaw
Delivery Manager at Workiva
Diana Wright
Startup Community Builder at Greater Des Moines Partnership
Nancy Mwirotsi
Founder and Executive Director at Pi515
Awards and recognitions
2023
Iowa Department of Human Rights: The Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans
2022
Women in Business Champion of the Year: Nancy Mwirotsi | Iowa Small Business Administration
2021
Entrepreneurial Support Organization of the Year finalist | Startup Iowa Awards
2020
Nation of Neighbors | Royal Neighbors of America
2019
Iowa Affiliate Educator Award | National Center for Women and Information Technology
2019
Catalyst Award | Technology Association of Iowa
2018
Courage Award Finalist | Inspiring Women of Iowa
2017-2018
Team Member Iowa Computer Science Standards Review
2016
Participant White House Conference on Inclusive STEM Education for Youth of Color
2016
Des Moines Register’s 15 People to Watch
2015
