FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leawood, Kan. (March 21, 2023) – Right Triangle Consulting (RTC) founder Andrew Flower is pleased to announce the firm’s support of the KUEST Bridge program at the University of Kansas School of Engineering. The five-year, $25,000 donation is part of February’s “One Day. One KU” program that raised more than $3.2 million for the university.
Flower, a Michigan native, graduated from KU in 1993 with degrees in computer science and mathematics. He founded RTC in 2007 on the belief that data warehousing and management could be accomplished more efficiently than the legacy practices used by that era’s management consulting firms. RTC serves clients in multiple industries by finding, organizing and optimizing their often-underutilized data to improve their operations and outcomes.
“We are proud and honored to support these students along their educational journeys,” said Flower, who attended KU on a dive team scholarship. “Engineers of many disciplines are in strong demand, and the opportunities for qualified students and graduates continue to grow.”
KUEST Bridge is a free four-week residential on-campus engineering program that helps establish a stronger foundation of pre-calculus. Founded on three pillars: math acumen, mentorship and acclimation, and cohort-building, this program is designed to help students transition from high school to the academic rigors of engineering. Students receive a scholarship upon completion of the program. More information about the KUEST Programs can be found on its website.
Said Dr. Elaina Sutley, who directs the KUEST Programs, “Having access to Calculus-level math in high school should not be a determinate of whether someone is meant to be an engineer or computer scientist. The KUEST Bridge program aims to overcome systemic barriers, such as entry-level math course. We are so grateful for the generous support of Right Triangle Consulting that make these programs possible.”
According to recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “math occupation” employment—including data scientists with 2021 median pay of nearly $101,000—is projected to grow 29% from 2021-2031, producing 82,000 new jobs.
“Women and minorities, especially Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians who KUEST is specifically designed for, are underrepresented at nearly all degree levels of engineering schools,” said Flower, citing a 2023 report by the National Science Board. “As a company with primarily women in leadership roles, we always seek to add diversity in our workforce. Diversity and collaboration always delivers better solutions. We look forward to collaborating with KU to help advance and expedite the presence of these student groups within the university and professional engineering community.”
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