Marquis Sewell completed the Englewood Codes program in 2013. He plans to study computer science at Morehouse College in the fall. View Full Caption La'Keisha Sewell

ENGLEWOOD — Marquis Sewell first got his taste in computer science through an Englewood summer program. Now the 17-year-old is headed to study tech at Morehouse College in the fall.

Marquis helped design the website for Kusanya Cafe with three other teens through the 10-week Englewood Code program at Teamwork Englewood when he was 15.

The Senn Arts senior has been accepted into Morehouse, an all-male historically black college in Atlanta. He said he plans to study computer science with the career goal of becoming a software engineer.

He found out via email that he had been admitted into the class of 2020.

“I was excited, but I tried to keep it cool because that’s my character, my personality, but I’m pretty excited about the whole experience,” he said.

Morehouse was Marquis’ first choice.

He said he recognizes that people who don’t live in Englewood or similar South Side communities have a negative portrayal of his community, and he has a message for them.

“I disagree with that whole outlook on the experience of living in Englewood because I was inspired myself to actually go into the career of software engineering and computer science" in Englewood, he said. “I learned all my skills, how to build website through a program called Englewood Codes. I also met my mentor who is an advocate for the betterment and development of the South Side of Chicago.”

His mother, La’Keisha Gray-Sewell, said she and Marquis’ father are extremely proud.

“I just want to show and make sure people are aware that the majority of us are conscientious people with a love for our community, with a love for our people, with a love for our family,” she said. “We work jobs, we have dreams for our children, the same thing that happens in other communities, we have those same values. This is the product of an Englewood family.”

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