Lukas Girmay
My AI Training
Securing Degrees
Organization Facts
Securing Degrees is an education organization dedicated to helping students graduate from college without student loan debt through scholarship coaching and college planning services.
The organization provides personalized scholarship matching, one on one coaching, essay support, and digital tools that help students secure financial aid opportunities.
Its mission is to make free college the new normal by equipping students with the knowledge, resources, and confidence needed to earn scholarships.
By combining technology, mentorship, and proven scholarship strategies, Securing Degrees helps students reduce financial barriers and pursue higher education with greater confidence.
Securing Degrees
About the Organization
Securing Degrees is committed to increasing access to higher education by helping students and families successfully navigate the scholarship application process.
Through personalized coaching, scholarship tracking technology, workshops, and essay guidance, the organization empowers students to maximize scholarship opportunities while reducing the financial burden of college. Securing Degrees also partners with schools and community organizations to expand access to these resources.
By promoting educational equity and financial literacy, the organization enables students from diverse backgrounds to pursue debt-free college degrees and achieve long-term academic success.
Securing Degrees
Community Involvement
Securing Degrees works closely with students, parents, school counselors, educators, and scholarship coaches to provide personalized guidance throughout the college funding process. The organization also delivers workshops, seminars, and one-on-one coaching that strengthen scholarship success.
The organization partners with high schools, charter school networks, colleges, nonprofits, and community organizations to expand educational access. Collaborations with institutions such as KIPP Schools, Spelman College, UC Berkeley BOOST, and numerous school districts strengthen college readiness and scholarship opportunities for students nationwide.
Securing Degrees
Funding Source
Securing Degrees generates revenue through scholarship coaching programs, school and nonprofit partnerships, educational workshops, speaking engagements, and subscription-based student support services.
The organization also works with schools, nonprofits, corporations, and community organizations that purchase customized scholarship platforms, coaching, and training services to support student success.
Revenue is used to expand coaching programs, enhance the ScholarPro platform, develop educational resources, support student services, and increase access to debt-free college opportunities for students across the country.
My AI Proposal
Throughout the AI & Business Strategy Internship, I worked closely with Securing Degrees to understand its business model, goals, current operations, and opportunities for growth. Alongside Dr. Daniel Spar, I learned the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and explored how emerging AI technologies can be strategically applied to address real-world business challenges, including marketing, supply chain, management, logistical planning, and more.
Throughout the week, my team approached Securing Degrees as business consultants, analyzing its existing processes, identifying operational vulnerabilities, and evaluating areas where artificial intelligence could create meaningful value. We considered the organization’s specific needs and researched potential AI applications that could improve efficiency, strengthen operations, support customers, and contribute to long-term growth.
Using our research and analysis, my team developed a comprehensive AI business proposal tailored specifically to Securing Degrees. Our recommendations outlined practical strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into the organization while considering implementation, potential risks, and legal frameworks. The final proposal, shown alongside this description, represents the culmination of our week-long consulting process and demonstrates how AI can be applied strategically to solve real business challenges.
My AI Proposal Presentation
During the AI & Business Strategy Internship, I worked with Dr. Daniel Spar to learn about the basics of artificial intelligence and the potential business applications it possesses.
Throughout the week, I worked with an organization named Securing Degrees to develop AI solutions to support their business growth and operations. I worked with my team to analyze the opportunities for growth as well as their current vulnerabilities.
At the end of the week, I presented my AI proposal to Dr. Spar and the LI Grant Committee, and I received grant money to implement the solution.
Internship Highlights
During my internship, I participated in a series of hands-on labs that allowed me to apply advanced AI tools and techniques to develop solutions aimed at optimizing business strategy, customer service, and cybersecurity.
These labs were designed to replicate real-world scenarios, enabling me to create applicable solutions to complex problems. Through this immersive experience, I fostered proficiencies in programming languages, communication tool creation, customer service segmentation, machine learning, supply chain management, and anomaly detection.
Each session required attention to detail and the effective use of collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability to learn in a fast-paced environment. This invaluable experience allowed me to translate theoretical knowledge into tangible solutions. This experience not only deepened my understanding of artificial intelligence but also reinforced my commitment to pursue this career path.
During my internship, I gained valuable insight into the world of AI consultation through lectures and discussions with Dr. Dan Spar of Deloitte. His expertise provided a comprehensive understanding of the applications of AI across industries to solve complex business challenges.
Dr. Spar outlined the consulting process, emphasizing the identification of client needs to design AI-driven solutions that improve efficiency, decision-making, and long-term strategy. We also explored real-world case studies where AI was implemented in operations, marketing, and cybersecurity, illuminating the impact consultation can make on organizational success.
Through these sessions, I not only deepened my knowledge of AI’s practical applications but also learned how consultants bridge the gap between technical capabilities and client goals. This experience strengthened my ability to think critically about technology in a professional context and sparked my interest in pursuing AI-driven problem-solving in future endeavors.
The increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence has led to concerns regarding the harm versus benefits of its applications. We received specific briefings and dedicated research time to outline the ethical and legal considerations for AI’s integration into business development and operations.
Participating in these advanced lectures and in-depth discussions highlighted concerns regarding the cost, human and environmental impacts, and regulatory challenges associated with AI’s integration into business practices.
We also learned that despite these challenges, AI has allowed us to optimize supply chain management, digital market forecasting, talent acquisition, and customer security. Understanding how AI can positively impact a business, and subsequently the people and communities it serves, has fortified my desire to improve AI’s capabilities and applications.
During my internship, I had the opportunity to apply my training in AI consulting by working directly with small business partners in Washington, D.C. Meeting with Securing Degrees allowed me to gain a clear understanding of their goals, challenges, and long-term vision, giving me the chance to explore how artificial intelligence could provide meaningful solutions.
Working alongside their leadership, I developed tailored recommendations on how AI tools could streamline operations, improve decision-making, and enhance customer engagement. This included analyzing areas where automation could reduce inefficiencies, identifying opportunities for predictive analytics, and suggesting ways to incorporate AI-driven marketing strategies.
Through this hands-on consulting experience, I not only strengthened my ability to assess client needs and translate them into actionable strategies but also learned the importance of aligning AI solutions with each business’s unique context. By applying these skills, I was able to deliver practical recommendations that could support Securing Degrees in reaching its goals and preparing for long-term success in an increasingly data-driven economy.