Community Spotlight: Elikem Hamenoo

Celebrating 2024-2025 Fellow Elikem Hamenoo! Elikem grew up in Ghana and moved to the United States to pursue Computer Science in 2024. Elikem is a first year student majoring in Computer Science at Grambling State University, an HBCU in Louisiana. He is currently interning as a software engineer with NVIDIA. Elikem is an extremely inventive and resourceful technologist who is always looking for ways to support his community and create meaningful change. As he said, “I always try to adapt, learn, and to figure out what kinds of changes I can make. I try to make an impact wherever I find myself. If I don’t change it, who will? If I don’t try it, who will?”

Elikem discussed growing up with limited computer access. “I grew up in a low-income community where I traveled several kilometers to attend public school. After school, I would travel to a library to learn the basics of computers and programming. These experiences shaped me into someone who looks for ways to solve problems, uplift others, and create a positive impact. My background drives my interest in technology, digital infrastructure, and global policy, where I want to help build better systems that improve access and opportunity for others.”

As a Freshman, Elikem established a ColorStack Chapter at Grambling State, explaining, “Prior to 2023, Grambling had few CS students, so there are gaps in the resources and support available to Computer Science Majors. In 2024, the year I started at Grambling State, there was an astronomical increase in the number of Computer Science majors, and I realized that the resources and the enrollment numbers were not well matched. I started ColorStack to bridge this gap.”

Elikem is invested in building community. He shared that, “the CS students at Grambling are a community. We always look out for each other. We share opportunities and support each other. When one person gets a win, it’s a win for us all.” Additionally, Elikem collaborated with a team of CS students at Grambling State to win the Thurgood Marshall College Fund NexTech Innovation Challenge. His team designed a virtual reality platform called NexConnect as a site to connect CS students, recruiters, and tech companies.

Elikem recognizes that CS offers “endless possibilities” and “finds joy in the potential for Computer Science to actually shape societies and improve daily life for people.” Elikem aspires to use his technological skills for work in international development, specifically around digital infrastructure, sustainability, and global relationships with technology. Elikem hopes to one day work for the United Nations, “I’m interested in how technology can be more integrated into different aspects of society to support people in their lives.

Elikem encourages prospective Fellows:

“Just apply! Code2040 offers so many resources beyond access to internship opportunities. Through Code2040, you get a network with other Fellows and Alumni. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people. I reached out to Code2040 alumni via LinkedIn, and they encouraged me to apply.

Find your people and take things one step at a time. Find communities, like Code2040, that actually seek to uplift you. Never let anyone limit what you can do, never let anyone limit or define your path for you.”

Thanks for being part of our community, Elikem!