TechRise Certification Lab

Learn AI. Pick your path. Prove it.

A free Thursday lab for Atlanta high school students. Earn Google career credentials, build a real project for our spring showcase and get ready for a summer internship in Atlanta.

High school students, grades 10 to 12
Only 10 seatsNo cost to youThursdays, Nov 19 to May 13
How it works

Five steps from first prompt to first internship.

Thursdays, 4:00 to 5:30 PM, November 19 to May 13, plus about 3 hours a week on your own.

  1. 01
    Nov to Dec

    AI Foundation

    Everyone earns the Google AI Essentials certificate and learns to fact-check AI: find a claim, trace it to its source, fix what the AI got wrong.

  2. 02
    Jan to Apr

    Pick your path

    Data Analytics, UX Design or IT Support. Try all three hands-on on December 17 before you choose.

  3. 03
    Feb to Mar

    Get Linked

    A professional email, a TechRise profile, a TechRise Advisor, and connections with 5 professionals in your path. Students 16 and older also build a LinkedIn profile.

  4. 04
    Jan to May

    Prove It

    Build a real portfolio project starting in January and present it at the Proof Day showcase on May 6.

  5. 05
    Jun to Jul

    Summer internship

    Resume, mock interviews and employer connections for a summer 2027 internship in Atlanta.

Pick your path

Three paths. One is yours.

Data Analytics

Find the story in numbers.

You build: A cleaned spreadsheet dashboard that explains what it shows and what it can't.

UX Design

Design apps and websites around real people.

You build: A prototype tested with real users, plus a short case study.

IT Support

Be the fixer who keeps people and tech running. The usual first step into cybersecurity and networking.

You build: Help desk ticket write-ups, a setup guide and a live troubleshooting demo.

Not sure? You will try all three in December, and the application helps you choose.

Everyone earns Google AI Essentials, then takes Google Career Certificate courses in their path. Finishing a full Google Career Certificate is an honors stretch goal.

The deal

What you get. What it takes.

What you get

  • Google AI Essentials and career certificate training
  • Weekly in-person coaching and work time
  • A real project you present at our May showcase
  • Resume, interview and summer internship support
  • Visits from tech professionals and TechRise Advisors
  • A place in the TechRise community

What it takes

  • Any Atlanta-area high school, grades 10 to 12, including homeschool
  • Show up every Thursday, 4:00 to 5:30 PM
  • About 3 hours a week on your own
  • Parent or guardian permission
  • No tech experience needed. Just follow-through.

Need a laptop, internet or transportation? Tell us on the application and we will work on it with you.

Key dates

Mark your calendar.

  1. Nov 13Applications close
  2. Nov 19Orientation and AI Foundation begins
  3. Dec 17Path samplers: try all three
  4. Jan 7Paths launch and projects start
  5. Feb 25Get Linked session
  6. Mar 18Mock interviews with TechRise Advisors
  7. May 6Proof Day showcase
  8. May 13Celebration and internship send-off
  9. Jun to JulSummer internships

No sessions during school breaks. Sessions meet at the Fulton County Central Library in downtown Atlanta.

Proof Day · Thursday, May 6, 2027

Show what you built.

Present your project to families, schools, partners and Atlanta employers.

  • Gallery walk
  • 3-minute lightning talks
  • 7-minute employer conversations
  • Recognition

With parent permission, projects later appear on our student showcase, credited by first name and last initial.

Then: a summer internship.

Resume, mock interviews and employer connections to help you land a summer 2027 internship in Atlanta.

In partnership with
Best Buy Foundation
Best Buy Teen Tech Center
Fulton County
Central Library
Coursera
FAQ

Questions, answered.

Do I need tech experience?

No. Just follow-through.

Does it cost anything?

No. The lab is free for students.

What if I don't have a laptop or home internet?

Tell us on the application and we will work on it with you.

What if I am under 16?

You can still apply. We set up the right accounts for your age.

Can my parent help me apply?

Yes. The application lets a parent or guardian fill it out with you.

Is a seat guaranteed?

There are 10 seats. We review every application and reply by November 16.

Apply

Apply by Friday, November 13.

A parent or guardian can help. We reply by November 16.