What happens when curiosity meets opportunity? Conference rooms turn into innovation labs and young minds explore, experiment and build the foundations for their future paths. That energy came to life at Cardinal Health’s second annual Technology Camp, where 70 middle and high school girls spent a Saturday in our Dublin headquarters diving into hands-on technology projects, collaborating with peers, and discovering what’s possible in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Designed to spark confidence and curiosity at a pivotal age, the camp offered more than skill-building—it opened doors to imagination, teamwork and future careers in technology. Throughout the day, students collaborated in small groups, in pre-chosen technology projects, gaining exposure to real-world problem-solving and building foundational STEM skills.
The statistics on women in STEM are alarming. According to the National Science Foundation, only about 18% of women in the workforce hold STEM jobs, compared to 30% of men. Additionally, women occupy just 18% of leadership positions in STEM fields. This underrepresentation means a significant portion of potential talent remains untapped.
Programs like the Technology Camp help students explore technology in a supportive, engaging environment while strengthening confidence and interest during formative academic years. By introducing STEM concepts early and showcasing potential career pathways, Cardinal Health aims to help address long-standing representation gaps in technology and STEM-related fields.
Student experience at the camp
This year’s participants included 23 students who returned from last year, eager to take their learning a step further. Building on their prior experience, returning campers joined new participants in exploring fresh skills and contributing to a high-energy, collaborative learning environment.
“I didn’t think technology could be this fun,” said returning student Sharvi, grade 9. “Working on a project with my team made me feel more confident about learning new things and thinking about future careers.”
Employee coaches and volunteers support student growth
The program was supported by more than 20 Cardinal Health employee coaches, who guided students through project development and career exploration — playing a central role in the camp’s success.
New to the eight-project lineup this year, Unlock the future with AI and LLMs, allowed some of the older students to discover how to build their own personalized AI “study buddy”. They were taught prompt engineering using real-world tools and created study content, including data charts and fully descriptive infographics. They learned strategies for finding and using reliable sources to enhance their work and creativity.
For first-time coach Jonathan Cachet, senior data engineer, who co-coached the new project, the experience provided a meaningful opportunity to connect with students and give back through professional expertise. “Witnessing the girls' eagerness to learn and their quick grasp of new concepts was incredibly rewarding, quickly turning my initial anxieties as a new coach into pure satisfaction,” he said. “It was truly fulfilling to see their engagement and active participation contribute to such an enjoyable and successful program.”
Returning coach Natarajan Sundaresan, senior data engineer, taught Build your own app, where the girls built interactive applications using code to bring their ideas to life. Sundaresan shared why he coaches at camp every year. “The energy and curiosity the students bring is infectious,” he said. “Helping them explore technology in a fun, supportive way, and seeing the girls’ confidence grow, makes the experience so meaningful. The fact that they had great takeaways from the camp was amazing!”
In addition to the coaches, nearly 30 employee volunteers contributed to the camp’s success by supporting activities throughout the day, encouraging students’ learning during the program. Classroom volunteers celebrated student progress and milestones and supported teamwork by guiding group collaboration. During breaks, volunteers led energizing tech-related activities to keep students engaged.
“As a female IT engineer, I want these girls to know technology is a space that needs them,” said second year volunteer Bo Mannarino, senior software engineer. “Seeing their interest and confidence grow in just a day reminds me exactly why I fell in love with this field.”
At the conclusion of the camp, each project group took the stage to present what they had learned to fellow students, families and Cardinal Health volunteers. The presentations highlighted the girls’ creativity, teamwork, and growing technical skills as they demonstrated their projects, explained their problem-solving process, and reflected on their learning journey. The event served as a meaningful celebration of their hard work and a moment of pride for both students and supporters alike.
Together, the moments from start to finish—hands-on learning, mentorship, collaboration and celebration—captured what the Cardinal Health Technology Camp is all about: empowering girls to imagine themselves in STEM-driven career paths and equipping them with the confidence to pursue it.
By bringing employees, community partners, families, and students together around shared purpose, the camp continues to spark curiosity, open doors to future possibilities, and build a stronger pipeline of future innovators.
Commitment to community
The Technology Camp reflects Cardinal Health’s commitment to advancing community impact through education, mentorship and future workforce readiness. This year, proceeds benefitted our philanthropic partner, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland (GSOH), who shares our focus on empowering girls through skill‑building experiences that extend beyond the classroom.
As the camp continues to grow, Cardinal Health sees the Technology Camp taking shape as a signature community program, one that we expect to strengthen and expand over time to reach more students and deepen the impact.
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