Computer Science major co-led LeadMN delegation to Washington, D.C., and placed in top 10 in Travel and Tourism competition at DECA ICDC in San Francisco
Alvin Ntare, 19, is earning a Computer Science Transfer Pathway Associate of Science (A.S.) at Inver Hills Community College. Alvin is on track to graduate in December 2025. He is an exceptionally engaged student at the college. He serves as a student ambassador and the Student Senate legislative director.
Working as a LeadMN delegate with student advocate responsibilities, Alvin attended the 2025 DC Student Summit Washington, D.C., in mid-March 2025.
“I got the chance to co-lead a delegation that spoke to around four or five staffers of U.S. senators and representatives,” he said. “We were tasked with bringing forward issues surrounding college tuition, basic needs supports, and accessibility for students.”
Alvin added that the favorite parts of his trip to Washington, D.C., were getting to see the White House and U.S. Supreme Court and exploring the city in general.
“I learned that formal and informal education is empowerment for so many people,” he said. “Education provides opportunities to better people’s lives, and it needs to be protected at all costs.”
Alvin also participates in Minnesota Collegiate DECA. He competed at the Collegiate DECA Minnesota State Career Development Conference (SCDC) in late February 2025 in Alexandria, Minnesota, taking second place in both the Entrepreneurial Operations and Travel and Tourism (he took second at the 2024 SCDC) competitions. He went on to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in April.
“I was able to place seventh internationally in my event, Travel and Tourism, at the ICDC,” he said. “I would say the most rewarding aspects of participating in Collegiate DECA are getting to meet likeminded peers and connecting with them on topics such as business and marketing as well as improving my confidence in high-pressure situations and public speaking.”
After graduating from Inver Hills, Alvin plans to attend either the University of Minnesota or University of Arizona. “My goal is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering with an emphasis on cybersecurity,” he said. “I hope to work in a tech company focusing on AI and machine learning as well as one day maybe starting my own business.”
More about Alvin…
Originally from Kampala, Uganda, Alvin graduated from Northfield High School, Class of 2023.
“My three siblings live with my parents in Uganda,” Alvin said. “I’m the oldest. We have a one-year-old Japanese spitz as well as two German shepherd puppies who will grow up to be guard dogs.”
In his free time, Alvin enjoys listening to music, playing video games and soccer, and, more recently, reading. He also recently started learning music production, particularly making beats, and learning Spanish.
“I hope to be conversational in the language in the near future and make a full song,” he said.
Alvin resides in Minneapolis.
More about Alvin’s life in Kampala, Uganda
Inver Hills News: When did you move to Minnesota?
Alvin: I first moved to Minnesota in August 2022. I lived in Northfield, a small, nice town in southern Minnesota. Imade friends, memories, and experienced a whole different culture.Inver Hills News: What do you miss most about Uganda?
Alvin: I would say the food and comfort. Everything over there, from navigating to talking to the locals, feels much easier than in the U.S.Inver Hills News: What’s your favorite place in Uganda and why?
Alvin: I would say a football pitch in my neighborhood or my friends jersey store because that is where I meet up with my friends when I go back, and I’m surrounded by people who play soccer..Inver Hills News: How often do you get to go back to Uganda for a visit?
Alvin: I go back every year during summer break—so pretty often.
Alvin Inver Hills gallery
Alvin Ntare • Q & A
What inspired you to choose computer science as your career field?
I chose computer science partly because I got interested in technology at such a young age and enjoyed learning about the components of the internet and hardware. The other reason would be that I saw how computers have consistently been able to make a difference in peoples lives, businesses, healthcare, education, and so much more.
What are you enjoying most about your Computer Science coursework at Inver Hills?
I would say the programming classes are by far the most interesting. I’ve so far been able to learn three major programming languages—Java, C++, and Python—while being able to see their respective applications in computing.
What computer science area of study, e.g. AI, algorithms, web development, software engineering, etc., interests you the most and why?
Currently, I’m interested in cybersecurity and how AI can be applicable in it. I think the internet and its number of users are getting bigger and more advanced. I think there’s going to be a need for fraud detection systems, more security in sending and receiving info, and much more.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
COMMITTED. INQUISITIVE. ADAPTABLE.
What advice would you give students thinking about becoming more involved in student clubs and activities on campus?
I would say look at the club posters across campus and check the screens to see what’s going on during each month. Also, you can check out Student Life to see a list of the various clubs on campus and see what activity or club(s) resonate with you most. If you are not able to find the activity or club you’re looking for, you can always start one! The Student life department on campus has seen a rise in new clubs started by students who wanted to bring activities on campus that weren’t previously there.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
I would say my mum. I think a lot of the life lessons and morals I’ve learned are from her. She works for an IT company, so there’s a good chance my fascination with computers might have come from her; on top of that, she’s the one who bought me my very first laptop.
If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?
End all global conflicts.
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
EYE-OPENING
Alvin Ntare • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer
Place you would most like to visit: The Maldives- Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Leaving home at 16 years old to become a Rotary Youth Exchange student in the U.S.—a completely different culture from the one I grew up in
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Ensure my family members and relatives are taken care of financially 2) Give back to marginalized groups in the U.S. and Uganda 3) Invest in research and diversify the money incase the economy takes a downturn
- Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: I recently watched Interstellar—I avoided the movie for so long due to the hype surrounding it, but after watching it, the movie was worth the hype
- Time period you would explore if you could time travel: I would definitely go back to the 1940s post WW2
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Visit every country in the world no matter how dangerous
Your national bird if you were your own country: Diederik cuckoo—I would choose it due to its striking appearance.- Dream occupation: Professional footballer/computer security analyst
- Person you would most like to meet: Satoshi Nakamoto
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Speaking multiple languages fluently
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: People are not willing to compromise for one another; there is a need for someone to always be ‘right’—I think a lot of the world’s issues could be solved if people compromise more
Learn more about the Computer Science Transfer Pathway Associate of Science (A.S.) at Inver Hills by contacting:
Admissions Team
admissions@inverhills.edu
651-450-3902
866-576-0689
College Center
- Want more information? Fill out an inquiry form.
- Ready to apply? Fill out an application.
- Want to virtually visit campus? Check out our upcoming visit opportunities.
- Can’t make it to campus? Take our virtual tour.
Want to connect with an advisor? Check out our virtual drop-in hours or email admissions@inverhills.edu to request a campus-based or phone appointment.
Learn more about Student Life at Inver Hills by contacting:
Kimberly Swinney
Director of Student Life
Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College
Office: College Center 116c
kimberly.swinney@inverhills.edu
651-450-3544
More about the Computer Science Transfer Pathway A.S. at Inver Hills
Working in a discipline concerned with theory and practice, computer scientists must have the ability to solve problems accurately, creatively, and logically through abstract modeling and objective analysis.
Computers are indispensable tools in civilization’s crucial fields, including business, education, banking, defense, law enforcement, healthcare, engineering, and transportation, not to mention personal use and the entertainment industry.
Awards
Computer Science Transfer Pathway A.S.: 60 credits
Computer Programmer A.A.S.: 60 credits>>>Computer Science Program Planning Guide
Why Study Computer Science at Inver Hills?
Dive into a swiftly growing career field.
According to O*NET OnLine, this high-demand occupation is projected to grow 23 percent nationwide from 2022 to 2032, or much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth rate in Minnesota is projected to be 20 percent.Earn an exceptionally prosperous living.
O*NET OnLine reports that top earners in the U.S. make more than $230,000 a year.Creativity and innovation are the watchwords of computer science.
If you’re all about discovering and crafting solutions, then computer science could be a perfect fit for your career goals. Two computer scientists, Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn, really did invent the Internet, which is ranked with the wheel, the compass, the printing press, and the light bulb as one of the greatest inventions of all time.Master skills essential for success on any career path.
Assembling a strong background in computing will give you the problem-solving, communication, and logical-reasoning skills proven advantageous in virtually any career field. Studying computer science equips you with other abilities such as adaptability and leadership.You’ll enter the job marketplace with the foundation of a well-rounded professional.
Collaboration matched with individual ingenuity can’t be beat.
Computer scientists frequently work together on teams that benefit from a diversity of talent, knowledge, expertise, and aptitudes. As a computer science major, you’ll learn how to bring your best game to any teamwork situation.Chart a future with no limits.
Trends in computer science can often seem like a sci-fi scenario taking shape in the real world. Artificial intelligence, edge and quantum computing, robotics, cybersecurity, and bioinformatics are just a few career paths you can call your own.Get with the program.
Our Computer Programmer A.A.S. is designed to propel you into the workforce by giving you the software programming and software engineering abilities you’ll need execute a wide variety of IT projects on the job.Turn your knack for computing into a lifelong career.
Our Transfer Pathway A.S. gives you the credits you need to transfer with junior-year status to a computer science baccalaureate program at one of six Minnesota State universities. Your education at Inver Hills will be the deterministic logic that outputs your career success.
Computer Science Career PathsSkill up for a topflight field.
Making sure computers perform at optimum levels requires intensive, hands-on experience. Computers and computational process design merge theoretical studies, experimental methods, and engineering applications into one discipline.Computer scientists are good at mathematics, solid on their science, and adept at building hardware and software. They enjoy their work and have a broad range of lucrative career opportunities.
LEARN MORE…
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.
Computer and Information Research Scientists is a Bright Outlook Occupation.
Reported job titles
- Computer Scientist
- Computer Specialist
- Control System Computer Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Scientific Programmer Analyst
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings. See all 63 Hot Technologies for this occupation.
In Demand skills are frequently included in employer job postings for this occupation. See all 20 In Demand skills for this occupation.
WAGES
Minnesota
Workers on average earn $131,770.
10 percent of workers earn $89,620 or less.
10 percent of workers earn $172,590 or more.United States
Workers on average earn $140,910.
10 percent of workers earn $80,670 or less.
10 percent of workers earn $232,120 or more.2024 Wage Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Trends: Minnesota
Employment (2022): 50 employees
Projected employment (2032): 60 employees
Projected growth (2022–2032): 20 percent
Projected annual job openings (2022–2032): 0Occupational Trends: United States
Employment (2023): 36,600 employees
Projected employment (2033): 46,000 employees
Projected growth (2023–2033): 23 percent — much faster than average
Projected annual job openings (2023–2033): 3,400Visit O*NET OnLine for comprehensive information about the occupation:
Computer and Information Research ScientistsSOURCE: O*NET OnLine: Computer and Information Research Scientists
