Student Developer Pack: a student’s runway to American Airlines

The GitHub Student Developer Pack, offering a range of valuable tools, played a pivotal role in Spencer Kaiser's transition from a marketing career to a software development path. Initially frustrated with repetitive tasks in his marketing job, Spencer returned to Southern Methodist University to study computer science, where he was introduced to Git and GitHub. The Student Developer Pack provided him with access to numerous resources, including GitHub, DigitalOcean, SendGrid, and Namecheap, which helped him overcome initial challenges in software development, such as compiling C++ programs and building full-stack applications. These tools not only facilitated his learning but also inspired him to explore side projects and experiment with new technologies. In his current role as Principal Architect of Emerging Technology at American Airlines, Spencer leverages his experience with these tools to explore emerging technologies like drones and machine learning, and he emphasizes their importance when interviewing junior candidates. His journey underscores the value of the Student Developer Pack in equipping students with practical skills and accelerating their development journey.